Page 8 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

PILOTS IN
CRISIS

THERE IS HELP FOR PILOTS

than most as the impact on the air travel how they worked harder than the guy

industry generally, and on job security sitting next to them and what a terrible

rpad Szakal, a former aviation specifically, has been profound and is likely mistake the company made in letting

Alawyer and now an executi ve to remain so for some time to come. them go.

search and leadership assessment profes- It is particularly difficult for pilots be- • Bargaining: This is a reaction some

sional offers his advice and guidance to cause they very often don’t just lose their pilots have when a situation feels

aviation professionals battling to cope with jobs/uniform but their whole identity. It hopeless. And the loss of a job can

having lost their jobs. He spoke to World is much more than a job for them. It is a feels like a desperate time. Some
Airnews editor Heidi Gibson passion and something that is very close to pilots try to bargain their way out of a
bad situation.

their heart.
WAN : THE COVID-19 CRISIS From my experience, working with flight • Depression: Depression is the next

HAS CAUSED PANDEMONIUM crews around the world is that they all go stage of the process and can really hit
THROUGHOUT THE AVIATOR through the five stages of grief. These are: people hard. You may not get offered

SECTOR. AS FLEETS ARE GROUNDED • Denial: This is a basic survival instinct the first, third or even the tenth job

– AIRLINES ACROSS THE WORLD that surfaces when we face an you apply for. “I am never going to
– HAVE HAD TO LAY OFF PILOTS, unpleasant or trying situation. Pilots find a job!” is what a lot of pilots keep

TECHNICIANS AND OTHERS. BRIEFLY don’t always give themselves enough telling themselves.
DESCRIBE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL time to properly process the news and • Acceptance: Finally, pilots come to the

PROCESS THAT A PILOT WOULD grasp their new reality. acceptance stage of the grieving pro-
GO THROUGH HAVING BEEN TOLD • Anger and Disbelief: These emotions cess. They come to accept the current

THAT THEY CAN’T FLY AND ARE are typically the next feelings pilots situation and can finally let the past go.

NOW FORCED TO TAKE VOLUNTARY move through. They very often ask It is really important to spend enough

RETIREMENT OR HAVE BEEN themselves, “How could they do this to time in each of these stages as all of them

RETRENCHED. me?” They very often ruminate over all are important to help with the healing

AS: Pilots are arguably more affected the great things they did for the airline, process after a job loss.

World Airnews | November / December 2020
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