It is almost impossible to fire a union person from their job. Even if a pilot crashes an airplane and hurts people he just gets investigated and maybe fired... but the union always gets the pilot his job back with back pay. So an airline may just pay a pilot to never come to work again.
That being said, a new pilot who is still on probation can be fired for minor or perceived problems. That first year at an airline you are walking on egg shells.
I am going to tell a story that happened to me on my last trip prior to my one year anniversary and going off of probation.
It was early in the morning on a cool day with light rain and heavy fog. Our Boeing 727 was scheduled to fly from SAT to IAH (Houston Intercontinental Airport). We were scheduled to overnight in Houston.
I was comfortable in my job as Flight Engineer, sitting behind the pilots and running the systems. On this day the Captain was on his first trip as a Captain and was really a part time Captain and a full time Co-Pilot. The Co-Pilot was on his first trip as a Co-pilot.
We were cleared approach to Runway 8 Right and the weather was right at minimums due to fog and low visibility. The pilots were visibly nervous and were asking each other lots of questions. Just as we reached the minimum altitude for the approach a few of the runway lights came into view and the Captain managed a good landing. The engines were put into reverse and we began slowing and watching for a taxiway to exit the runway. The taxiways were initially zooming by as we didn't see them in the fog until it was too late to turn and we hadn't slowed down enough anyway.
The controllers in the tower couldn't see us through the fog and would counting on the pilots to say when they were clear of the runway for the next airplane to get clearance to land. We were probably still doing about 100 mph (slowed from about 150 mph) when the tower controller said:
"Braniff Flight 123, Expedite to the end of the runway and call clear of runway." That meant go all the way to the end of the runway ... but hurry.
There is a reason why he wanted us to go to the end and we knew it. The tower controllers couldn't see the airplanes taxiing on the taxiway parallel to us because of the fog. He didn't want us to turn off and hit a taxiing airplane that we couldn't see because of the fog. So going to the end would keep us clear of other aircraft... but he had another aircraft coming in for a landing right behind us so we had to hurry.
Well, the runway was 9,000 feet long and we could have turned off at about the 6,000 foot point but we were going to the end as instructed. The Captain took the engines out of reverse and we continued to roll and roll. My one job was to call out "80 knots" as we were slowing on the runway... I did make that call.
Runways have painted stripes that gives pilots instantaneous runway distance markings... such as 500 feet, 1,000 or 1,500 feet from the end. That was our first indication we were nearing the turnoff that the tower wanted us to take. Instantly we all knew we were going too fast. The Captain slammed on the brakes and I was crushing my imaginary brake pedal in the back seat.
Airplanes have had antiskid brakes for a long time, as ours did on this day... to no avail. When there is fog and mist on paint there is no friction... as 2 pilots and myself can attest to. The airplane did not decelerate on the paint and for that matter it would not turn either. Somewhat fortunately there is some bare concrete between each of those paint markings... and we did slow down some and also turn a little. The diagrams and photos below show the current markings on major runways and wisely, there is a lot less paint than back in 1979.
The airplane was slowing down and turning whenever we were on the bare concrete but it did not happen soon enough. The aircraft departed the runway about 20 to 50 feet left of the last taxiway. It dipped into a muddy grassy area with puddles for about 30 feet and right back up on the concrete of parking area. It was a very smooth event there were no bumps. The muddy wet grassy area served us well... we slowed down to a normal taxi speed and everything was under control.
We couldn't believe our good fortune until we started thinking about all the taxiway edge lights that stick up about a foot or so. We didn't feel any impact from any lights but we weren't sure. We taxied into the gate and deplaned. I did a post flight and checked the airplane for damage and found none. I grabbed a water hose and washed all the mud off the landing gear and the underside of the aircraft. Not one single passenger said a word... no one did... the tower could not see us. The Captain was visibly shaken, as was the co-pilot and I was thinking I did my job... but I'm on probation...
The Captain called our Chief Pilot and explained what had happened and we were surprised at the result of the conversation.
The Chief Pilot was taxiing out to takeoff earlier in the week with a very heavy airplane that required almost all of the runway so he taxied all the way to the end and made a real tight 180 degree turn so he could use every inch of length. He was unfortunate when the right main landing gear went off the runway and on to the asphalt extension. The asphalt extension was not built for large airplanes to taxi on and the wheels sunk down into the asphalt and got stuck. He was stuck sideways at the end of the runway for hours ... with passengers on board... the runway was closed and he got famous. He told us to go to the hotel and wait.
We waited for the phone call in the bar... the good old days. The Chief Pilot said don't tell anyone else but write it up and hold onto the write up. He said we were lucky because after what he did he couldn't criticize us. We were in the clear for now.
The next morning we took off from Runway 8 Right again. We were airborne and looking down at the water filled tracks of our excursion. The taxi lights were all in perfect but we could see where the two tires on our right main gear went right over one of the lights... the light had passed right between the two tires...
I only had to make it another week and passed a check ride to be home free... but that is another story.
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