10-11-2017, 10:32 PM
It was hot, it was humid, and it certainly wasn't Missouri. "What in the world are we doing here?" asked a familiar voice. It was that of Aaron Swartz, a former COO of USAir. Like some of his fellow colleagues, he too was ousted from USAir. Swartz had tried to find different jobs but the aviation industry seemed to call his name. Now he had flown to the middle of Brazil to follow that passion.
"What do you think we are doing here?" The voice was non other then Mr. ALT. Apparently being the founder of USAir doesn't get you much. Outspoken and out voted he decided to leave the company he made. The choice was not easy but had to be done. The airline was expanding fast, too fast Mr. ALT thought. It had been taken over by cooperate goonies with nothing but profit in mind. Mr. ALT wanted no part in it and parted ways with his beloved airline. Now, he found himself between a rock and a hard place.
"Well I hope it is to buy some cheap aircraft and get back to the states. It's hot, it dirty, and it isn't home." said Swartz."Oh how I wish," responded Mr. ALT, "We are down here to get back in this thing." "Wait, you're not really..." "Yes, yes I am." "But sir, is it not reasonable to go back to our home country and start an airline. After all, USAir was all about America. Now the founder of a patriotic airline wants to start an airline in Brazil?!" Mr. ALT calmly responded. "USAir is giving me 20 million dollars, that goes a long ways down here." "Wait, 20 million dollars? Why don't we just take that and live conservatively?" I wish it was that simple. That money that I'm getting is specifically for staring another airline. After all, is that not what we want?" "Well sure, but there has to be other options."
The car grew silent.
Mr. ALT broke the silence, "Look, I'm not asking you to be happy or even agree. I just need the support. If you want to leave, so be it. But, if you can stick it out, the reward will come." "What am I supposed to tell my family? Pack the car, we're moving to Brazil! That would drive my wife crazy." "No, I just need you for a month and then help as needed. I'm sure we can get this thing going." "Fine, I'll see what I can do." "That's all I'm asking." said Mr. ALT.
By now the car had found its way to the north side of the airport. Guarding it was a 5 foot fence with a rusty gate and padlock. "Well, let's see if this key works eh?" stated Mr. ALT. With a little force and effort the padlock unlocked. As he pushed the gate open it squealed against his push. Finally the car was able to get through. Beyond the gate was some buildings and trees and beyond that a vast expanse of pavement. "What do you think?" asked Mr. ALT. "Well, if you tell me this is ours, I would call you crazy." Swartz retorted. "Before you say that, let's go inside." They proceeded to one of the buildings. As the doors opened a gush of cool air blasted at their faces. Inside the building had been maticusly brought up to date. Swartz turned to Mr. ALT, "Okay, I'll give it to you, you have made a dump look pretty nice. But, what about the rest?" "Everything has been remodeled. I haven't decided about the outside." "And a hanger?" Non yet, I think it is cheaper to outsource that for now." "I have to admit, you pretty much thought of it all."
Both took a minute to admire the room.
"So, when does this train wreck start?" "Tomorrow." "Haha, nice one. Really, when do we start?" "Tomorrow." "Okay, I am going to call you crazy now. Where are the planes? People? Vehicles?" "I didn't have much time, it was now or never. Our planes are arriving tonight, we got the people we need, it's going to be alright." "I don't know about this. You fail, it's going down deep." "Think positive. Is there more work to do? Yes, but we will get it." "You had me for a second, but I don't know anymore." "Look, you are going to get paid whatever happens." "I'm not sure that's the issue. You've got something going on. What is it?" "You'll see," he said, "you'll see..."
"What do you think we are doing here?" The voice was non other then Mr. ALT. Apparently being the founder of USAir doesn't get you much. Outspoken and out voted he decided to leave the company he made. The choice was not easy but had to be done. The airline was expanding fast, too fast Mr. ALT thought. It had been taken over by cooperate goonies with nothing but profit in mind. Mr. ALT wanted no part in it and parted ways with his beloved airline. Now, he found himself between a rock and a hard place.
"Well I hope it is to buy some cheap aircraft and get back to the states. It's hot, it dirty, and it isn't home." said Swartz."Oh how I wish," responded Mr. ALT, "We are down here to get back in this thing." "Wait, you're not really..." "Yes, yes I am." "But sir, is it not reasonable to go back to our home country and start an airline. After all, USAir was all about America. Now the founder of a patriotic airline wants to start an airline in Brazil?!" Mr. ALT calmly responded. "USAir is giving me 20 million dollars, that goes a long ways down here." "Wait, 20 million dollars? Why don't we just take that and live conservatively?" I wish it was that simple. That money that I'm getting is specifically for staring another airline. After all, is that not what we want?" "Well sure, but there has to be other options."
The car grew silent.
Mr. ALT broke the silence, "Look, I'm not asking you to be happy or even agree. I just need the support. If you want to leave, so be it. But, if you can stick it out, the reward will come." "What am I supposed to tell my family? Pack the car, we're moving to Brazil! That would drive my wife crazy." "No, I just need you for a month and then help as needed. I'm sure we can get this thing going." "Fine, I'll see what I can do." "That's all I'm asking." said Mr. ALT.
By now the car had found its way to the north side of the airport. Guarding it was a 5 foot fence with a rusty gate and padlock. "Well, let's see if this key works eh?" stated Mr. ALT. With a little force and effort the padlock unlocked. As he pushed the gate open it squealed against his push. Finally the car was able to get through. Beyond the gate was some buildings and trees and beyond that a vast expanse of pavement. "What do you think?" asked Mr. ALT. "Well, if you tell me this is ours, I would call you crazy." Swartz retorted. "Before you say that, let's go inside." They proceeded to one of the buildings. As the doors opened a gush of cool air blasted at their faces. Inside the building had been maticusly brought up to date. Swartz turned to Mr. ALT, "Okay, I'll give it to you, you have made a dump look pretty nice. But, what about the rest?" "Everything has been remodeled. I haven't decided about the outside." "And a hanger?" Non yet, I think it is cheaper to outsource that for now." "I have to admit, you pretty much thought of it all."
Both took a minute to admire the room.
"So, when does this train wreck start?" "Tomorrow." "Haha, nice one. Really, when do we start?" "Tomorrow." "Okay, I am going to call you crazy now. Where are the planes? People? Vehicles?" "I didn't have much time, it was now or never. Our planes are arriving tonight, we got the people we need, it's going to be alright." "I don't know about this. You fail, it's going down deep." "Think positive. Is there more work to do? Yes, but we will get it." "You had me for a second, but I don't know anymore." "Look, you are going to get paid whatever happens." "I'm not sure that's the issue. You've got something going on. What is it?" "You'll see," he said, "you'll see..."