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"Ok, Captain. See you next time you're on this route."

It was a phrase you might hear over and over again if sitting within earshot of an airline cockpit just prior to pushback. A simple remark from a friendly ground crew worker handing the loading sheet to the flight crew. But this time, the response wasn't as routine, or optimistic.

"Oh, I don't know. We'll see if we make it out here again," quipped the captain. And he didn't.

Days after this exchange, ATA Airlines filed for bankruptcy and grounded its flights. This pilot, and thousands of workers, were out of a job instantly. Same story at Aloha Airlines, and the list is growing.

So, is the world's worst airline job that of a pilot, or flight attendant, constantly concerned about the future? It's certainly not a comforting feeling for these fine folks. But I'd argue it goes up the food chain.

The Airline CEO. That's gotta be the world's worst airline job. And I found that out first hand over the past two months.

It first became apparent during a conversation with Mesa CEO Jonathon Ornstein back in February. The stress, and even some denial about the current airline climate, was evident in his voice as he responded to my questions about employee morale.

Can't be fun to be the boss when your company is facing a lawsuit from a competitor, financial losses, and allegations about sleeping pilots.

Then came Aloha Airlines. Days after filing for bankruptcy, the nostalgic interisland carrier in Hawaii announced it was shutting down. Just like that.

"Why was it so sudden, and who's fault was it!?" the public, press, and employees demanded to know during a court hearing after the surprise announcement.

And out of court came the fired-up Aloha boss David Banmiller, who went ballistic in front of reporters and cameras in downtown Honolulu, blaming Mesa, the government, and gas.

"Folks, you haven't see the end yet. We just happen to be at the beginning. There are other things that are going to happen in this business because this environment of fuel cannot be sustained!"

(Don't miss Banmiller's entire rant by clicking here).

But even those airlines having some success in challenging times are still feeling the pressure. At a ceremony celebrating Hawaiian Airlines' recent route addition from Honolulu to Manila, CEO Mark Dunkerley made it very clear he's never seen anything like this in the airline industry.

"It's been an amazing two weeks," Dunkerley gasped, referring to the demise of Aloha and ATA, and how his airline was dealing with a market that was suddenly very different. "Absolutely unreal!" And Dunkerley acknowledged that any route expansion at this time was a calculated risk.

Calculated might be an understatement. With the big names like United, Delta, and Northwest bleeding millions per day, and billions per week, how long before a total collapse?

Fortunately for me and you, it's not on our shoulders. Despite the small study rooms, or cramped cockpits in bumpy air with stubborn students or finicky instructors, it's not so bad, is it? Sure, the hours are long, and the pay isn't the best.

But then again, no massive paycheck or big buyout can make up for being at the center of failure in an industry we love. We don't have to decide when give in to investors, when to authorize another round of pink slips, or when to sign off on another massive fuel bill. We just get to fly.

The Airline CEO. That's the world's worst airline job.

Article by Chris Archer; Send him an email

What do you think is the World's Worst Airline Job? Email us at info@archerbravo.com