That way if they only get a couple more seasons, or even just one, they'll still have the ability to actually end the story by simply jumping ahead that much closer to the Death Date of the Passengers and picking up the story there.
He had a recurring role in American Crime which starred Felicity Huffman.
After vanishing in season 1, he abruptly reappears for a moment in Flight 828's cockpit after the tail fin is returned to the ocean.