Need some advice guys/gals

[PilotChapin]

Hey ladies and gentlemen I'm in a bit of a pickle. I need some advice from some of you experienced and mature folks here. Here's my situation I currently fly for a decent 135 company(been here for 14 months, I am a co-pilot in a citation bravo, pay is good and benefits are ok. I am married with a young kid and QOL, well what can I say? it's 135. I have an opportunity to be a captain at a start up airline flying turboprops, pay would be lower than what I am making now. I believe it's going to be around $32 to $34/hr, no bennies to start "they'll have them within a couple of months", I would be number 2 or 3 on the pilot seniority list, the airline will be based "home", and they appear to have a deep "money pocket", good investors and good structure.

I know the obvious, I would take a pay cut, lose benefits for a few months, but would have a fixed schedule (better QOL), high seniority and of course PIC 121 TURBINE TIME! Which this is why am asking for ya'lls help.
At some point i want to fly for a Major and make a career with one. But I dont know if I should jump ship, take the pay cut and risk everything for PIC 121 TURBINE time. Or Should I just stay put with my current company and hope that someday (atleast 3 year) I might upgrade and build Turbine PIC at a slow rate.
What would ya'll recommend? Has anyone gone through this? If so what did you do?! I really need to figure out if going for that 121 PIC turbine will really help and advance my career quicker, or if it would be the same if I just stay here a wait. I really dont know.

 

[propsarebest]

Stick it out, airline life sucks.

 

[av8tor4239]

You Need To Do This:

Go To Your Local Burger King Restraunt And Ask The Manager For An Application.

Fill Out The Application And Tell Him That You Want The Job Working The Fry Machine Because It Pays More Than 34 Grand A Year And You Are Not Going To Get Laid Off Because Some Fat Fu(king Mgmt @$$hole Decides That The Company Is Not Worth Running Anymore And Or Pulls A Frank Lorenzo And Fires All The Pilots And F/a's Because He Can.....

 

[BoilerUP]

You've flown two Citations, a DC9, a 727, and you are asking about going to a turboprop operator as a street CA?

Be very, very wary of startup airlines...

 

[Flybet3]

You Need To Do This:

Go To Your Local Burger King Restraunt And Ask The Manager For An Application.

Fill Out The Application And Tell Him That You Want The Job Working The Fry Machine Because It Pays More Than 34 Grand A Year And You Are Not Going To Get Laid Off Because Some Fat Fu(king Mgmt @$$hole Decides That The Company Is Not Worth Running Anymore And Or Pulls A Frank Lorenzo And Fires All The Pilots And F/a's Because He Can.....

You see Pilotchapin that's what you get for posting in the regional forum! the place of backpacks and Ipods apparently. The Burger King thing though, very very very funny! dude have you thought about doing stand up

 

[mamba20]

Sounds like an interesting situation. I would first and foremost caution you about the magic alure of the 121 PIC time. Its not what it used to be. I know many people with clean records and tons of PIC turbine who are still FO's at regionals.

Second caution would be the lack of benefits. I would really take a look at that one, especially being a parent. Make damn sure you'll get them or be compensated to get them on your own. Look into getting COBRA if you can afford it. Just make sure you do what is best for you family.

Start ups and be a great thing and it could work wonders for your career. I would probably go for it, the 121 PIC definitely won't hurt you but if thats the only reason then I might think twice (this being because you need to consider your QOL and your familes QOL first and foremost).

If you think that you can get COBRA and have a better life for your family then hands down go for it!

 

[Flybet3]

You've flown two Citations, a DC9, a 727, and you are asking about going to a turboprop operator as a street CA?

Be very, very wary of startup airlines...

well basically everyones flight time and aircraft experience on flightinfo is usually about 30% true. 1 out of 6 types and 100 hours for every 1000

 

[siucavflight]

well basically everyones flight time and aircraft experience on flightinfo is usually about 30% true. 1 out of 6 types and 100 hours for every 1000

I am not so sure about that.

 

[DrProc]

Here's the thing...FedEx was once a startup flying Falcon 20's, Southwest was a startup at one time, JetBlue was a startup...just think where the first classes at these places are. So who knows where this company will be in 10 years. But then again, ProAir, Vanguard, and Transmeridian were also startups. Roll the dice and take a chance.

 

[andym037]

If you want to go to an airline, go to an established company. Startups are too risky. No benefits?? WTF is that about? Lame. I wouldn't take it just because of that. Furthermore, in my opinion, turbine PIC is not the holy grail everyone seems to think it is. Just go to a decent regional and you'll upgrade eventually. The PIC will come. Its not worth sacrificing everything and selling your soul for a few hours in the PIC column. Just my $.02

 

[guitarflyer]

Ratings: C500, C650, DC9, 727, LR45
Total Time: 11000+

And you need PIC turbine time??

Something wrong with this picture.

 

[WWEfan]

<looks around for mature, experienced people>

Nope. None of those here.

 

[Goose Egg]

I'm neither experienced nor mature, but the lack of benefits would be the foremost of several deal-breakers. Sorry, "in a few months" does't cut it, at least not from a start up, and that goes for a flying job or non.

But then again, I'm not really overwhelmed with a desire to fly for a major, or in a really big hurry at all for that matter, so my decision making process is going to be a bit different.

On the other hand, you really aren't risking that much. If the startup flops, you either go back to your old 135 gig or find something else. With you quals, it shouldn't be too hard.

-Goose

 

[tathepilot]

If you can answer yes to the 3 of these questions, than I would say go for the 121 gig.

1. can your wife's pay support the family with you taking a pay cut?

2. does your wife have bennies that will cover your family?

3. is your family life hurting becasue you are not home often?

 

[Shaheen]

You Need To Do This:

Go To Your Local Burger King Restraunt And Ask The Manager For An Application.

Fill Out The Application And Tell Him That You Want The Job Working The Fry Machine Because It Pays More Than 34 Grand A Year And You Are Not Going To Get Laid Off Because Some Fat Fu(king Mgmt @$$hole Decides That The Company Is Not Worth Running Anymore And Or Pulls A Frank Lorenzo And Fires All The Pilots And F/a's Because He Can.....

Uh...Imagine being a partner to this guy/gal on a three-day trip.

 

[PilotChapin]

Ratings: C500, C650, DC9, 727, LR45
Total Time: 11000+

And you need PIC turbine time??

Something wrong with this picture.

just because I've flown 3 out of 5 of those airplanes it does not mean I have the required PIC to apply at a major. Oh yeah, 727 and LR45 are airplanes i would love to fly, but thanks for your concern. Idiot

 

[PilotChapin]

I'm neither experienced nor mature, but the lack of benefits would be the foremost of several deal-breakers. Sorry, "in a few months" does't cut it, at least not from a start up, and that goes for a flying job or non.

But then again, I'm not really overwhelmed with a desire to fly for a major, or in a really big hurry at all for that matter, so my decision making process is going to be a bit different.

On the other hand, you really aren't risking that much. If the startup flops, you either go back to your old 135 gig or find something else. With you quals, it shouldn't be too hard.

-Goose

Yeah the no bennies thing is what's really turning me off... I've actually thought about doing a bit of contract on the side with my current company if I need to get some more money. Thank you for the advice

 

[PilotChapin]

<looks around for mature, experienced people>

Nope. None of those here.

I can see that by some of the responses...but o well, freedom of speech I guess :beer:

 

[PilotChapin]

If you can answer yes to the 3 of these questions, than I would say go for the 121 gig.

1. can your wife's pay support the family with you taking a pay cut?

2. does your wife have bennies that will cover your family?

3. is your family life hurting becasue you are not home often?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not to much

 

[PilotChapin]

Uh...Imagine being a partner to this guy/gal on a three-day trip.

all i would probably hear is nag nag nag nag for 3 days