What Would You Do?

[CAPTAINAMERICA]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

If I stay with the civil service position I will be 49 years old at retirement. At that age what does anyone think my chances of being hired by an air carrier would be then?

Any feed back from people in the industry would be appreciated.

 

[pilotyip]

excellent, the world growing pilot shortage will allow anyone with a license toget a job.

 

[skid]

If you have to honestly ask this ? you must not like your current job. I just wish I could find a good job with full Gov pension. Wait your six years and then decide if you want to get into this messed up industry.

 

[taxicabdriver]

Wait......you'll be very disappointed if you get in this mess now, like he said jump in 6 years down the road if you still want to at that time

 

[dartdriver]

If this is serious...Sir, stick out your job and get the pension. Then go to 9E and enjoy the flying.

 

[kansas]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

If I stay with the civil service position I will be 49 years old at retirement. At that age what does anyone think my chances of being hired by an air carrier would be then?

Any feed back from people in the industry would be appreciated.

Stick it out...financially security is tough to find during your first 5 years of being in the airline world, and the unlucky are never able to find it. Get the pension, and nose around for corporate gigs, perhaps, or instruct?

Whatever you choose, follow your heart, but use your head...Good luck.

 

[fried chickens]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

If I stay with the civil service position I will be 49 years old at retirement. At that age what does anyone think my chances of being hired by an air carrier would be then?

Any feed back from people in the industry would be appreciated.

How much do you want to be an airline pilot? It is one of those things that you'll regret later in life that you never achieved? I say do it. You can always go back to the gov't. civil service time is all cumalative. 17yrs with the airlines, some part time work with the gov't, and a few years of full time, You could still retire with gov't bennies at the usual age (60s).

FWIW, I left with 3 years under my belt as a GS-12.

 

[Scott Holl]

come to ASA.

Ignore the naysayers, I am a great boss.

 

[Griff]

I am in the same boat. Started at age 19, almost have 25 years in. I am ready for a change. My biggest concern is not putting my family in a bad spot. Those "government jobs" are not always what they are cracked up to be eh? I am doing a little part-time corporate flying in a Citation Bravo and really enjoy it. So the passion for aviation is there, just want to make sure the T's are crossed and the I's dotted! Good Luck!

Griff

 

[embdrvr]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

Next time the thought of giving up that full pension occurs to you I suggest the following action.

Step 1. Locate section of wall approx 24"x24"
Step 2. Bang your head against that section of wall
Step 3. Repeat as necessary

 

[Boris Badenov]

You can have my regional job if I can have your pension.

 

[Wes Mason]

Get your pension, you will have no problem getting a minimum wage job at the regionals at 49.

 

[Slice121]

Get the gov't cheese first! The retirement age is likely going to be 65 anyway. In the mean time, get your ratings at a local FBO, build time by CFIing or the like part-time. You can build enough time over the next 6 years to walk into a regional when you retire.

 

[Goose Egg]

I realize that I'm hardly the voice of experience here, but, fwiw, if I had your times and a/c experience (i.e. CE-550/B-400), I doubt very much that I'd even bother with the airlines at all. I'd probably look for some good part time 91 stuff, and then when you retire you could look for a longer-term 91 job, that is unless you absolutely can't stand your current job. In that case, I'd probably start looking at fractionals rather than regionals... After all, flying is flying, whether there's an airline logo on the plane or not. If you don't have the kind of time that fracs want, then work on building it up.

And remember, 49 is still a relatively young age and at that point you would have a lot of time to do other things... like fly jets.

Hope this helps.

-Goose

 

[JohnDoe]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

Absolutely-positively No.

With the age limit going to 65, you will have no problem getting on with somebody in the future, and you will have that huge safety net of a pension to fall back on and/or supplement your meager starting wages.

Just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth (not a whole lot).

 

[Papps]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

If I stay with the civil service position I will be 49 years old at retirement. At that age what does anyone think my chances of being hired by an air carrier would be then?

Any feed back from people in the industry would be appreciated.

lol crap dude don't do it.

 

[Occam's Razor]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

Depends...

If your "civil service" job is testing the friction coefficient of condoms on nubile swimsuit models for the Bureau of Standards...let's swap!

If it's lick-cleaning proctoscopes at a Washington DC Free Clinic, I'd bail...

The fact that you're considering it tells me you aren't too thrilled with your current position...or your chances for advancement. Either that, or you work with dicks.

If I stay with the civil service position I will be 49 years old at retirement. At that age what does anyone think my chances of being hired by an air carrier would be then?

Good. No question.

Any feed back from people in the industry would be appreciated.

Alas, my friend...you'll get a lot of feedback! A lot of folks here break squelch too easily (me included!).

 

[John Pennekamp]

If you currently had a secure civil service government position that you could retire from with a full pension in (6) six calender years would you give that up for a flight crewmember position with Pinnacle Airlines, or for any airline for that matter at this point in time?

If I stay with the civil service position I will be 49 years old at retirement. At that age what does anyone think my chances of being hired by an air carrier would be then?

Any feed back from people in the industry would be appreciated.

Two words: law school.

 

[SpoilerFault]

Well, as much as civil service sucks, I would stick it out and get the pension. Six years will go by so fast and you won't have to be sitting at a regional with a sh!tty schedule kicking yourself for not going for the pension. You're still young enought to have some good years of flying left if thats what you want. I recently took a civil service gig maintaining the C-17 and to be honest I hate it. It's the most boring job I've ever had and I only took it for the security and schedule. Things were just getting too unstable at my last job(ASA) and the job with Uncle Sam gives me plenty of time for school.

 

[Hawker800]

I was in your position about 7 yrs ago. I have the pension and currently fly corporate. That pension will see you through furloughs and the like. Pay at the regional level is not good and it will take several years at one to equal the pension. I was hired by a regional at the age of 49 but later returned to corporate. Good luck with your choice.