New (Older) Pilots staying w/ Regionals

[cldsfr79]

Me personally? I would be one of those whack jobs that would give up 10+ years at a regional to move on. I guess I have a spirit of adventure and a desire to achieve a dream fulfilled of flying at a major. Yep, call me a geek, size envy, whatever... I never envisioned myself flying an RJ between DSM and ORD for the rest of my life. entify what you really want before making a decision that you won't regret.

It seems to take this type of determination to make the leap into the majors when your a bit older and have been flying the line as a captain at a regional for years. It has to be about how bad you want it, more of an emotional decision.

For me, I have always told myself to not chase the dollar. Yeah it would be nice to pull down 200k a year in a 777, but what would I have to give up to get there? As someone pointed out, a lot of 10 year captains at regionals would have to take a pay cut for years just to break even to where they were. Of course you would have to start over as FO on reserve, then hold a terrible schedule, and probably commute to a place you don't live, and hope to upgrade at some point (maybe 10 years). Once you finally have a good schedule and you actually get to see you family, you then upgrade to captain, and once again you are on reserve, probably commuting to a different base and you forget who you kids are again. And that shiny 777 you wanted to be a captain in, you may never hold it. How does a 737 from ORD to DSM sound? But then again, you are living the dream by flying a big plane, for a major airline and your pulling down the big bucks. But at what cost?

I think QOL is the most important thing in life.

On the flip side, some regionals could be a great place to spend a career but it can be unstable. Your regional is just one contract away from furloughs or not flying at all. Look at what happened to ACA when United wanted them to fly for cheaper and ACA attempted to be an airline themselves, or Express Jet when they lost a lot of flying with Continental, or Mesa who is losing contracts at an alarming rate. Regionals end up being the puppets of the majors and a once great schedule or base that you held can be yanked away.

For me, I too will always "Dream" of being a major airline pilot flying large jets over the Atlantic, but sometimes reality is just not as sweet as dreams....that's why they are dreams...of course they look perfect and wonderful your brain. For me I'm hanging in the fractionals making good money and having a great QOL.

I hope the best to everyone's plans. Flying by far is one of the hardest careers out there to have success in.

 

[barondriver]

I started at a regional at 34.. Not that old, BUT.. As a career changer, I was more than happy to stay at my regional until retirement. I had to leave after four years (2 young teen kids who needed thier dad, and pay that wasn't getting better) and go back to my previous high paying career. Now at 42, The kids are grown, money is under control, and I have the blessing from my wonderful wife to go back. I would LOVE to get back to my regional and stay for 23 more years. Here's hoping!!

 

[buscap]

I started at a regional at 34.. Not that old, BUT.. As a career changer, I was more than happy to stay at my regional until retirement. I had to leave after four years (2 young teen kids who needed thier dad, and pay that wasn't getting better) and go back to my previous high paying career. Now at 42, The kids are grown, money is under control, and I have the blessing from my wonderful wife to go back. I would LOVE to get back to my regional and stay for 23 more years. Here's hoping!!

Dude!!

I own your muppet avatar!!

 

[no1pilot2000]

"If" an individual chooses a new career as a pilot for the regionals (40+ years old), which regional is a good or decent airline to possibly start and end their career?

 

[buscap]

"If" an individual chooses a new career as a pilot for the regionals (40+ years old), which regional is a good or decent airline to possibly start and end their career?

Geography will very much dictate the answer to your question, as the long term viability of all airlines except Southwest is always in question.

As an example when I jumped into this industry in 98, ACA was considered one of the best places to work. Good management, good training, and a strong union presence. It's a long sad story, but they have been out of business for quite some time. Comair is a similar story with simply a longer death spiral.

Your real intention should be to get in and get on with a major, good corporate, or fractional. The regionals should be your last choice. But if you do the regional thing, geography will really matter. Commuting will amplify every single problem with the job and steal most of your time off.

Don't get me wrong here, I love my regional job, but it was supposed to be a stepping stone which turned into a career. With that in mind, my experience and those of others I have observed, is that it is best to not commute. If you can get on with a regional in a place you would like to live, which also appears to be a bulletproof crewbase, your quality of life will be much better.

But there are no guarantees in this business, as Comair, ACA, and a few others can attest to, but there is no sense setting yourself up for a crappy life on purpose.

That's my take. There are commuters who live in what they rightly consider to be paradise and gladly put up with brutal commutes to do so. Bless them, but that's not for me.

 

[dojetdriver]

As an example when I jumped into this industry in 98, ACA was considered one of the best places to work. Good management, good training, and a strong union presence. It's a long sad story, but they have been out of business for quite some time. Comair is a similar story with simply a longer death spiral.

Quality of training depended on what fleet type you were on. Many others on here can attest to that.

As far as strong union presence goes, couldn't agree more. Granted, they (like EVERY everybody) else dropped the ball here and there once and while. But what I wouldn't give to have that leadership at my current employer.

You can toss AWAC in there as well. Although not in a "death spiral", a far cry from what they they used to be, sadly.

 

[wuberoo]

OK, so I have had a few years of college but no degree. I understand that this is another hurdle for me at 40 but is it really that big of a job killer? If you have the times and licenses and can interview well, could this be enough?

 

[Dubya]

Okay, this has gone on long enough.

Mesa sucks.

 

[say again]

"If" an individual chooses a new career as a pilot for the regionals (40+ years old), which regional is a good or decent airline to possibly start and end their career?

Do you not read the responses to the same question you ask in other threads? Read what Buscap said, it's pretty much dead on. Im a former ACA'er as well.

 

[dojetdriver]

OK, so I have had a few years of college but no degree. I understand that this is another hurdle for me at 40 but is it really that big of a job killer? If you have the times and licenses and can interview well, could this be enough?

If it says "4 year degree required", well.........

However, it's all supply and demand. It's also not unheard of to sometimes "bend" a requirement depending on who you know, etc

 

[pilotguy143]

I'm a current and soon to be furloughed Comair guy. Thankfully, I've only be at Comair for 3.5 years, it's the 10+ year guys who are getting furloughed that I feel bad for. Bottom line, go to a major and build seniority fast.

 

[xjhawk]

I was hired at a regional at 42. My intent was to stay there until retirement. I lived in base, made $80K in year four and would have happily finished my career as an RJ pilot. Then my company filed BK, I was downgraded back to FO and took a 50% paycut. Best thing that ever happened to me. Fortune forced my hand. I had to start looking for a better paying job. I got lucky and was hired by a major a couple of months later. I was 47. Fast forward 4 years. Life is pretty good. I make a lot more money and my QOL has never been better even though I now commute. In my experience unless you are super senior at your regional you are way better off in the long run if you take the initial paycut and get hired with a major. I did it with only 12 years left until retirement and I have no regrets. YMMV.

I am happy to see that someone has lived on what I plan on doing. thanks for the post

 

[79%N1]

So when is the General going to come on here and ruin this good thread by insulting and antagonizing RJ pilots to make him feel better about himself?

 

[Caveman]

OK, so I have had a few years of college but no degree. I understand that this is another hurdle for me at 40 but is it really that big of a job killer? If you have the times and licenses and can interview well, could this be enough?

I got hired without a 4 year degree, but that's not the norm. The hard part is getting the interview w/o a degree. It can be done but with thousands of qualified pilots with degrees looking for the same job the odds are really stacked against you. I wish I had better news for you, but that's the reality. Do whatever you have to do to finish your degree. It could be the only thing keeping you from getting an interview. I was lucky. Counting on luck is not a good career strategy.

 

[no1pilot2000]

I worked for ACA also. I enjoyed the people I worked with. Too bad it went out of business. Doesn anyone know who is using the former ACA maintenance hanger?