A Gamble (Should I stay Or Should I Go) One More Time.

[JokerFuel]

As previously posted: I have an offer flying a citation and other "toys" for the local rich guy. Very finacially stable individual, and enough so that I think I might have a safe career with this out fit. The offer would be 50K+ a year to start and only medical bennies. Most of the trips are scheduled, so only the rare last minuite call out. There is also a premium raise schedule.
Currently I am a fifth year FO at one of the best Cincinatti based regionals.Most likely able to upgrade very shortly with a very mediocre quality of life. Pay would be around 68K a year, less deductions for medical, dental, union dues, uniforms, 401K,etc... If I were to stay at the airline.
I feel like the airline is a pretty sure thing, but In have a young child at home and the corporate gig would allow me more family time.
I've been commuting my entire airline career and it hasn't been geting any easier.
Anyone out there have any insight to share on my predicament? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Indapool]

Ain't NO such thing as a career corporate job my friend.
I've been on both sides of this fence and have spent some time being the manservant for the "rich guy" so here's my take..

Suppose you quit the regional and local rich guy hires you..but then you find yourself out of work in a year or two? Then what..maybe find another Citation job..maybe it pays 40K instead of 50K+..maybe the equipment is crap, the principal is an A-hole and your gone 20 days a month...But at least you get to go to the hangar on Saturdays to wash the airplane..and the owners car. Then you get to go to the store to stock up on airplane snacks..Oh and when you get back all the Jepps need updating...that's 50 states\Canada\Mexico\Caribbean and the cheap bastard won't spring for Q service. And could you dump that honey pot?? And your paycheck? "Ya, I'm working on it..ya see I ran out of checks..and the bank was closed on Tuesday and then Margret was on vacation so i'll try to pay you next week ok??"

Or you could go back to a regional and start all over again..Or you could get an interview with a "major" and the first question is "why did you leave a 121 PIC position to fly a Citation?"

"I feel like the airline is a pretty sure thing, but In have a young child at home"

Pretty sure thing and young child at home....
My advise..ride it out at the regional..spend every possible minute with your kids while you're at home...get the upgrade and keep climbing the ladder.

 

[qmaster3]

I'm no Airline pilot.

But if I had to ask myself more than a few times. I would stay put.

Good Luck JF

 

[bobbysamd]

Stay

Some "rich guys" can be very difficult people and very demanding. I, for one, have worked for overly demanding people and got tired of them taking advantage of me; can you stand such people? The gentleman may sound great right now, but how will he be after you start working for him?

Moreover, during tough times, corporate flight departments are the first to suffer cutbacks. Of course, there are exceptions.

I gather that your upgrade would be to Captain. Of course, upgrading to very junior Captain from very senior FO has its problems, but your airline offers more potential in the long run if you can wait it out.

You title your thread, "a gamble." Times are still uncertain and professional aviation is always uncertain. Therefore, if it were me, I would not take the gamble. As long as you have enough seniority to avoid furlough, even if it means being RIFed back to the right seat, I'd stay at the airline.

Hope that helps some more. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Purpledog]

It depends on what your priority is. My priority is my kids so that pretty much steers all my decisions. Some have backfired others have not. Less than desirable 121 jobs seem like a dime a dozen and there will probably be more in the future. I wouldn't be too concerned with saying bye bye.

 

[Jmajoris]

I would stay and not start over on what I would consider a risky endeavor. You are working for a good company, have decent seniority, and in time your qol will improve. I would not be seduced into starting over by the rich guy and his toys. On a whim you could be gone, and that's a tough way to live since you will be forced to allow someone to take advantage of you if they choose to.

Most of the people that I know in successful private business are a little on the cut throat side. They are nice as long as things go their way......

Good luck,

As previously posted: I have an offer flying a citation and other "toys" for the local rich guy. Very finacially stable individual, and enough so that I think I might have a safe career with this out fit. The offer would be 50K+ a year to start and only medical bennies. Most of the trips are scheduled, so only the rare last minuite call out. There is also a premium raise schedule.
Currently I am a fifth year FO at one of the best Cincinatti based regionals.Most likely able to upgrade very shortly with a very mediocre quality of life. Pay would be around 68K a year, less deductions for medical, dental, union dues, uniforms, 401K,etc... If I were to stay at the airline.
I feel like the airline is a pretty sure thing, but In have a young child at home and the corporate gig would allow me more family time.
I've been commuting my entire airline career and it hasn't been geting any easier.
Anyone out there have any insight to share on my predicament? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kingairyahoo]

sounds like QOL vs. stablilty, which one is more important to you...

QOL is obviously primary, but it has to be balanced with other factors such as stability.

your QOL aint the greatest, but your stability wont be at the slowtation job. and as mentioned, QOL can also deteriorate quickly if say, he decides an aircraft sitting in a hanger is losing him money and he decides to put in on a local certificate with the caveat you are required to be on board for all flights, all of a sudden you go from 7-10 days away from home to 20+...dont laff, ive seen it done

 

[mudkow60]

My friend is a flight attendent for a rich guy in a Gulfstream IV. She says it is great. Great pay, benifits, and they guy is really good to his employees.

 

[FN FAL]

Ain't NO such thing as a career corporate job my friend.

Yea, that's why we have 747, 757, Airbus and BAT plane pilots flying 135 in Caravans. I just met a 21 year UsAir pilot in initial Caravan sim training at PAIFA and he wasn't 60 years old. What about the guys at ACA, Air Willy, Chicago Express, Midway, TWA, Pan Am, Eastern, Piedmont, and that 737 operator that vaporized after 9/11? If this guy is at Comair, maybe he's smelling what the rock is cooking and is looking to get out before it's too late.

Or you could get an interview with a "major" and the first question is "why did you leave a 121 PIC position to fly a Citation?"

That scenario you paint is borne out of brainwashing and reading too much interview gouge posted by people that don't know what they are talking about. That question might come up, but not in the light that you are painting it, the interviewers aren't stupid and they wouldn't have asked him in for the major interview if they thought it was going to be an issue. Besides, where do you guys come up with this crap...almost all the guys I know that got on with Southwest had civilian part 91/part 135 Citation/business jet type time and not one hour of working at a feeder.

My advise..ride it out at the regional..spend every possible minute with your kids while you're at home...get the upgrade and keep climbing the ladder.

Comair is having problems with filling class dates and training "no shows"...so say posters in the regional section of this forum. To me, that smells of something rotten in Demark. The fact that the original poster is even contemplating the change is additional evidence all is not what it appears in 121 land.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Joker,

As Bobby and jmajoris pointed out, those people can be very tough to deal with. I just turned down a job that would have paid double what I make now flying with/for (he's a low-time pilot buying a single-engine turbine) that type of person. Basically I would have been babysitting him most of the time. That was one reason I turned it down, the other is he would be very difficult to deal with on a frequent basis.

If you're close to upgrade, stay and get the PIC turbine time. You've been there 5 years. A year from now you may have the experience a different Part 91 operator in your area is looking for. Obviously, who knows?? But I'd stick with what you have in the short-term. Good luck.

Mr. I.

 

[filejw]

What's the chance of a leave at Comair?????