Airline to Fractional...

[av8tor4239]

left the regionals after a furlough and then being stuck in the right seat for 5+ years.... Will never look back to the airlines.

As far as moon's comment I totally disagree.. I have family at FedEx and I can tell you it is not a " catch me if you can" lifestyle.. yeah the money is there.. but you will look like your are 90 when you turn 40. Trust me I saw it everday as a kid growing up...

As far as the Legacy carriers... only about 10% of the 5000+ pilots at a legacy get to enjoy the schedule moon was talking about and most people that want to achieve that sched will not be able too because they will turn 60 or 65 before the even have the opportunity.

Today you would have to get on with a legacy carrier at the age of 22 to be able to bid in the top 10% as a captain.

I guess the point that I have lived by this far is "if you dont enjoy the process what is the point"... if you have to endure the BS that is now known as the airlines to get a year or two with a 2 on 5 off sched to SJU... It is just not worth all the mess...

 

[cush]

I just rode on a Falcon piloted by guys who were super senior. Their life style was good, but nothing compared to what senior pilots at the majors have. They were real proud of their lifestyle, but I pitied them because, if that's the "top", it aint so good.

Let me get this straight. As one of the "super senior" falcon pilots you pity ME?!

I have (4) 21 day vacations a year on a schedule I know many months in advance. Flying the rich and famous in arguably the nicest flying aircraft in the world(less than 400hrs./yr), to a variety of destinations(unlike my prior 121 job).

I have a kickass FA's doing 90% of the passenger interaction/cleaning/stocking. I'm served free hot catered food followed by hot towels. Stay in high quality hotels. All the while making at or better than senior legacy pilot wages/benefits. For a company that gets bigger and better with age and is owned by Berkshire Hathaway.

I can see how that makes sense.

 

[cush]

Oh, and it appears highly likely I will get through my entire aviation career without a furlough, retire before 60, and never look back.

Please send donations.

 

[Mooneymite]

Oh, and it appears highly likely I will get through my entire aviation career without a furlough, retire before 60, and never look back.

Please send donations.

You and I need to sit and have a beer one afternoon.

 

[learflyer]

I don't get passengers with bare feet, sleeveless shirts that reek or armpit juice, and they pay us enough to live.

Tommy Lee smelled like that the morning I picked him up in LAS! Rich people reek too! I get your point by the way!

 

[fischman]

For you guys that made the switch, how is it to deal with the pax, having no FA, and throwing the bags? To me that would seem like a con, but not to say its not worth it.

How is it to deal with pax? Try it sometime. A 121 PIC is not a skygod that is beyond talking to. People are nice. Talk to them.

Having no FA? IT IS A GODSEND!!! No offense to the FA's at NJA/NJI, but I CAN'T STAND THE FA's ON 121 FLIGHTS!!! They are usualy prima donna's or bored with their job.

Throwing bags? Not a big deal. It takes a grand total of 30 seconds to load the ultra usually. Every now and then it is like a big tetris puzzle trying to figure out how to get everything on, but usually it takes 30 seconds.

 

[Club ORD FO]

For you guys that made the switch, how is it to deal with the pax, having no FA, and throwing the bags? To me that would seem like a con, but not to say its not worth it.

actually, I think had more customer interaction in the airline days, thanks to all the delays and just getting attacked when walking through the terminal. here, it seems like they show up, you shake hands, ask them if they need anything (most say no), and you never hear from them the whole flight. At most they ask you where you keep the water. Since joining the fracs, I've never had to deal with the "i called my friend in Ohare, and she says the weather is fine, so why are we not going."

Throwing bags is no big deal, since i usually have only 2 passengers. not like i am loading up an RJ or anything...

 

[Fozzy]

Personally, I believe the 121 world is at its nadir. There has been enough suffering and misery that even the lethargic 121 major guys have "had enough". I suspect they will stop their distructive in-fighting, unite and take back a lot of what has been allowed to errode. My personal opinion is that the war-hardened pilots that are starting today will make the 121 world a better place over their careers.

That is two predictions I would not bet on.

 

[CA1900]

That is two predictions I would not bet on.

And you know why?

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/931/mesaba5.jpg

 

[Fozzy]

And you know why?

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/931/mesaba5.jpg

Hey where is his IPOD and backpack? Poser.