Alaska Bush to Regional

[tjmoser]

After almost 5 years in Western Alaska, I'm leaving for what I think is a great regional. Anyone else made the jump? I'm curious how the Alaska environment translates to airline flying.

The advantages of the job I'm leaving are 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off, about 55k per year to fly a piston twin, and lots of fun flying. The disadvantages are endless scud running, poor runways, terrible wx, old planes, 15-20 legs per day, living in a pilot house half my life, and maxed out on the pay scale with no retirement.

I know the starting pay at the regional is very low (I'm a 44 year old career changer, and our house is paid for), but it seems like a good investment if I finish my career there as an RJ Captain. None of the guys that have left here for the airlines ever came back because they didn't like it! Any input??

 

[Twotter76]

been there done that

Well I wasnt based in the bush but I flew out of ANC in the Twotter and I had numeous occasions to fly the bush in it. That is probably what I miss most is the fun and challenge of flying into 1500' strips in a 30 knots crosswind. Not to mention some of the scenery. However what I have discovered is that flying a turoprop (or an RJ) into JFK, LGA, or ORD is (for me anyway) pretty fun too. And the money is certainly better in the RJ than it ever was in the Twin Otter.

They each have their own pros and cons and you have to decide what works for you. The airline lifestyle is certainly more laid back than the bush and has its rewarding moments but it is quite a bit more routine. You will fly with great people either way and remember - it still beats having a real job. Dont worry so much about the schedule - you will still have 11-18 days off each month they just wont be in a row. Yes reserve sucks but thats a part of the game. Besides, anywhere is better than Bethel in the winter. If you like you can send me a PM here and I will try and answer any questions that you have. Good luck.

Twotter76

 

[Singlecoil]

I've been there done that as well. The biggest suprise for me was adapting to a crew environment. Single pilot in the bush, you are making a ton of decisions every day that are difficult and in many cases life or death.
At the regional/major, you have very few decisions to make as a crew, let alone an FO. Be prepared to fly with morons you insist on telling you how to talk on the radio, what speed to climb at, what altitude to fly at, etc. It is going to be difficult to be civil toward people like that, but you are going to have to be.
One attitude to adopt might be to ask yourself what the goal is. It is to get the people from here to there safely. If the d1ckface in the other seat needs to tell you to make sure you move the mic away from your face before you put the coffee cup to your lips (and EVERYTHING else) to stay in the loop, then so be it. If you come back with a snied remark, then they'll get PO'ed and not be effectively backing you up, which is what you need in a safe operation.

 

[volks]

Give me a P.M. I'm thinking of going back.

 

[belchfire]

Spent a while in BET.

The crew thing is a big change, as will be
letting someone else finalize the big
choices till you upgrade.

You won't miss the weather. The go-no go
descisions are pretty hard and fast, and
while you can still get caught, the forcasting
is much better in the outside, because you
were seeing it first up there when it was just
forming.

You will miss it on a cold, clear day when you
can see the Earth's curveature from 6000 feet
and it is just you and the plane on the way
home for the day.

Ten years from now, you will really miss it,
except for the $hitty wx.

Let the guy in the left seat have his way
unless he is trying to kill you. Most are
good. A few anal types out there, just
blow them off and know that if you
survived up there, you can survive anything.