Career Advice

[sluminginpit]

I know there have been many posts about this same topic but I need my fellow pilots advice regarding this specific situation.

Currently Captain at regional airline where the parent company is Chapter 11, we have mainline pilots on our property bidding out of senority and holding left seat. We just furghloughed another 30 pilots and downgraded 15 Captains with an average 4- 5 years senority. This puts me in the very bottom of the true Captains on the list and very close to downgrade. The company is upgrading the mainline pilots on property, some with as little as 2 years at the mainline carrier. Nice huh ! They closed my base in which I own a house and now I commute to reserve. Very deep reserve!

I have thought for many years about leaving but have always been afraid that some day things will turn around. I have an opportunity in aviation to be Chief Instructor for a large, well established, long term flight school in the northwest that I will make the same ammount of money I do now, be home everynight, have stabilty and have holidays off.

In the opinion of this board what would you do? What do you think the future of this career is, is it worth the scarifice we give? How many would leave tommorow if they had the chance?

I don't want bashing from people, I have paid alot of "dues" and would like to make an informed decision about a major life change. Going from an RJ to Cessna's is a big change. Is it worth it ?

 

[chperplt]

Is it worth it..... That's completely up to you and what you want out of life. Do you want to be home every night? Do you want stability?

Do you think you're going to have a job next year at your current employer? The WSJ ran an article saying your "parent" company doesn't have enough cash to run through mid January.

Going from an RJ to a Cessna.. who cares. It's all about money and quality of life.

Good luck

 

[Resume Writer]

Not that going to the Chief Instructor job would be bad, but have you tried at any other airline? Do you meet their minimums? Do you have friends on property anywhere else? I would suggest you try that route first before you go back to flight instructing.

This industry is very cyclical. I have friends and clients that have been with as many as 8 different airlines. Most have been furloughed at least once in their career. However, if the economy takes another nosedive, who says the Chief Instructor job will be safer? That is truly discretionary income spending for a consumer.

Just my thoughts. Good luck to you!

Kathy

 

[ROJO]

I left aviation about 3 and a half years ago. I flew for a regional, but found the experience to be fairly mundane, boring, and devoid of much opportunity for personal growth. I left for a job in government that pays well, gives me world travel, and is very challenging. However, I agonized over the decision to leave. I like my new career a lot, even though it's a non-flying job, but I still find myself wanting to be flying sometimes. The fact that you'll be flying in your prospective new job is a plus.

Bottom line is, it's not an easy decision. No sure answer is going to come flashing over your head. Do what you think is right, and once you make a decision, try not to second-guess yourself, then be happy. Best of luck!

 

[Ligeirinho]

My experience

Hi I am not going to give my opinion neither advice but tell you how I felt when I lost my MD11 F/O job on a 2nd biggest major airline and had to go all the way back as stating a a creer just because I moved to US and once here (sorry to say that all discrimination problems) I had to fly old turboprops like 1960's and singles again and still flying a crj ( if you think CRJ's are nice you really never flew a jet).
First of all I have wife and 2 kids and my wife likes to do it everyday, that's also a consideration to satay more at home.
When I started in a aviation the companies use to give uniforms (complete set) and renew it every year, they also use to take care of all visas we need to international travel, positive space for your family traveling on your same flight if you schedule to fly on christmas or new year, etc...
Somebody said it's just a temporary donwturn and when the economy come back on track we'll be fine again. Economy came back on the late 90's but our benefits never came back. Now same is going on and a put money on table with anyone that says the industry will revert it. No, the industry is changing and forever it's hapening not only here but in europe and south america and everywhere.
It's the globalization you can say but no it's the unemployment people now a days make less money to keep their jobs so they can't afford expensive tickets so airlines neeed to charge less and less for the same trip. It's a domino effect. But the biggest difference is (sorry again) americans that never lived abroad think no problems reach US and that's the catch they don't know how to solve it. So Airlines found themselves in trouble because of the oil price and all implications of the sluggish economy neither one will recover like in the past at least we will not be here if this happening. Oil is going out some can say no tha's impossible whatever scientists all over the world already told us this day would come.
The VLJ's (VERY light jet) are the future and unless the governmet (FAA) do something to avoid the crashes of pilot owners flying those we all gonna have even more trouble on airlines.
Now the question you ask why VLJ's has something to do with it?
Ok CRJ's was a new technology from the 90's with very low ops cost and becuase the fact to be a samller jet (paying less for pilots) companies saw it as a very nice way to cut more costs while pilots saw it as I will fly a jet now instead of turboprops, main line pilots and union saw it as a threat to their salaries and jobs.
Who was right? Now we see a massive invasion of RG's all types and main lines still strugling to keep the very low prices (man you can buy a ticket today cheaper than 15 years ago and flying faster). Now explain what they did with the inflation of 15 years and other costs that increased? They cut from your salary.
Now the VLJ's are the new technology they will have an ops cost cheaper than a cessna 210 (that's right a jet flying cheaper than a single engine) they will cost in average 1,5 milion dollars brand new and they will pay even less for pilots to do door to door commute as they are certified for 1 pilot operation.
But people here on this board voted for the government who endorsed and approved the cabotage deal allowing cargo (for now pax coming after) airlines to fly inside US taking away our jobs for cheaper labor. I am not an american born but I am an american citizen and there is no excuse for someone on airline industry to support such a thing. I would go back to Brazil if I had a job there just because to work in so bad conditions woory if you be fourlough on next bid I would rather to live in a much more free country where at least talk about sex in public don't bring you to jail. (that's right US is not as free as the government try to make you believe)
If your family really means for you and you like to be home everyday one thing it's for sure your wife and kids if you have them will love it and your sex life will be amazing but if fly a jet fast and furious with the adrenaline of how to keep your seniority and pay your bills can't get out of your blood stream stay here. I tried both worlds and now I am mature enough to realize how idiot I was to leave a job like the one you said you had an offer to.
GOD Bless you and your family.

 

[Treme]

Sven?

 

[sluminginpit]

Ligeirinho - I never said flying the CRJ was a nice plane. In my humble opinion it is just another reason to quit flying. As everyone in this indusrty knows, once you close the cockpit door, it's just another airplane, only this one is a gutless turd!

Thanks for your post.

PS> Not Sven

 

[rchcfi]

"Is it worth it?" That's really only a question you can answer.

My situation is quite different from yours, but the outcome looks to be the same. I have 1/2 as many hours as you do. So for me to hear things like you say, it just makes me realize that it will be the year 2050 before something goes my way. And that I should get out now while I still have some youth left.

I left a good paying, stable job in 5/2001 to persue my flying dream. I wanted to be able to say "at least I tried". Now I just wish I could rewind time to get my life back. In just over 3 short years, I've watched my perfect credit get wrecked, my truck repossessed, my 401K drained, and the IRS all over my back. Trying to get all that back in this industry is proving to be impossible. I don't even clear $700 on my paycheck. And I'm currrently only flying 10-20 hours a month. So in terms of flight time recency on resumes, it looks like sh*t! I could really babble on and on, but I'm getting really pissed off typing this.........Good luck to you!

I'll just let all the PFTers have their way...........

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Sven?

Oli????

 

[737 Pylt]

Amen Brother!

Is it worth it..... That's completely up to you and what you want out of life. Do you want to be home every night? Do you want stability?

Do you think you're going to have a job next year at your current employer? The WSJ ran an article saying your "parent" company doesn't have enough cash to run through mid January.

Going from an RJ to a Cessna.. who cares. It's all about money and quality of life.

Good luck

What he said! EXACTLY!
737

 

[Resume Writer]

"Is it worth it?" That's really only a question you can answer.

My situation is quite different from yours, but the outcome looks to be the same. I have 1/2 as many hours as you do. So for me to hear things like you say, it just makes me realize that it will be the year 2050 before something goes my way. And that I should get out now while I still have some youth left.

I left a good paying, stable job in 5/2001 to persue my flying dream. I wanted to be able to say "at least I tried". Now I just wish I could rewind time to get my life back. In just over 3 short years, I've watched my perfect credit get wrecked, my truck repossessed, my 401K drained, and the IRS all over my back. Trying to get all that back in this industry is proving to be impossible. I don't even clear $700 on my paycheck. And I'm currrently only flying 10-20 hours a month. So in terms of flight time recency on resumes, it looks like sh*t! I could really babble on and on, but I'm getting really pissed off typing this.........Good luck to you!

I'll just let all the PFTers have their way...........

Where are you living? Why are you only getting 10-20 hours per month of flying? Is there another position you can go to? Is there a chance you can go back to your old type of work and fly on the side?

Kathy

 

[staledog]

"Is it worth it?" That's really only a question you can answer.

My situation is quite different from yours, but the outcome looks to be the same. I have 1/2 as many hours as you do. So for me to hear things like you say, it just makes me realize that it will be the year 2050 before something goes my way. And that I should get out now while I still have some youth left.

I left a good paying, stable job in 5/2001 to persue my flying dream. I wanted to be able to say "at least I tried". Now I just wish I could rewind time to get my life back. In just over 3 short years, I've watched my perfect credit get wrecked, my truck repossessed, my 401K drained, and the IRS all over my back. Trying to get all that back in this industry is proving to be impossible. I don't even clear $700 on my paycheck. And I'm currrently only flying 10-20 hours a month. So in terms of flight time recency on resumes, it looks like sh*t! I could really babble on and on, but I'm getting really pissed off typing this.........Good luck to you!

I'll just let all the PFTers have their way...........

dear god, i feel badly for you. please get the heck off your computer, or at least off this site, and look for another job. flying or other.

 

[norskman2]

Sven?

Oli????

Ya, you betcha!

 

[rchcfi]

Resume Writer,


I am in this situation because I was too stupid not get out of it when I had the chance. I wanted to go corporate so I took this step, after letting my boss talk me into staying after my temporary contract. I thought there would be a possibility to move into our King Air or Citation, but that is all but a pipe dream due to insurance mins. (4000TT for KA and 3000 for Cit) I was using my 80-100 hours a month this summer to drive my mind, not really realizing what I was getting into. So, since getting my 8410 in the C414 (9/27/04), I have flown a grand total of 27 hours. (9 of that I was lucky enought to get 'cause the KA was on a trip, and the 414 was the only other option) Basically, we have 3 (yes, count them 3) pilots staffed for this aircraft because it is on a 24 hour Lifeflight status. The problem is that the hospital recently upgraded their helicopter and don't use us anymore. We're only used in cases of MX or IFR conditions. Hmmm, let me do the math. Flying 13 hours a month, it will take me 4 years to make mins for the Cit and 10.2 years to fly the KA. Oh, and don't let me forget about all the paperwork I get to do. To fulfill my salary obligation, I have to be at work for at least 7 hours a day doing "tasks" assigned by the CP. That comes out to 127 hours of paperwork and 13 hours flying a month. Not that I'm synical, but I didn't spend hard earned money, go into debt, etc, to push a freakin' pencil....And I could go back to my old job, but not in the same capacity. And in this day and age, I'm not sure I would want to anyway. I was working for Southwest as an Operations Supervisor for 9 years, and it was tough work. But after 9/11, I'm wondering what it would be like now.

Staledog,

Trust me my friend....I've gone through all 939 pages of the Air Charter Guide, submitted buku resumes, made phone calls, had resumes walked in for me, and nothing seems to be working. Really, I'm a great guy with great experience. I just hate to show this side here, because my current situation has found me at wit's end.

Cheers!

 

[EMBATP]

correction

i think its "beaucoup"