Desire to be new Mesaba FO

[Talian]

Go for it. I just turned 40, wasnt current and I am instructing for a few months before applying. My youngest daughter is graduating from high school next year and my wife and I are gonna give it a shot... if I get hired. This took alot of consideration, considering I was a CFI at 21 and have had my ATP for 10 years. I just couldnt make a living for my family during those years flying. I agree with the previous post about older applicants looking attractive because our chance to go to the majors are slim, but mainly beacause of maturity. Best of luck.

 

[dpneedham]

. . . I just couldn't make a living for my family during those years flying.

Well here is the deal . . .

I am 45, married, with two children, ages 12 and 5.

This idea would be absolutely impossible if my wife wasn't a Registered Nurse. Like, hopefully someday (before I die) I would like to be the primary income earner in my family. She would kind of like that day to come too, and is waiting patiently (ok, sometimes not so patiently).

So will I be able to support my family, AFTER I "just sweat it out for the first year," and the second and third?

Gosh! I really want to do this, but . . . you know, if I can't, then I need to know now.

 

[GRAAB HIRBOUBI]

Will I be able to support my family?

That depends.
I haven't been the bread winner in my family since coming to Mesaba. I have been here about 5 years and am going to upgrade school the end of the month. I will just about catchup to her pay.

So if you have 300 hrs you will need about 2 years before you get a chance to upgrade into the SAAB. If in two years there is still going to be positions. You will have to expect that the hiring and upgrading going on right now won't last indefinitely.

Can you and your wife survive on about 23K the first year and about 29K the second and 35K the third and about 40K the 4th? While those are gross numbers take home available funds change dramatically if you have to commute.

I am fortunate that my wife allowed my hobbyjob. Now I am upgrading and I still get to stay in my home base. It was a challenging past few years but I have loved most of it.

 

[dpneedham]

I think for the first two years at least it will depend on what else I can do to earn a few $$$ on my days off from Mesaba.

Any other people out there have a second source of income they would like to share?

 

[norskman2]

I think for the first two years at least it will depend on what else I can do to earn a few $$$ on my days off from Mesaba.

Any other people out there have a second source of income they would like to share?

Do an "advanced search" for "income", use the "title only" setting, and you'll find lots of old posts on this, with many ideas.

 

[rumrnr78]

Are you willing to gamble your children's future?
Don't sacrifice your family for this "dream". And, I am not just talking about pay but being at the mercy of scheduling. Want to see your kids unwrap Christmas presents on Christmas morning? Good luck as a new hire. And, you want to work on the few off days you get?
The regional lifestyle is awful and starting so late in the game (even if you do live in base) will only heighten this fact.
And, by the way, bases do get closed. I know from experience.
Sorry to be the wet blanket but I think you should pursue the 100.00 hamburger with your kids and look to working as a part time CFI to get your flying jones.

Cheers- rum

 

[trebordet]

I started late also. Don't be concerned about your age. But be aware that while flying is great, one can have too much of a good thing. Doing anything for up to 8 hours a day can become "a job". It can ruin your love for flying. Also, decide if you really want to get up a four o'clock in the morning, get home after midnight, work weekends and holidays, and be on duty 12 hours a day. Worst than taking crap, in my opinion, is the negativity of people in the airline business. It's insidious. After a while you start to believe all the negative crap you hear. You can't let it get to you. Try to talk about things other than "the contract", or "did you hear what the did to so and so" etc.

-Best

 

[QuasarZ]

While some of these posts are true, don't let people steer you away from your dream. If you never do it you may have regrets. If you and your wife agree to this and you will be ok money wise, I say give it a shot. It is like my sister, she moved out to cali to try the whole acting deal which is a long shot. However, she knew if she didn't try it, she would be wondering her whole life if she could have made it. Give it a try, and if you don't like it after a few years, then pursue something else. I will ask this though, are you fine with being at Mesaba the rest of your career? Making it to the majors these days, and at such a late age is not impossible, but it is a long shot.

 

[dpneedham]

I don't have to make it to the majors to consider being a success.

But I do want to eventually be the primary income earner, and let my wife take a breather.

That could happen once upgraded to Captain, and after I get to the 5 or 6 year on the pay scale.

Life would suck the first two years, and so bad it is enough for me to forget trying.

They would owe me HUGE if I sucked it up for two years, and I would never get paid back, in my opinion.

 

[outsidethecloud]

dpneedham

If you think you want to fly for the airlines and MSP is your home....Mesaba is a great company to start and end your career. I'm sure you have seen the pay scales and retirement(401k) bennies, and if that will work for you I say go for it. From my opinion, I think Mesaba has one of the best pilot groups out there. When I was hired I was one of those "23 year old gel in the hair" (although I didn't have a backpack or an ipod) guys everyone is talking about and now eight years, one base displacement and two downgrades later, I still think Mesaba is a great place to work. Good luck to you and I hope to see you online!

 

[saabservant]

Ditto to that-
I started in my late 30's, been here over 10 years. Looks like I'm stuck, unless the flow-through actually happens, and a merger does'nt blow it up.

All written above is true. Lots of time away, missed holidays, executive mgmt. that will cut your throat.
And it is hard to maintain a positive attitude when you see all the incompetence and missed opportunity.
Still better than a real job, though, and I've had too many of those.
If your spouse is an angel, and makes a decent living, you'll be happy.

By the way, upgrades are going VERY junior now, so you may be an fo for less than 2 years. Some are being awarded before end on one year! But don't take it until you are off probation...

 

[Hollywood82]

Things are going to change, deal with it.

Age 16? Nope, not me. I think the FAA is prudent to not allow ATP rated Captains to fly at less than 23 years old.

But there are things that a young pilot had to grow in, and mature in, to get those required hours, while traveling the age range of 18 or 16 to 23. It is not a complete guarantee, but most people by age 23 should be able to Captain an airliner (and like anything else, I am sure some make it through the cracks who shouldn't).

I am sure every crew member has the option, like hey buddy, if you fly like that again, I am not going with you.

I wish you the best of luck as you pursue your dream. Aviation is a great and challenging profession.

Having said that I would like to point out that having a 300, 600, or anything under 1000 hour FO isn't the safest thing either.

I EARNED my first type rating when I was 21 in a Metro III, and flew single pilot for 3 years, SAFELY. There were a few pilots twice my age that washed out of training, or damaged aircraft due to poor decision making.

I can also say that I know many older pilots who act like they are 15, and many my age who act like they are 50. There are exceptions to every rule.

When you get down to it, it's more about experience, not age. Simply being older than someone doesn't make you a better decision maker. Experience DOES make you a better decision maker.

Just because I may own a MP3 player, or I use hair gel, or I have a strong preference toward backpacks, doesn't mean anything. Things don't stay the same forever, and this is how the new generation does things (not just in aviation either). Just as the generation preceding you didn't approve of new hair styles and young culture, I probably wont approve of the generation after me. IT'S JUST HOW IT IS! If you don't possess the mental real estate to comprehend this, you'll find a career in aviation will be very hard. Odds are most of the regional captains you fly with will own ipods, and backpacks.

And again, good luck with your new career.

 

[FFFO]

There are NO guarantees in aviation. You want to be the bread winner? Work for the government...

I'm on my ass for the 2nd time in my 10 years flying... the industry is ready to implode... do you want to compete with the thousands of experienced airline pilots who will be needing jobs in the next 5 years?

Sure Mesaba or Pinnacle will take you, but don't bet on making it 5 or 6 years... you'd have more luck gambling your wife's paycheck in Vegas...

I'm just sayin....

If the dream of being an airline pilot is what you want, do it. If you think you can be a breadwinner doing it, do your family a favor and find a different career.

 

[Andrew_VT]

If the dream of being an airline pilot is what you want, do it. If you think you can be a breadwinner doing it, do your family a favor and find a different career.

uhh, this is a really old thread. The original poster is now at mesaba, done training, and on reserve (not in MSP) I believe.

 

[Hollywood82]

They hired a guy with 340hours? That's way more dangerous than a Captain under the age of 23.

That grinds my gears!