If You Could Do It Over Again . . .?

[dpneedham]

For those of you to whom this would apply:

If you have been a CFI in the past,

would you seek out that cushy CFI job where you can make around $40K/yr., perhaps as a multi-CFI at some University (I have heard there is one like that in California), or instruct in the new turbine multi trainers that are coming out in 2008, and build time in those and hopefully skip the regional thing altogether,

or would you take the regional route that you are on now.

I am assuming that nobody wants to stay at the regionals forever, at the low pay.

Or does it get better as the years go by? Is there anybody here at a regional making "good" money?

If so, how many years have you been flying regionals, what are you making (ball park), and which seat are you in?

I just have to get over this initial $20K/yr. thing in my head. I make more than that right now if I don't get out of bed in the morning . . .

 

[Secret Squirrel]

First year pay at most of the majors is not much more than $30K. It depends on what you want. I was starting my 4th year at Express Jet when i got hired at my airline of choice. I was on track to gross about 75K. I was a commuter and did not pick up any over time. I was a captain averaging about 14 days off a month. There were many people that said they would not leave except Southwest, UPS/FEDEX. The more senior guys were bringing in around six figures with a very descent QOL.

What makes you think you can bypass the regionals/cargo and get on with a Major? Do you have good contacts somewhere? That would be probably your only bet. I can not imagine that being a rich guys babysitter in his new turboprop is going to make you more qualified than someone with years of experience in the 121/135 world.

 

[JPAustin]

I've made my decision, and I stand by it. That being said, I should've been an investment banker.

 

[Mike man]

I would have gone into Agronomy.

 

[Cardinal]

would you seek out that cushy CFI job where you can make around $40K/yr., perhaps as a multi-CFI at some University (I have heard there is one like that in California), or instruct in the new turbine multi trainers that are coming out in 2008, and build time in those and hopefully skip the regional thing altogether.

You could be waiting a very, very, long time. Even newhires that come from Part 135 jet operators are rare. As for how turbine CFIs will be received, time will tell.

I CFI'ed, I Regional'ed, Now I have a cushy mainline job. I enjoyed all phases, though the financial rewards haven't been realized.

 

[mcjohn]

What makes you think you can bypass the regionals/cargo and get on with a Major? Do you have good contacts somewhere? That would be probably your only bet. I can not imagine that being a rich guys babysitter in his new turboprop is going to make you more qualified than someone with years of experience in the 121/135 world.

Yeah. What he said.

 

[mcjohn]

Here's a better idea for you to make $40k a year. Most regionals are hurting in the training departments and you make a lot more money as a ground instructor occasionally flying the line than flying the line alone your first couple years. You don't even have to be a current CFI to do it and they need you. Also, the road to being a check airman for the sim or the line is a pretty short one nowadays.

Food for thought.

 

[DoinTime]

You could be waiting a very, very, long time. Even newhires that come from Part 135 jet operators are rare. As for how turbine CFIs will be received, time will tell.

I CFI'ed, I Regional'ed, Now I have a cushy mainline job. I enjoyed all phases, though the financial rewards haven't been realized.

Since when is Frontier a "cushy mainline job"? It may be an A-hole thing to say but really....if Frontier shut shut down (again) it wouldn't even get a paragraph in aviation's history book.

 

[Cardinal]

Since when is Frontier a "cushy mainline job"? It may be an A-hole thing to say but really....if Frontier shut shut down (again) it wouldn't even get a paragraph in aviation's history book.

I specifically used the term "mainline" and not "major" since people get very touchy about that label, despite F9 meeting the DOT definition, as well as Xjet, etc, etc.

What should I call the attainment of my life's work?

A cushy LCC job?

A cushy narrow-body job?

A cushy non-RJ job?

A cushy I'm in my 20's and am generally hireable but I will stay here until age-60 despite the small fleet because pay is good and QOL is phenomenal just as long as I don't get furloughed or get liquidated or get bought out or all three job?

 

[wings421]

Not all regionals are horrible. I enjoy my job. I make ok money (not what I deem great, but I make more than my folks have ever made and I'm about twice the medium income for the area I live in).

I keep my CFI current, but I don't think that I'd ever leave my current job for flight instructing again. Suck it up for a year. Things are moving fast in the industry. I don't think that you are going to be able to bypass the regionals without a lot of luck/connections (at least for several more years).

Good luck whatever you decide.