Job offer, don't know what to do

[B1900FO]

Alright guys, this is a toughie...

6 months in with an RJ carrier right now. My expenses exceed my monthly income.

I was just offered a job back home making 55k as a Chief Pilot on a Citation. I really don't want to go back to the area, but what do you do in a financial crunch like this?

I've tried every avenue possible to reduce my student loan payments to no avail.

any thoughts?

 

[WSurf]

55k for a cheif pilot on a Citation doesn't sound like much money at all! Do they provide a health Package?? Is there more money in the future? If no is the answer for the the last two, I'd stay at my RJ job.

What RJ Company you working with?

 

[B1900FO]

Its in the Midwest, so its ok. Health insurance and all. Actually a good deal as far as that's concerned.

Lets just say I'm at one of two that makes up "SureJet"

 

[fischman]

55k? Seriously?

They are getting a bargain. Our first officers make 90k. Captains 120k to 175k.

 

[pilotyip]

a good place to look for your next job

 

[Caveman]

If your profile is correct at 1100 hours I would take the Citation gig if it met three criteria.

A. The money is enough for what your needs are.
B. They type you and you will be logging turbine PIC time.
C. Upgrade at your current job is at least three years away.

Pros of taking the job:

Money problem temporarily solved.
Ability to log Turbine PIC.
Add a type rating.
Expand resume to add corporate experience.

Cons:

Could be a pager slave.
Probably won't log a whole lot of time per year even though it's good quality time.
The money should be more.
Corporate jobs can disappear on very short notice.

If you can upgrade in the reasonably near future stay at the regional. Otherwise I'd take the corporate gig. YMMV. Don't forget, while still not spectacular 2nd year pay even as an FO will be a pretty decent raise, relatively speaking. Can you hang on financially for six more months?

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

Stay put, that pay is terrible for a chief pilot. Find another way to make the payments

 

[WSurf]

Its in the Midwest, so its ok. Health insurance and all. Actually a good deal as far as that's concerned.

Lets just say I'm at one of two that makes up "SureJet"

Well then you answered your own question. Go fly the CJ for peanuts! But you only have 1100hrs? How can you be a Chief Pilot when you don't even have enough time to be typed in it?

 

[WSurf]

If your profile is correct at 1100 hours I would take the Citation gig if it met three criteria.

A. The money is enough for what your needs are.
B. They type you and you will be logging turbine PIC time.
C. Upgrade at your current job is at least three years away.

Pros of taking the job:

Money problem temporarily solved.
Ability to log Turbine PIC.
Add a type rating.
Expand resume to add corporate experience.

Cons:

Could be a pager slave.
Probably won't log a whole lot of time per year even though it's good quality time.
The money should be more.
Corporate jobs can disappear on very short notice.

If you can upgrade in the reasonably near future stay at the regional. Otherwise I'd take the corporate gig. YMMV. Don't forget, while still not spectacular 2nd year pay even as an FO will be a pretty decent raise, relatively speaking. Can you hang on financially for six more months?

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!!!

 

[Hawker800]

Pay depends on the size of the citation. Is it a single pilot small one or a Citation X? Are you going to be the only pilot with a title or will you be a real CP supervising others? 1100 hours total, insurance companies may not like you very much. Also any pt135 involved? Alot to consider my friend. All the best with your decision.

 

[bigshooter107]

1100 hours? How can u get a chief job with no type or ATP, are those very old numbers?

 

[wms]

Go to vet school.

 

[B1900FO]

Hey sorry guys, I haven't updated my profile in a looooonnngg time. I'm at 2500 hours with an ATP right now.

I know the pay is below industry standard for the position, but its what it offers. I see it as a temporary fix to an overwhelming financial burden. Who knows what upgrade time will be. My guess, 3 to 5 years.

Even more so, I've really considered getting out of this career altogether. I absolutely love to fly, but I'm not sure I'm equipped to handle the ups and downs. I made the mistake of getting an aviation degree so if everything goes down the tubes, I'm not marketable for anything else. I'm 26 years old. I'm still young enough to find something different and fly for fun on the side.

Theres a lot riding on this decision, both personally and financially. Its incredibly difficult to put together.

 

[CX880]

citiation

 

[crxpilot]

stay where you are at and hustle the loan payments as best as you can. A lot will change for you and this industry in the next year or so and to stick it out would be your best option. If you fall a little behind on the loan payments, what are they gonna do? Not much. Just nurse them along until you upgrade, find side work, or get hired by the majors with age 65 almost over. good luck!

 

[rickair7777]

55k? Seriously?

They are getting a bargain. Our first officers make 90k. Captains 120k to 175k.

On a citation? Maybe a X in the Bay Area...

If it's a small citation, low-cost area, and a stable job 55K might not be too bad to start if you get a lot of time off. If you fly a lot or they expect office hours so you're available to do biatch work maybe not such a good deal.

 

[Abernathy]

Just to put this out there, many of our FOs can bring in 55K here at Surejet after several years, so that sort of pay for a Citation CP is a little shocking. That said, you'll likely upgrade here before you get to that point though, since the baby boomer exodus may begin within the year.

The real question is whether or not that Citation gig will get you a lot of PIC Turbine time or will you be flying a desk the whole time. May want to figure that out first and then go from there. If your potential employer can give you a reasonable expectation of flying at least 30 hours a month, I'd probably go. But that's just me.

 

[$$$4nothin]

Do yourself a favor. Go to amazon.com, buy and read the book "The total money make over" by Dave Ramsey. Employ all of his tactics, and then fly whatever job gives you a better QOL.

 

[CorpCaptain]

55K for a chief pilot is a joke. Im assuming its a 91 job flying a 500 or SII. Keep in mind that not only will you be flying for this joker, but taking care of maint, training and other tasks. I've seen it a million times. Tread lightly and make sure you know 110% what is expected of you before you commit. Good Luck

 

[fischman]

On a citation? Maybe a X in the Bay Area...

If it's a small citation, low-cost area, and a stable job 55K might not be too bad to start if you get a lot of time off. If you fly a lot or they expect office hours so you're available to do biatch work maybe not such a good deal.

Ultra. Columbus, OH. 182 days a year max. 3 weeks of vacation. Free medical. 50% match on 401k.

Honestly, I would ask this question in the frac or corporate section of the board. I know that when I flew for an airline, I couldn't tell the difference between a Hawker, X, or Falcon. Many of the corporate pilots have flown for the airlines. Few airline pilots have spent any appreciable time in a Signature Flight Support.

 

[captainv]

55K for a chief pilot is a joke. Im assuming its a 91 job flying a 500 or SII. Keep in mind that not only will you be flying for this joker, but taking care of maint, training and other tasks. I've seen it a million times. Tread lightly and make sure you know 110% what is expected of you before you commit. Good Luck

No offense to the poster, but 2500TT for a "chief pilot" is a joke, too.

Is ASA/XJT a combined list or are they still separate? Between the two companies, you only need 2,000 pilots to leave for you to upgrade, and 50-seaters aren't exactly something I'd bet my career on.

 

[BoilerUP]

$55k to manage a Citation in the midwest is terrible. At least $20k too low, and even then its still a fair bit below average NBAA Jet II Chief Pilot pay.

And I say that as a guy who left a regional FO job with the same amount of total time you have about 4 years ago and manages a Citation in the midwest.

You should probably see if you are even insurable as PIC on the Citation, at the hull & liability figures the company/owner requires.

 

[BoilerUP]

Ultra. Columbus, OH. 182 days a year max. 3 weeks of vacation. Free medical. 50% match on 401k.

I'm sure 495 of your former colleagues who lost their jobs when the airplane sales ponzi scheme fell apart wish they were still making that kind of coin, too...

 

[pave driver]

Changed my mind

 

[fischman]

I'm sure 495 of your former colleagues who lost their jobs when the airplane sales ponzi scheme fell apart wish they were still making that kind of coin, too...

As do I. Got a lot of friends on that list.

 

[SLUF4]

55K is ridiculous for a citation chief pilot position. you have to wonder what kind of stability you'd have in that position. not that the airlines are stable, but sometimes these places just up and close shop or sell the jet one day. If it was me i'd stay put unless they come up on the pay closer to about 90K or more. Also you're QOL...who know what it'll be at the citation job. I know when i flew charter/corp. I was "on call" or doing other odd jobs just about every day.

 

[Twisted Mind]

55 is good money for a Citation F.O.! A few things scare the hell out of me about this Citation job. #1 is they are looking to hire a young totally inexperienced “chief” pilot. #2. They want to pay about ½ the going rate for a “chief” pilot. What else are they going to skimp on? Is it single pilot? I doubt they can get insurance for a 26 year old captain with 2500 TT 0 time in type. I remember having the insurance company jack our rates and have some significantly increased requirements when we put a 25 year old as PIC of a Cessna 206. I would say be very careful at worst and at best run the other way.

 

[Wankel7]

How many days off a month with the two jobs?

 

[pilotyip]

55K is ridiculous for a citation chief pilot position.

while between jobs, I would have leaped at this in a heartbeat. 55K pays a lot of bills, when combined with your wife's 30K.

 

[timmay]

There is also at least 3 year PIC within 5 years requirement to be a chief pilot. POI can waive at their discretion. Just something else to think about before you put your notice in.