Leaving the Regionals for the dark side

[turbinesurgeon]

Anybody out there leave 121 to go work for the FAA?

Any regrets?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

flight testing ILS' must be fun.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

I've had FAA jumpseat observers that are former 121 guys. Much more stable job and they still get some retirement bennies. I was encouraged to apply but I'm not real keen on a 5 day a week job. Good option for someone looking for stability.

 

[b19]

Almost everyone I have ever met from the FSDO which is the side of the FAA I assume you are talking about is usually ex military, a couple of different airlines, a halfdozen typeratings, spent a lot of time in the training department and care about safety. If you have the patience to work in a large beauracracy sp. and the humility to work with some large egos all just to affect small changes in training, checklists, standardization etc. and all at an excruciatingly slow pace, because of a belief that it will improve safety then maybe it's for you. First go and try to have one item added, changed, deleted from your companys checklist there is always something that can be improved and follow this from beggining to end and then decide if this is the right fit for you. And yeah stability and being there for your family are great and unless you are very senior at a handful of legacies or cargo you will never experience it in this industry. I hope you make the right choice for yourself and everyone you work with, good luck.

 

[PunchTheClown]

Leaving a dead end career for a government job with great benefits? Gee, tough decision.

 

[KingAirKiddo]

Leaving a dead end career for a government job with great benefits? Gee, tough decision.

No kidding...sign me up. Step one is navigating all the freaking paperwork in the application process.

 

[n25na]

Anybody out there leave 121 to go work for the FAA?

Any regrets?

now what are you schemin?

 

[Palerider957]

Almost everyone I have ever met from the FSDO which is the side of the FAA I assume you are talking about is usually ex military, a couple of different airlines, a halfdozen typeratings, spent a lot of time in the training department and care about safety. If you have the patience to work in a large beauracracy sp. and the humility to work with some large egos all just to affect small changes in training, checklists, standardization etc. and all at an excruciatingly slow pace, because of a belief that it will improve safety then maybe it's for you. First go and try to have one item added, changed, deleted from your companys checklist there is always something that can be improved and follow this from beggining to end and then decide if this is the right fit for you. And yeah stability and being there for your family are great and unless you are very senior at a handful of legacies or cargo you will never experience it in this industry. I hope you make the right choice for yourself and everyone you work with, good luck.

I would like to believe the quality of FAA folks was that high. Most of my experiences with FAA types is rather negative. Many couldn't make it as professional pilots and seem to have a chip on their shoulder. They are he11 on paper work, but not much for real world operations (like rest requirements).

When they were on my jumpseat, I was polite but made no effort to engage them for fear of what it might open up. One fellow tried to give me an impromptu oral exam about FAR's....and no I hadn't made any slip ups or asked any dumb questions. I politely told him I needed to focus on flying the leg.

There is a lot of ego and attitude, and some of the FSDO's are run more like fifedoms than honest govt. When you have to deal with an examiner it's a total mix bag, and you have no idea what you are going to get.

I know there are some great people in the FAA, I just seemed to have a bad run.

 

[Erlanger]

I personally know one FAA inspector who flew 121 previously and he now regrets leaving. He says too much beaurocracy and B.S in the FAA. He's says others there, hate it too but his wife likes him being home everynight. Now he doesn't want to start over at the bottom of some senority list and he's just going to ride it out till retirement.

 

[Baraqyal]

I left a 121 regional carrier after 8 years for the FAA within the last few months. I'm on the air carrier side (I didn't have a current CFI, so I wasn't eligible for for General Aviation). My background: I'm in my early 30's, 2 type ratings, and all civilian time.

All I can say, is that it is the best move I've ever made. The job is very interesting, and I feel that I have a good future.

However, the job is not for everyone.......Let me say this---if you are not ready to give up flying airplanes, this is NOT the job for you. If you go on the air carrier side, you will stay current in a sim. If you can live with that, great, if not, stay flying for a living.

I enjoy the interaction with the crews, making a difference in safety, and the variety of stuff I get to see and do in a day. I never thought I'd get used to the "regular job" hours, but, it took me about 2 weeks and I'm into the groove now. I'm home every day by 4:00, and I'm home every night, every weekend, every holiday, and I get to sleep in my own bed everynight, I don't have to worry about being furloughed or starting over from the bottom of a seniority list 4 times in my career. I get a good salary, good 401K, good benefits and good pension. I can even do a compressed schedule and have 3 day weekends every week if I choose.

For me, I love this job and would never go back to living out of a suitcase and being in hotels every week. Sure, there are times when I miss flying a little, but then I think about all the headaches that go along with it, then it goes away really quickly.

Go to your local FSDO and talk to an inspector and get the full scoop about the job to see if it's really for you.

 

[Nolife]

Good option for someone looking for stability.

As opposed to some one looking for instability

I like being home all the time, working on my tennis game, shooting 18 holes in the morning, swimming with the kids all day, then maybe an evening med flt before bed.

I'd personally take an Fed job in a heartbeat.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

A good frind of mine, and former XJ'er, just got hired on with the MSP FSDO on the general aviation side... The job doesn't start for a few weeks, so no opinions have been formed yet...

 

[Caveman]

I would like to believe the quality of FAA folks was that high. Most of my experiences with FAA types is rather negative. Many couldn't make it as professional pilots and seem to have a chip on their shoulder. They are he11 on paper work, but not much for real world operations (like rest requirements).

When they were on my jumpseat, I was polite but made no effort to engage them for fear of what it might open up. One fellow tried to give me an impromptu oral exam about FAR's....and no I hadn't made any slip ups or asked any dumb questions. I politely told him I needed to focus on flying the leg.

There is a lot of ego and attitude, and some of the FSDO's are run more like fifedoms than honest govt. When you have to deal with an examiner it's a total mix bag, and you have no idea what you are going to get.

I know there are some great people in the FAA, I just seemed to have a bad run.

This has been my experience too. I've never met a fed yet that couldn't easily be distracted by insignificant details and therefore completely lose sight of the big picture.

 

[Baraqyal]

This has been my experience too. I've never met a fed yet that couldn't easily be distracted by insignificant details and therefore completely lose sight of the big picture.

I can understand that you'd run into some people like that......Hopefully your experiences will start changing soon. This year the FAA has done some significant hiring (almost 400 inspectors nationwide). It seems they are hiring more and more younger folks like me. There are 4 of us newer folks in my FSDO and we are all under 40. I'm not saying that being young will make you a good inspector, but, I think that with more and more younger flight crews out there at the regional level, you tend to have an easier time breaking the ice with someone closer to your own age.

I've met many other FAA new hires from around the country, and I'll tell you that many are like those of us in our office.....young, happy to be here, enjoy talking to and being around flight crews, want to make a difference in safety and are here on our own terms (meaning: we weren't forced into a desk job because of poor flying ability or lost medicals).

So, what I'm trying to say, is I'm sorry you've had poor experiences before, but I can guarantee that if you ever have me in your jumpseat, it will be a pleasant experience.