stay or go

[cynic]

I have two job offers....

One at a major university for 50K a year. It comes with a tuition waiver and I've been accepted to a PhD program (I have a master's degree now) I'd have enough left over to buy a a share of a nice 4 place plane and fly for fun.

One at an INfamous regional, making maybe 20K a year to start.

I'd love to fly a big jet for big money (at least 75K a year) but is that dream going down in flames with the proliferation of regional airlines?

I have no interest in being a career pilot with regional airline QOL and pay. But I'd do it in the short term for a long term gain; but then that might make me part of the problem (taking the job) as opposed to part of the solution (stick your 20K a year job where the sun don't shine!)

What would you do?

 

[Dep676]

Well you stated that you did not want to make a career out of a regional. So I think you answered your own question by stating that. So therefore do not take the job and let it for somone that wants to make a career out of flying.

 

[FlyChicaga]

How old are you? Why not go with the INfamous regional short-term, move to a quick-upgrade company, and make your run for the big jets? Which would you rather do: Take the easy road, and fly a 4-seater, or take the road with the most uncertainty, always working to obtain a major life goal? Not to mention the fun you might have along the way.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

on your way to the "BIG PLANE BIG MONEY 75K..."

 

[350DRIVER]

cynic,

This seems like a no-brainer. 50K or 20K a year and a decent QOL? Very easy choice if it were me, take the major university job without a second thought.

I have no interest in being a career pilot with regional airline QOL and pay.

Question sure seems like it has already been answered, wise choice.

3 5 0

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

and this infamous regional, which one would it be? Gotta me mesa...am i right?

 

[cynic]

I should mention the university job allows me to go to class during the day and I get about 5 weeks of vacation a year.

Assuming I started at regional X this month, I assume I'd upgrade in 3 to 5 years; assuming the economy picks up.

Then 3 to 5 years as a captain; so would you guys guess that in 6 to 10 years the majors will be hiring again?

I'd guess no, but I'm no expert.

 

[skyking1976]

Let me ask this: Is the INfamous regional paying you during training? Do they provide a hotel for you or do you need to get a crash pad? If you have to put a lot of out-of-pocket money on the line without pay, you may be better off with the $50K job.

Just my $.02...

SK

 

[cynic]

No pay during training, but I get a hotel and per diem so it doesn't cost me anything but time.

I really like flying, I'm 30 and have been working towards this for a while.

In the end I'm leaning away from the flying and here is why...

I have never worked a job where I was treated better as time went on. Thats not to say I don't work well with others; rather, every job I've had where I was treated poorly in the begining got worse, not better. So I'm thinking if the airline wants to start the relationship by asking me to "donate" training time and paying me < $20,000.00 a year; well things probably will get worse before they get better.

Help convince me I'm wrong! Please!

 

[norskman2]

[I really like flying[/B][/QUOTE]

As someone else on this board once said, "don't fly for a living because you want to fly, do it because you NEED to fly."

You'd be better off and have more fun with the job at the university, buying a used Cherokee or a fractional ownership of a Cirrus and getting $100 hamburgers.

 

[Dash8]

I really like flying, I'm 30 and have been working towards this for a while.

then don't do it as a job,
flying as a job eventually sucks the joy out of it,
fact of life,
if you truly enjoy flying,
then do something else that will let you do ENJOYABLE flying,

simple as that

 

[learflyer]

What kind of work will you be doing at the university? I'm asking because you need to "ax yo self" if you are the type who likes to sit at a desk all day. If not, go with the flying.

 

[cynic]

Well no, I don't like sitting at a desk as IT worker. But, I flew a baron for about a year, single pilot; although I often had a passenger up front to chat with. In that time I found myself not liking flying at all. The part that confuses me is that I'm not sure if it was really just the fact that I was making 12K a year while doing it that was making me so mad I couldn't enjoy it. At the end of a 15 to 18 hour day with perhaps 5 hours of flying and a lot of sitting at FBOs I'd get paid $175.00 To boot my wife was a bit annoyed I'd be gone all week (in at 11pm, out at 5 or 6 pm) and it just wasn't working. That when I decided that if I was going to work a job that wasn't much fun I could make a whole lot more doing something else, be at home, have time off, live like a human. Perhaps I need therapy!

 

[Dash8]

Well no, I don't like sitting at a desk as IT worker. But, I flew a baron for about a year, single pilot; although I often had a passenger up front to chat with. In that time I found myself not liking flying at all. The part that confuses me is that I'm not sure if it was really just the fact that I was making 12K a year while doing it that was making me so mad I couldn't enjoy it. At the end of a 15 to 18 hour day with perhaps 5 hours of flying and a lot of sitting at FBOs I'd get paid $175.00 To boot my wife was a bit annoyed I'd be gone all week (in at 11pm, out at 5 or 6 pm) and it just wasn't working. That when I decided that if I was going to work a job that wasn't much fun I could make a whole lot more doing something else, be at home, have time off, live like a human. Perhaps I need therapy!

i'm gonna definately say you DO NOT want to persue a 'career' in flying, if your wife has issues with you being way on day trips like that, she's gonan really dislike you being gone 2,3,4,5,6 days at a time, and only home for 1 to 3 days(if your lucky) at a time.
i'm sure you've heard the term
AIDS (Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome) i've known many people who's marraiges have fallen aparrt because of the bizarre demands an airline job puts on them, don't risk it bro, if your family time at home means anything to you.

 

[hobbsmeter]

Hi Cynic,

Here's my (free) advice, so take it for what it's worth. Go with the University. Sounds like it's right up your alley and I think your wife would be happier with you there as well. I don't think I've ever not liked flying, even after getting up at dawn to go preheat a 152, only to have to cancel cuz of lake effect snow. Take the university job and fly for fun, and keep it fun

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

university