Taking a break

[Rominato]

So... I've been flying a Citation III for a couple years now, and am completely burnt out on the captian i fly with and the jackass that sits in the back. I have 2850 TT, 730 ME, and about 500 in either the citation or a king air 90.

My question is... how bad would it hurt me to bail out on this job before i get another job at a regional?

Is it a big red flag for someone to take amonth or two off between flying jobs? how about a year or two?

I basically want to make my decision before I am scheduled to go to flight safety for training. while i don't like who i work for, i don't want to stick them either by getting the training and THEN bailing.

Thanks

 

[vclean]

Most employers look for those with current flying jobs. Taking a month off may not hurt, but that planned month may develop into many months before you get an interview.

 

[JetPilot_Mike]

Why would you want to waste time at another job when your goal is to go to a regional airline? The name of the game is your DATE OF HIRE! The faster you get that number, the better off you are. Don't waste time if you wanna fly at an airline. Get there as soon as possible.

 

[singlespeed]

Bingo

 

[cosmotheassman]

Dude I'm in a similar situation. I've got 3000TT and 1100multi which I believe is too much to go to a regional but not enough to go to a national. I've given up on going to the airlines all together. It's too much of a gamble these days. I wouldn't go to a regional if I were you. I wouldn't quit a job without having another one either; especially in this business. I work with a royal prick too but, I look at it this way: I'd rather build time with an asshole and wait for a really good job than quit and hope to find something without building any hours at all.

my 2 cents

 

[crxpilot]

How bout putting in for a long term leave of absence or something like that. This way you can still go back if you so choose but at least you have not quit altogether. Good luck!

 

[Big Duke Six]

In previous times, taking a break while planning to go back at some point would have been OK. Now though, as others have stated, it's not the break that will kill you ( I quit flying for 5 years after the military before I got back in) but it's the problems you'll have trying to find another job that will. IF you do get back in, believe me, it will be a big step backwards. The chances of you stepping in to a Citation off the street after you lose currency are almost nil. Think long and hard about this one. If you really want to get to a regional, look at your stats and find out what you're missing. For me it was a little PIC turbine time, and of course, recent time in something worth mentioning. So for me a job flying freight, single-pilot in Metroliners, was the answer. If you need to do something that drastic, then go do it. You'll probably be happier.

 

[bobbysamd]

Resigning v. job frustration resignation

I would recommended against leaving the company. I've been in your place in a number of jobs and, yes, it sucks big time to work at a place and in a job you hate. However, you are cutting your nose to spite your face if you leave without a new job in hand.

Start sending out resumes. In the meantime, take it one day at a time and assume that you will stay in your job for at least the short term. You are very honorable by not wanting to stick your company with an FSI training tab and then leaving. I respect that. But you may be with your company longer than you think, and leaving after the FSI training may become a non-issue.

By the way, your quals make you excellent regionals meat, if that's what you want to do. Good luck with your job search.

 

[pilotyip]

Are you sure you want to fly?

Are you sure you want to fly? The passion is missing if you are thinking about taking off a couple years. The longer you stay out of aviation, the harder it is too get a job in flying. Your prospective employer looks at, why did you get out of flying and how do I know you will not want to do that again? It is always easier to get a flying job when you have a flying job. It is the rule of the industry.

 

[FN FAL]

Are you sure you want to fly? The passion is missing if you are thinking about taking off a couple years. The longer you stay out of aviation, the harder it is too get a job in flying. Your prospective employer looks at, why did you get out of flying and how do I know you will not want to do that again? It is always easier to get a flying job when you have a flying job. It is the rule of the industry.

Maybe it depends?

If the guy is young enough, maybe he went right to university fresh out of high school and hasn't had time to experience the world of work outside of aviation.

Some of us havent had the pleasure of working in ice cream novelty manufacturing, minimum wage security guard jobs, paper mills, fast food restaraunts and low paying civil service positions, to guage our present flying careers on.

I don't think that taking a break is the worst thing on a resume, but like you and others have said, it will be harder breaking back in. But it can be done.

 

[sluminginpit]

I can't help comment on the statement " I have 3300 hrs and 1100 hrs turbine which is to much to go to a regional and not enough for a national".

Please, you barely have enogh time to be noticed at most good quality regionals. Times have changed. I have two types, over 6100 hrs, 3500 turbine, 1800 turbine 121 PIC and experince instructing for a Part 121 carrier. I myself could barley get noticed at a national or good quality regional.

You never have enough time or experience in this profession. As you will learn you scored a great opportunity in your current job.

My advise to the pilot looking to leave for a few years.
1. Do you want to fly forever?
2. Are you leaving to apease your wife or family?
3. Do you have connections that would put you above the other 11,000 looking

The regionals are differnet now, they are a career destination. The contract and low cost carriers will continue to make the high paying jobs harder to get. Many pilots at regionals with 7-8 years will never leave. The money and senority they will have will be to good by the time majors hire again.

Think about your ultimate goal, and if it is realistic. I wanted to fly for a major and captain a large jet overseas. At only 33 years old, belive it or not its to late for me. I don't have enogh career left to even upgrade and hold a line at a legacy carrier.

I myself am searching for something new. My wife and home life is more important to me then spending 180 nights a year in a hotel and missing every holiday and special family function.

Good Luck, I hope you achive your goal.

Happy Thanksgiving !

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Why not look for a decent corp gig? 90% pay better than any regional RJ captain job ever will.

Why is your goal the regional airlines? You enjoy slamming your meat in a drawer?

Your job now sounds bad, its just a resume builder...get active in the job search and you may be surprised what is out there!

What part of the country you looking in? are you mobile?


But dear god dont just quit w/o another job unless safety is an issue. Gaps in employment (especially volunteer ones) always raise eyebrows.

Stick it out and take the next best gig.

 

[bobbysamd]

Career over?

I have two types, over 6100 hrs, 3500 turbine, 1800 turbine 121 PIC and experince instructing for a Part 121 carrier. I myself could barley get noticed at a national or good quality regional . . . . At only 33 years old, belive it or not its to late for me. I don't have enogh career left to even upgrade and hold a line at a legacy carrier.

You sound like excellent talent to me. Have you thought about trying Frontier, Southwest, etc.? I have heard that Frontier is hiring, both pilots and F/As. Of course, you'd have to buy a B737 type for Southwest, if you don't have it already. The type may be a crapshoot, but, based on your quals, could yield a big jackpot. It also would be tax-deductable.

Good luck with your further plans, which, in my $0.02 opinion, should not discount aviation.

(Later-life career-changers considering aviation should consider carefully this gentleman's full post, above, as excellent food for thought. Take it from someone who tried and who knows.)