Thinking of leaving

[FORE LEFT]

I have been an FO at ASA for 5 years now. I am getting fed up with the airlines and I commute (it's a pretty easy one but still a commute). I have the oppertunity to go to a pretty good 135 operator (AirMed International) flying Hawkers based where I live. The pay and benefits are a lot better but my schedule would not be as nice. If anyone could give me any opinions one way or the other it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[El Ocho]

And your long term goals are?

How bad is the schedule relative to ASA?

What are the upgrade possibilities at the AirMed?

How old are you? Single or hitched?

What do you see as the better QOL?

 

[79%N1]

IMO, I would take that job as fast as I could. I wish I could find a job like that, and I've been looking, too. I cannot stand the whole new 'porfolio' concept of regionals these days, and I dont see that ever changing. Pay, benefits and QOL will never improve like this.

Good luck.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Cyah Bye!

 

[FORE LEFT]

I don't care if I go to the majors, it's starting to appear that corporate may be the way to go anyway.

The schedule is on call with set days off vs 3 or 4 on and 3 or 4 off at ASA.

Upgrade is about 1 year (give or take), in which I would recieve a substatial raise.

Married no kids

Obviously living at home is a plus, the benefits and pay are much better, and I think long term the Hawker type and some international experience might help me more.

 

[surplus1]

I think long term the Hawker type and some international experience might help me more.

Help you to do what?

 

[Papa Woody]

I don't think anything will change substantially for a couple of years....just a slow drift-down in pay at the regionals.....

.....until foreign crews are allowed to fly in the US....


...then ASA will import a shipload of Phillipinos, Indonesians, and Indians to live in barracks in College Park for a 2 year contract to pilot RJ's for about $14 an hour.

Outsourcing is the way of the future, and there's no stopping it. Our country simply cannot afford its own wages anymore.

 

[wahoo250]

same position... i took the job. i already feel a huge relief. id go for it. the regionals will get you no where in a hurry and they offer no real job security. take the money, and a hawker is a good airplane to get into, lots of operators. even down the line if you want to go back to the airlines youll have a type in something that is useful if you get furloughed. the only good thing about the airlines these days is the schedule (when you are senior). the work is pretty boring i think. if you commute right now i think the 135 schedule might even be better if you dont have to commute. a lot of people have a mentality that the airlines is the only way to make a good living and have a good schedule, its just not that way anymore. thats my opinion take it for what its worth. id say make a decision with whats on the table at the moment...which job that is currently offered the better job? there are no definates in aviation you have to make a decision with present facts.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I am not optimistic about ASA's future. As airlines shrink their costs for everything increase dramatically. Unless you are over 56, I would be working my way towards the exits.

 

[Flying Ninja]

I have been an FO at ASA for 5 years now. I am getting fed up with the airlines and I commute (it's a pretty easy one but still a commute). I have the oppertunity to go to a pretty good 135 operator (AirMed International) flying Hawkers based where I live. The pay and benefits are a lot better but my schedule would not be as nice. If anyone could give me any opinions one way or the other it would be greatly appreciated.

You already answered your own question. You're fed up with the airlines. You're going to be getting great pay/benefits and still flying jets, and closer to home to boot. So quit wasting day light and grab that job before the guy next to you grabs it off your plate.

 

[propsarebest]

run Run Run

 

[PooPooPants]

I think you should go so I can move up some...crap I'm thinking out loud again! Honestly, 5 years at a place of employment is a big investment but if your not happy then you need to leave.You probably fly because you love it but once the love ends you need to move on. Good luck!

 

[shelton]

On the other side of the coin. The company is called Airmed, right? So probably air ambulance. Not to mention it is a 135 company. Understand that I am not saying all 135 air ambulance companies are horrible, but typically they are not any better than night freight. I left an air ambulance company to go to ASA and I suspect I will live longer because of that choice. Just my thoughts on my experience.

 

[atlcrashpad]

Follow your heart. Go with what you feel. I've had numerous opportunities to leave the Regional World but I like the amount of flying we do and the days off cannot be beat. It's up to you to decide what you really want. Good luck... BOUYYYYYYY

 

[crashpad]

What's sad is nowadays I'm flying with guys who never payed their dues and went straight to the front of the line flying with a corporate experience. This experience would leave you with both kinds, which is marketable should you decide to return.

 

[celloman]

I left a regional that was doing fairly well and I had a chance to upgrade in the next year or so. I didnt like the work and it was not what I really wanted to do. I found a job that I like a %100 better!

Dont forget the Air Ambulance can be brutal work depeding on the outfit you work for. Ask them about how they work the duty day. Many operators will try and tell you that your duty day does not start until your pager goes off due to the fact that you are at home...... Just think, 14 hrs more after you just went to bed. Does not sound like fun to me!

Good luck!

celloman

 

[Meiguy]

Is there any chance on upgrade soon. If you've been there five years it seems like it might not be far away. If so it may be worth it to stick around and get some left seat time. Get that in the logbook and then start looking for some coporate ops. I gurantee more doors will be open for you. You'd probably start with higher pay and possible straight to the left seat or cocaptain slot. Good luck.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Personally I'm not too sure if I'd want to do air ambulance work. As it is now if I have to make go/nogo decision nodody's life is at stake. I think there's probably more pressure in the air ambulance business because frequently someone's life may depend on the completion of the flight.

I don't see the airline sector doing much better for 5-10 years. The industry is in a slow downward spiral with little chance of recovery. We've got too many airlines competing on the same routes for more than a small group of carriers to be profitable at one time. Consolidation probably needs to happen for economic survival but noone likes the prospects of mergers with other pilot groups.

So I wouldn't hesitate to leave your job at ASA for something closer to home. I was in a similar situation and the only thing that kept me from quitting and taking a corporate job was getting transferred to a domicile a short drive from the house. This can be a very good job if you don't have the commute. Living in domcile makes you a lot more flexible. Getting off at 2200 doesn't mean finding a hotel and waiting until the next morning to get home.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Thinking the same thing lately.

I'll second the above that air ambulance is potentially CRAPPY work. Will you be in the hawker for SURE? or the King air for a "short" time?

I would get the phone numbers of 10 pilots there and call all of them. Ask them about their QOL.

If it looks O.K. and if you are unhappy at ASA I'd say go for it

 

[indianboy7]

I don't think anything will change substantially for a couple of years....just a slow drift-down in pay at the regionals.....

.....until foreign crews are allowed to fly in the US....


...then ASA will import a shipload of Phillipinos, Indonesians, and Indians to live in barracks in College Park for a 2 year contract to pilot RJ's for about $14 an hour.

Outsourcing is the way of the future, and there's no stopping it. Our country simply cannot afford its own wages anymore.

You are SOOOO wrong....Indians can't fly planes.......


oh wait....nevermind....imp: :beer: