Twasilew said:
Russian, you're killing me. To actually think someone would finish UPT and then quit. We can't quit. Our commitment is at least ten more years.
Here's my situation. My active duty orders end next month and then I'll be bumming with my unit. My squadron is short man days right now so it will be difficult to pick up extra days. With one drill weekend a month and one AFTP a week, that is about $800 a month.
I fly E model Herc's. We break half the time before we even get started. Also, the fleet is severely hurting due to wing spar cracks. Most of our working planes are gone. I flew a total of 1.3 this week and was cancelled tonight and tomorrow. That is not much flight time.
Yes, it's quality time, fun as hell, pays well, and is in my opinion one of the best jobs in the world, but not enough flight time and pay to guard bum only. That is why I am considering a regional. I just don't have the total time that they are looking for, or so I thought.
One other note. Not all squadrons are the same. Some guys are able to make a good amount of money guard bumming and fly plenty of hours.
Sounds like my life 8-9 years ago. I took a chance on the turbo prop regional world. People thought I was crazy. I went to the regionals and gained some valuable experience in Part 121 ops and loads of flight time I wasn't getting in the Reserves. I didn't want to be begging for mandays, TP's all month long, and wondering if we would get additional mandays at the end of the year. Plus I needed benefits for my family that the Reserves didn't offer at the time ie., major medical, eye, dental, retirement. Soon after getting hired at the commuters, I went to AC school, started logging AC time. Then upgraded in 2 1/2 years at the regional, spent 6 months as Captain Part 121, got hired at 2 different majors, then furloughed after 9/11, hired by another major in 2002.
Others pilots in my unit played the waiting game as a Reserve bum, some got hired at the majors the same time I did, but none are flying for a major now, nor will they until they come back from furlough. At least, they are still have flying jobs in the Reserves.
You got to do what you believe is in your best interest for securing your future. At that time in my life, I believed going the commuter route would give me the best possible chance at a major airline. So far it has worked out for me.
Looking back, the commuters was the most fun I ever had flying Part 121. Unfortunately, they just don't pay very well, nor do they treat their people very well. Plus like it was posted before, you can always take a little mil leave to help you money situation and your morale.
