what would you do in my shoes?

[BaronDrvr]

I'll try to make this short and sweet, and I would like to get some replies from others who have been in this position previously. After instructing for a few years, I had all the 135 mins with only about 50 hours multi. Needing more multi time, I was able to get a job with a small 135 cargo/charter outfit based in the midwest. I was required to sign a training contract valid for 1 year valued at $5000. I have now been with them 6 months and my flight times are around 1600+TT & 350multi. I have heard from several friends that are at chq and cmr that i need to dump this company now and apply at these regionals so that I can get on before they quit their current hiring. what would you do in this case? Stick it out another 6 months, make good on the contract,and then apply to the regionals? Apply to the regionals anyway and see if I get a job offer? Would I really be liable for the training contract?(Ive heard from some that they are never enforced). Would burning a bridge like this really hurt me in the long run? How would my prospective new employer look upon this? Looking forward to your remarks.

 

[flyifrvfr]

I would send a resume to the regionals and see if they in fact will hire you. Don't quit your current job until you have been offered a class date for the regional. There is no harm in sending the resume while you are still working for the charter co. If you quit before you have a offer from the regionals you would be making a mistake.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

make progress. Think about #1 (you) Dont ever even consider what your current boss thinks.
Keep in mind where you want to wind up in the end.
Apply as soon as you can, take the first class you can get your hands on.
There are guys who have lost careers due to what you are consdering doing (putting off applying)

You will be close to your commitment anyways....after you get hired, go in and talk to your boss man to man. Tell him your decision and that you want to make good on it. If he demands money, barter with him, agree to pay a few bucks a month, etc...after all, you DID make an agreement. I do believe a real man keeps his promise, but nothing wrong with haggling on the terms...especially of you are only a few months shy of commitment. So if it costs you a few bucks....it got you where you wanted to be, right?

I was in a similar situation years ago - no signed contract, just my word....well, an airline job (OK, weak moment) came along and I was considering it..I went in, offered to make good on my promise (I offered to pay retro on my type rating) and leave...my boss said he didnt want to lose a known employee and offered me a new type rating and a PIC 135 position -- and a raise. I stayed and it turned out to be smart move - instant PIC jet time as opposed to waiting....so you never know..I went from SIC jet at 40K, to regional new hire at 18K, to Jet PIC at 65K in about 30 minutes...

Do your best to make good on your agreement but dont ever let it hold up your career progress one bit. Think about it this way....when that 135 dip$hit outfit goes broke (oh they do) are they going to give you 1 yr notice? yeah...try one day...

Now...your decision to go to the regionals....thats just plain crazy in my book....but only you know your goals!

.

good luck!

 

[stingray]

Ditto: Send a resume out to every place you would like to work, If you get an offer by some respectable airline or other company, take it. It will take a few months to get through the process anyways.

 

[LearLove]

You have 6 months to go. I will take atleast 3 months to get your resume looked at, sked an interview, interview, get hired then sked a class.

At most companies it will be 3 to 6 months fron resume to class so send them out now.

Note in some cases it could be weeks from resume to class but in the 6 years I've seen 121 ops its usually longer.

Also if you get hired within that time frame you should be able to ask for a class that starts after your comitment ends, but then you risk the chance of them cx the future class.

Good luck, its all just a crap shoot anyway.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

I was in a somewhat similar situation. Personally, even though the company I was working for was really, really crappy (for many reasons), I figured that I had signed a contract, so I would live with it. I'll quickly add that the company never lived up to their side of the contract.

I didn't even plan to send out a resume until the contract was up. Mind you, the company was going down and talks of layoffs were rampant, and I still didn't send resumes out (I sure as heck did check to see what other opportunities were out there). So, there I was being a very nice, extremely nice employee when they decided to lay me off. That night I had 8 resumes out.

I don't wish that I had started hunting earlier, even though we had good warning that the layoff was coming. But, I've been laid off a full four months now, and I haven't had so much as a nibble (that's 5 months of applications/resumes out there).

I can't tell you what to do or not do, but I can tell you what I did when I was in your shoes, and the consequences of what I did. Had I been applying earlier, I would most likely have something now, but perhaps not. In the future, I'll be far more selective about any contracts I might sign.

You'll hear advice to do what you need to do. I'd offer that you should do what you wish everyone else would do. That's the world at large, not what your boss would have you do--just wait till layoffs come, you'll see just how much they value you and your hard work. At least my layoff notice was signed by one of the guys who ran the company into the ground, some guys didn't even get a signature!


Dan

 

[Gulfstream 200]

With respect to Dan CFI/CFII -

this is exactly what happens when you dont put yourself #1 when it comes to career goals.

Dont ever make the mistake of thinking your employer truly cares about you.

 

[Brett Hull]

I was able to get a job with a small 135 cargo/charter outfit based in the midwest. I was required to sign a training contract valid for 1 year valued at $5000..

Just out of curiosity, did this company used to operate a Lear 24 that crashed about a year and half ago? Based at FAM?

If so, I'm sorry.

 

[Daveman]

Do your best to make good on your agreement but dont ever let it hold up your career progress one bit. Think about it this way....when that 135 dip$hit outfit goes broke (oh they do) are they going to give you 1 yr notice? yeah...try one day...
.
good luck!

I agree. Good luck in your choice.

 

[English]

Wow, G200...an airline job? What were you thinking?

I agree with everything Gulfstream 200 wrote. However, I've found it necessary, for me personally, to not burn bridges. I recently turned down a fabulous opportunity because I gave my word I'd stick around at my current company for a bit. Now, the opportunity I'm in now is pretty good too, just not the end-all-be-all fabulous that I just turned down. Why did I do it? Well, because this guy took me back after I left him to go work at an airline. This fabulous opportunity will come up again in the future, and I'll be there waiting in the wings for it to appear again, at the right time. I want to maintain the good relationship with my current employer so that next time, when I go hunting for that green grass and end up disappointed, he'll take me back again.

But, otherwise I agree with everything G200 wrote....

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Wow, G200...an airline job? What were you thinking?

I agree with everything Gulfstream 200 wrote. However, I've found it necessary, for me personally, to not burn bridges. I recently turned down a fabulous opportunity because I gave my word I'd stick around at my current company for a bit. Now, the opportunity I'm in now is pretty good too, just not the end-all-be-all fabulous that I just turned down. Why did I do it? Well, because this guy took me back after I left him to go work at an airline. This fabulous opportunity will come up again in the future, and I'll be there waiting in the wings for it to appear again, at the right time. I want to maintain the good relationship with my current employer so that next time, when I go hunting for that green grass and end up disappointed, he'll take me back again.

But, otherwise I agree with everything G200 wrote....

The airline job??...yeah weak moment, I was young and dumb...

Oh I agree with you English...

I would do everything not to burn bidges..I never have as far as Im concerned and I have never gotten a bad recommendation.

My point was to the guy asking the question...you have to be nuts to put a career opportunity on hold for a 135 (contract required) outfit that flies Barons.....If that costs you a bridge, torch that biatch. If that job was any good from the get go, you would have never signed ANYTHING. Pour on the gas and spark her up if it comes to that.

If this guy gives you a bad rap I wouldnt sweat it, everyone in the industry knows these outfits and thier reputations - and your situation. Chances are a few years from now when people do 10yr background checks, this guy will be nowhere to be found.

Nothing worse than sitting around unemployed, broke, etc.....but having "kept your word" to some scumbag who laid you off with 3 hours notice. - especially if you knew it could be coming. IMHO there is no (zero) honor in that. Being a "nice guy" dosen't put food on the table, kids in college, and a 7 figure retirement in the bank.. - the top jobs do.

This business is hard enough, be good to yourself first.

 

[FN FAL]

All great advice.

However, with 1,600 TT and 350 multi PIC, you'll be as marketable as a turd if you get furloughed, your class gets cancelled or you wash out in training...especially if you burn that bridge behind you.

You can dig up the court case of the 135 operator that took the pilot to court and won a settlement on a similar situation...just do a google search, it'll come up.

 

[Goose Egg]

what would you do in my shoes?

Two chicks at once. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Seriously though, ditching and and screwing your current employer might seem like the thing to do in the short run, but I'd be extremely cautious burining bridges even though it may "cost" you an opportunity. I wouldn't feel right about about violating a contract. Aviation is a tiny industry and word does get around. If you can live with yourself then that's your thing, but I coudn't do it. I love flying, but there are things in my life that are more important. If I were calling the shots I sure as hell wouldn't hire you unless your contract was fulfilled.

Besides, anyone who tells you that the regionals aren't going to hire anymore is a freakin' moron.

-Goose

 

[SENECAII]

I agree with Goose Egg

 

[pilotyip]

I also go along with 200 and English. Don't burn any bridges, aviation is a very small community, and you would not want to have someone tag you as someone who does not live up to his promises. This could effect the job after the one you want to go to later in your career. Be gracious understand yours current bosses dilemma, thank him for the opportunity he gave you and tell you will say nothing but nice things about him and his company. Then work out a deal to repay what he thinks is fair a few bucks a month for life or something else.