What would You Do???????

[Nappy]

Posted this earlier on the corporate board, just wanted to see what you "majors" guys think.

A question for the board.
I recently got a new corp. job which pays well (top 10% of NBAA), is on very good equipment, and has potential for growth. It required me to move away from a home of 10 years and the wife and kids are not happy with the move so far.
Yesterday, a friend who's been trying to get me an interview at his airline(not a regional), called and said that he was told that I will be getting a call next week for the next interview group.
If and I know its a big if, but if I make it through the interview and am offered a job with this airline it would mean a cut in pay of more than 60% in the first year and probably at least 4 years until the salaries equalize. But we'd also be able to move back home (same house/schools even).

What would you do?

Thanks

 

[pegasus]

Stay at home!

You'll always regret missing that baseball game, or the graduation from elementary, or being there when the dishwasher flooded and your wife needed you!!!

Or you can take the better pay, and listen about it on the phone......

 

[Heavy Set]

You might as well interview. Hey, it's all moot until you actually get the job offer... Make the decision once you have the offer in hand - until then it is all speculation....

Otherwise, consider yourself fortunate that you are flying at all...

Good luck

 

[boeingdriver213]

Gotta tell ya, I was recently furloughed (01-07-03) and thought I'd go for a corporate job, but I've been seriously bitten by the airline bug and don't think I could honestly take a corporate job unless I exhausted every last resource on another job in the majors. Am I nuts? Maybe, but there is nuthin like a job flying a Boeing or Airbus!

 

[zymotic]

Perhaps your asking the wrong people. Nobody on this message board has the exact same priorities, desires, etc. as you do.

I would first ask God (I understand this may not be your "thing") and then I would ask my wife what she thinks/wants and then ask my children (even the youngest have been know to have some rather profound answers).

 

[FL510GV]

Choose your wife and kids and not the job. Twenty years from now you'll be glad you did.

 

[750driver]

Choose your wife and kids and not the job. Twenty years from now you'll be glad you did.

Wise perspective ... family always comes first.

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Been there done that..

After coming home from being out of the country for 22 days straight and sitting down to watch two birthdays and Christmas on video tape i figured it out..

I left a major corp job flying very nice stuff to avoid having to answer my five year olds question.."When are you going to get a better job so you can be at home with me on my birthday"

Even today the pain of those words haunt me..

Mike

 

[KingAirGuy]

Corp Flying

Its all about what is important to you. I would love a chance to fly for a major, much better quality of life, however under today's situation, I'm very happy I simply have a flying job! There is nothing worse than being Uncle Daddy, it sucks. Never home, always gone, Telephone calls to see what is happening at home. For a single guy, a corp flying job would be a dream come true, for a family man one word, suck!

 

[boeingdriver213]

I feel that I should qualify my previous post from last nite. I went thru the never being home with the family when my kids were very young and I was a new hire at my airline. After 3 months of it, my wife and I decided to move to my crew base, and for us that probably same everyone's sanity, to say the least. Well, once again I am looking for a job. The advantage I have this time is that my kids are grown up, one is off to college this fall (if I can afford it), and my wife and remaining teenager are willing to move or stay, whichever seems to keep everyone happy. I'm pretty lucky in that respect. I was on reserve for over 11 years, but made most of my kids activities, which is more than I can say for many of my non airline friends who travelled a lot for their companies. There is no doubt in my mind that family is the most important thing. If you decide to commute to a job, stay involved with your family every way you can, even if you've been gone for 10 days and you are pooped. Just think how tired your spouse is, being a single parent during that same 10 days. Good luck!

 

[bobbysamd]

Decisions

It never hurts to interview. At least you can see if you might like the people and situation.

Not only would you be taking a major pay cut, you'd have to suffer the ills of sitting reserve for who knows how long. More importantly, it would disrupt your family situation, again, for at least the short term. I think that four years is a long time to wait for your salary to equalize. And by then the cost of living may go up, unless COLAs are built in to the salary.

Sometimes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. But I wouldn't refuse the interview, or any interview, for that matter.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[banned username 2]

I don't think you can say the "every" Corporate job will keep you away from home a lot...

I have been flying Corporate for 6 years... I have yet to miss a Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter or birthday with my family.... I average about 4-5 RONs per month... I was off from Dec 13 until Jan 12 this past holiday season...

Just like with airline jobs there are good and bad Corporate jobs...

Also don't confuse flying for a private owner with Corporate aviation... They are very, very different....

If you guys re-read his post, his family is with him... they are just not living where they used to...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Ditto,

As a corp guy I am home more than my friends at Majors....(OK except the furloughed ones)
but I also dont work for a private owner or a charter operator.........(these are NOT "major corp operators" - whatever that is...)

I enjoy corp flying, different places and new eqipment is nice, and I like being HOME. The notion of flying a 737 to and from Love field or some other Texas dump all day long and pledging my first born to Southwest Airlines like others here (weeeeeird..) just aint for me......but whatever floats your boat...

Do whats best for your family I say. Thats the most important thing...the day you quit or lose a medical, its better to have a family that is there for you than a logbook full of stupid flight hours....regardless what you fly

 

[Flying Freddie]

Jobs are hard to come by. You can always get a new wife. I have done it a few times. A blonde for a few years and then a red head. Lots of your beauties to choose from at the majors. Try it, you will love it!

 

[bman]

Let's Be Real

Listen man you aren't gonna get any advice to leave the 121 environ to fly 91 on this board simply cause your asking pilots. Pilots who think about B.S. Like my airplanes faster or my airplanes bigger or I fly a Boeing or whatever. For my $.02 you need to carefully evaluate what is the quality of life you will be able to provide your family. Can you be happy flying corporate. I can be a very cool gig. Our flight department has not ever furloughed. UAL, USA, AMR, DAL none of them can say that. Look all that walk down the jetway crap is just that crap. You cannot eat prestige and your kids don't give two squirts of pi$$ about your ego.

Your family will adjust if you lay out your case and hopefully you can provide them an even better quality of life.

I left an airline (commuter) gig as a captain on nice equipment to fly corporate. For me it was near my family I liked the region of the country and the stability was there. Of course I did better money wise.

Be vigilant In your research Airtran aint the place to leave a fortune 500 corp job for no matter what anybody says. Those who tell you otherwise probably don't know how good those jobs can be.

reagards
Bman

 

[PurpleInMEM]

Choices...

Just my perspective...

I left a very nice corporate gig (Fortune 100) for FedEx and the effect on my marriage has been EXTREMELY detrimental. The financial hit, the time away from home, the type of flying environment, my relative 'juniority', and the corporate environment (mgmt vs. labor) have made this transition much less than desirable. This job is exactly what I thought it would be...a job. However all the factors involved, especially financially and the time away from home, have put my marriage close to the edge.

Your situation has obvious differences, but don't make the same mistake. TALK and LISTEN to your wife. Give her opinions and desires EQUAL importance with your professional goals. I wish I had.

Fly safe and good luck with your decision.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Remember:
Your family is your family.
Your job is just a job.
Your job gave you a furlough notice.
Do you want a furlough notice from your family?
OLA!

 

[JJJ]

there is no place like home