Would you leave?

[buxflyr]

P2J,

Is there a chance you could be a ground instructor at your airline? I know there are some airlines out there that allow you to instruct and also do some flying. You could be home most every night and still get the aviation fix. Usually they pay fairly good as well...depending on what year you are at your airline. If you live in the base where instructing is done, that could be an option.

 

[Spinplate]

I left a regional airline gig to take care of a family member for the past year and I have been working in the finance field (previous experience and great pay). There is way more stress in a 9-5 job than there ever was flying for a living. Being at home every night was a blessing for the first few months, but that can get old as well. I cringe when Im at work now. I am submitting apps/resumes to a FEW regionals to get back into it now. I'll be taking a pay cut AGAIN, but I cant wait to get back into flying. Do whats best for you and you only. If you have a wife, she has to support you...if you have kids then ....well? I dont know about that one. Dont make anyone else happy, but yourself. Aviation is and will always be a volatile industry, but definitely recommend that you do what will put a smile on your face. I told my wife hey, cop or pilot? You can guess which one she chose. Hope this helps man! Do a lot of thinking about this before you make your decision.....last thing you want to do is lose your seniority if you have any and then want to go back to flying because you made a mistake. Good Luck! hard decision!

 

[taylor01]

Ok, I know I am a goof in most of my posts but this time I am serious.

If an opportunity, outside of flying, presented itself to you and offered a 40 hour work week, retirement and great benefits would you consider leaving this 121 job.

The long-term pay would be around 100K in a few years. But outside of the money what motivations would you consider to weigh against staying in flying as career.

Thanks for your inputs!

P2J

Absolutely, I left TSA in May of 2006 to go to graduate school.

Haven since obtained a position at an I Bank doing aerospace research.

I made 15 k at TSA and now make a great deal more, i am home every night, have plenty of time to spend with friend and family, and can afford to buy a airplane ticket that is positive space and never have to worry about being bumped


I love flying but the life style of an airline pilot sucks

 

[Prop2Jet]

I should turn these responses into a small book. "What color is your airplane" hehehehh

Thanks again guys and gals for your responses. I have decided to stay on course and forgo the allure of a 9-5 with the other company. Money will come, schedules will too. Life is too short to sit 8 hours a day waiting for the last second to tick bye so I can go home. I am having the time of my life and enjoy it very much, why would I change!

Again, thank you all.

P2J

Now back to my smart azz none serious comments for entertainment purposes only!!!

 

[FlyingGuy]

After 20 years flying in USAF I took a desk job making high pay for little work. After a couple months I felt my brain rotting and decided to go fly for a regional (best I can do after not flying for awhile). Huge paycut but that's only one aspect. I told my family what it meant in terms of holidays etc. I don't love flying to the point its all I want to do but if I have to work for a living that beats any other option I can think of. I don't care for flying bug smashers so buying a little recip to buzz around in has no appeal. If I can find a great job that pays enough that I cound buy a Honda Jet that would be different.... If I was a millionare would I still want a flying job? No, but I probably wouldn't work anyway other than volunteer work. Its nice to try other things if you have that luxury like I did but you have to decide if its something you want to do day in day out even with good pay.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Here's a nickel, keep the change...

After a couple months I felt my brain rotting and decided to go fly for a regional (best I can do after not flying for awhile)

I know the feeling 100% ! Seriously, where you need a calculator to add 100 and 1520.

I agree with CoolSide as well...much like flying...the desk job can sound very attractive for being home every night. A couple things you won't see on the brochure:
-Working late at the office
-Lovely Traffic during commute (For Chicago, add 1 hour for rain delay, 2 hours for snow)
-I did have a Boss who suggested the group put in some time during an occasional weekend or two...he only suggested it once.
-And 9 times outta 10, you're so wiped out, you don't wanna do $hit over the weekend anyway

 

[Sawmill]

Take the normal job and buy a Bonanza.

AMEN!

 

[Sawmill]

After 20 years flying in USAF I took a desk job making high pay for little work. After a couple months I felt my brain rotting and decided to go fly for a regional (best I can do after not flying for awhile). Huge paycut but that's only one aspect. I told my family what it meant in terms of holidays etc. I don't love flying to the point its all I want to do but if I have to work for a living that beats any other option I can think of. I don't care for flying bug smashers so buying a little recip to buzz around in has no appeal. If I can find a great job that pays enough that I cound buy a Honda Jet that would be different.... If I was a millionare would I still want a flying job? No, but I probably wouldn't work anyway other than volunteer work. Its nice to try other things if you have that luxury like I did but you have to decide if its something you want to do day in day out even with good pay.

Excuse me while I go throw up.

 

[FlyingGuy]

Excuse me while I go throw up.

Go fly a Bonanza if that's what floats your boat. I'll stay with jets. Believe me if I find that flying in a regional sucks I'll go do something else not just bytch about it online. My point is that life is about choices so figure out your priorities and get a job that meets them.

 

[Fly4PayNoMore]

I've been working a pretty good sales job since I left flying. The money is great, there are some great fringe benefits...but I work way harder than I did flying. I'm usually out the door by 7 in the am...and rush back home by 6:30. After a quick dinner (or dinner waits on many nights), I sit back down at my computer and take an hour and a half or two to reply to voicemails and e-mails. Whatever the job is, if the more they pay you, the more they expect of you.

At first I thought it was great having every holiday off, but then I discovered that I found myself on my laptop for much of Easter Sunday, so I could start off the week in a smaller hole. The grass is always greener on the other side. I've thought of going back...but at the same time...it's a scary thought.

 

[Prop2Jet]

Well no worries man! Come on back! You will now get a signing bonus!!!!!

 

[pilotyip]

fly4, what! you mean some people work harder than pilots. You mean you are not home a 1500 every day to play baseball with the kids? You mean you don't get 3-4 days off in a row with nothing to do realated to work so you can comment about being disrespected, under paid and working for a company with no family values?

 

[MATHEWS]

This is the first post in a while where I have actually heard something positive come out of all your mouths about this career....keep it up, it is kind of refreshing.

 

[Prop2Jet]

I guess when someone really does need help, we all try. Thanks.

 

[Spinplate]

Word!! Im at my nice paying desk job right now and I have that pain in my chest because I cant frickin stand it!!!!! All I do is surf FI and aviationinterviews.com The grass is always greener, but it take alot to maintain perfect grass. *(always dies here in AZ) Needless to say, the pay, QOL, being away from home, and all of the other stuff that we dont like about the airlines sometimes....... is worth it to me to have the flying job vs. a regular desk job. (to me that is)