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Old 02-22-2012, 05:13 AM
  #8  
Timbo
Runs with scissors
 
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Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,722
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Life is about choices, most of the big ones are not easy.

It's not easy to walk away from a $80K job for a $20K job as a regional F/O, cross your fingers and hope you get an airline job. And if you do, your boss might not welcome you back if you decide being an 'airline pilot' on food stamps sucks. And then there's the wife...I hope she's got a good job, but will she re-locate and keep it?

There is no easy answer, if it were easy, everybody would be doing it. Have you talked to your present boss about flying the corporate jet if/when you get the time? Have you talked to the other pilots, about doing some flying with them, or how to build some time while keeping your present job? Maybe they know some other part 135 or 91 ops. where you can build some time on the weekends.

I was watching Jim Cramer this morning talk about how the Dow has Finally made it above 13,000 for the first time since 2008, he claims that is a "Sign" that an economic turnaround is coming, in 6mo. time he said.

And next Dec. the Major Airline pilots who were supposed to retire at age 60, will be turning 65, so hopefully that will (finally) start some replacement hiring, and if Cramer is right (and he's been very wrong before) and the economy DOES turnaround, there might even be some 'growth' hiring. So right now might be a good time to be getting your hours in, to be ready a year from now, if/when the Majors finally start hiring, either for growth or for retirement replacements, or if we are lucky, for both.

This career field has always been about the boom-bust cycles. Well, we have been in the -Bust- mode for quite a while, so a Boom should be coming....

But where do you want to be in say, 10 years? Flying for a Major? Then you'd better get started building time.

Or flying the company G650? Then you stay where you are, and beg for time from the other pilots until you can get hired on as a pilot there, part time or full time.

Or doing the CEO thing, riding in the back?

The CEO thing pays a lot better, if it's money you are after.

There is no easy way, we have all made similar choices and had to live with the results, and not too many of us get a "Do Over" if it doesn't work out. But with the MBA in your pocket, and some job experience, you might be able to return to the corporate, 9-5, M-F world in 5-10 years, if the airline gig doesn't pan out.
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