Over at Chautauqua, the lifestyle is decent. 13 different bases,no junior manning, min of 11 days off reserve, 12 off for line holders. I've been there 5 years and usually get 17 days off a month. The most I've ever had off was 20 days a month doing 8 hour out and backs. Those were the days.
Anyways, the upgrade time has slowed down to about 2 years until you'll move sideways. On the plus side, guys are leaving like crazy right now, myself included to pursue other airlines. Chautauqua has great people over here and there are easy to get along with, however, I want a bigger challenge doing overseas flying, so that's where I'm headed. Other than that, I'd agree with the rest of the posts from the other guys. If you didn't like it before, I'd question getting into it again.
I wouldnt listen to the posts telling you you can't get back into the industry. I am sure that many people leave (even seen in previous posts) and come back in and out of this crazy industry. I'd bet most airlines dont plan on having you for more than 5 yrs anyway, its all part of the business. I don't think it would be tough to explain why you left.....for most pilots its about "why should I stay" And I bet they(HR) will be asking "why does this guy wanna come back" In which you can say because ive already seen that the grass aint any greener on the other side! lol! SO, You gotta do what you gotta do! To Fly or Not To Fly now THAT is the question!
Bla bla yadda yadda
Either way...HR should recognize that you tried NOT flying and decided to come back and therefore it could potentially mean that," this guy is less likely to ditch again cause you know about what your getting back into"( been there - done that, sorta thing.) Versus a guy that never tried NOT flying. No?
Just to get the record strait. My last real employer went under a few years ago. I was working as a 757 FO for National Airlines. At the time I knew that it would be near impossible to find a good enough job to support my growing family. Instead of dragging them across the country again to another strange town to work a minimum wage job I decided to call it quits for a spell and head home. I made that sacrifice for my wife and children. Not my choice to loose my job. Since then I have been able to see things from a new perspective now that the rose colored glasses are gone. You guys will have a different attitude as well after you have been kicked around the industry for a while.
SKyHigh
Skyhigh, I commend you on your decision. Although my situation was a little different, (my field was airport management), the end was the same. I'm sure your decision was a difficult one, however, you did take the high road of morality and thought about others as oppose to yourself.
Even though I have my landmines to get through, I am still going to perservere in my quest to become an airline pilot. Like I've said before, I am not looking to become Senior Chief Pilot for ABC Airline. I love to fly and always wanted to be an airline pilot. I'm not in it for the money as oppose to the shear joy of handling a "big iron bird."
And Uncle Bose, to answer your question...!!!!!!?????!!!!
Over at Chautauqua, the lifestyle is decent. 13 different bases,no junior manning, min of 11 days off reserve, 12 off for line holders. I've been there 5 years and usually get 17 days off a month. The most I've ever had off was 20 days a month doing 8 hour out and backs. Those were the days.
Anyways, the upgrade time has slowed down to about 2 years until you'll move sideways. On the plus side, guys are leaving like crazy right now, myself included to pursue other airlines. Chautauqua has great people over here and there are easy to get along with, however, I want a bigger challenge doing overseas flying, so that's where I'm headed. Other than that, I'd agree with the rest of the posts from the other guys. If you didn't like it before, I'd question getting into it again.
I'm another guy who got out of the flying biz, but I'm starting to miss it a little. And yes skyhigh, I see where you are coming from because I left the biz partially to be with my wife and newly born child. Anyway, I've been Eyeballing Chautauqua for a while now, and wanted to ask you (Free Flyer) a few questions.
How junior is the IND base?
How do you think your airline would view a pilot who has been out of the game for a while, with little recency of experience if any for like the last 6mo to 1 year, but has 3000+ jet time with 6000+ TT?
Do you think Chautauqua will continue to grow (are there plans in place) or will they be stagnant for a while?
Thanks for any insight.
Last edited by directbears : 02-17-2006 at 10:12 AM.
Just to get the record strait. My last real employer went under a few years ago. I was working as a 757 FO for National Airlines. At the time I knew that it would be near impossible to find a good enough job to support my growing family. Instead of dragging them across the country again to another strange town to work a minimum wage job I decided to call it quits for a spell and head home. I made that sacrifice for my wife and children. Not my choice to loose my job. Since then I have been able to see things from a new perspective now that the rose colored glasses are gone. You guys will have a different attitude as well after you have been kicked around the industry for a while.
SKyHigh
And for every story like this I know of others that are the opposite... There are plenty of "career" FOs that lost their jobs when Independence tanked that have stuck with it and now are in better places.
Many folks I know are at JetBlue, NetJets, XOJet, Air Tran, UPS, FedEX... most of them are making just as much or more than they did at IDE. Of course, there are also some that ended up working at Pinnacle, ASA, AWAC, and Chatuttle Republic, and they are making less.
Ultimately nobody on this forum can make a statement that is all encompassing for each individual's situation. What's true for Skyhigh or for me, won't necessarily fit into medfly's "big picture"...
Medfly- you know what the airline lifestyle and pay is like. Sit down, weigh the pros and cons, using rational judgement. Talk through things with your wife and kids. Explain the hardships and the potential rewards, then sleep on it and decide what the best course of action is for you and your family.
I gave up a job with a descent regional to drive a desk so I could make more money and be closer to my kids. It hasn't been like I thought it would be, and I think about flying every day. It would be great if some of you RJ drivers could give me some feedback on the companys you are currenly with. Pay, upgrade time, how commutable the schedule is, especially out of FL. Any positive input is greatly appreciated.
I was flying in the early 90's and I quit to go back to grad school. I worked after graduation and I hated it. I missed flying. I went back to a regional, then to a major, then to another major... and then things went south again. I started working on the side, and although it was a good living financially... one must enjoy their work! So I stopped the side work... I wasn't having fun at the major so I took a leave to fly corporate. I'm having a blast. You can ALWAYS reinvent yourself. Please don't believe anyone here who tries to tell you what you should do to be happy. Only you know what that is...
Best of luck!
Guys and gals,
First off, let me prefix this with the truthful disclaimer that I'm no poet, not in the real sense. I like to think I'm merely channeling the voices of our long gone brethren, they having "flown West" as we shall all do one day. I'd like to offer something I managed to pen that we can all relate to, in hopes it will help anyone pondering entry or return to our unique profession and ask your kind indulgence in my meager attempt.
"Captain"
by Rick Barlow
When you call me “Captain",
If I took a poll,
Would find few comprehending,
The price I paid, the toll.
To wear four stripes upon my sleeve
Laurels o'er my brow,
And sit in high commanding places,
To peer beyond the prow.
The hours, days, months, years,
And "why is daddy gone?”
The awful, silent, empty nights,
My wife has sat...alone.
The missions flown in distant lands,
The friends forever gone,
Or seeing ONCE the havoc wrought,
With merely human hands.
The dead of night, red eye flight,
Begun at dusk till early dawn,
Or why I always had to fight,
For simple pleasures, mow the lawn.
Bearing souls to many places,
Joyous, anxious, wanting faces.
For their safety ne're abstained,
Fatigue endured, and meals refrained.
My honored craft and how this hand
Will place you soft upon the land,
And all for “love" you can not see,
No one would know, 'tis not to be.
if you have a couple thousand turbine time just go corporate, at least youll be able to somewhat provide for a family first year, in the long run the money will be less, but at least your in a plane
Give me a break ,easy with the negativity fellas,and the whining, brother,there are many ways to skin the feline,and making a living,and a life in the cockpit need not impoverish your nearest and dearest, corporate, cargo,pax 121, follow your inner compass, try not to let Skyhigh and his various shades of black throw you off your path. Nothing against old Sky,this is a free and open forum and he has the right to rain on everyones parade if he sees fit,but I have friends who have been furloughed,chewedup,spindled and mutilated,by this aero industry, yet perservered and are now at Fed Ex,Abex, JBlu et al. Not everyone is cut out for the fight, but if you are a true airman,if this profession is so deep in your marrow that anything less than flying the line (or execs whatever) will never satisfy you, then hang in there,find your way back,and please above all ,enjoy it ! Last I checked this was still a pretty awesome way to earn ones daily bread.
__________________
Green grass,blue skies,retro jets and tailwheels forever
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Life at Chautauqua
I gave up a job with a descent regional to drive a desk so I could make more money and be closer to my kids. It hasn't been like I thought it would be, and I think about flying every day. It would be great if some of you RJ drivers could give me some feedback on the companys you are currenly with. Pay, upgrade time, how commutable the schedule is, especially out of FL. Any positive input is greatly appreciated.
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