SkyBN

I am a full-time flight instructor who is married (no kids) and I was wondering what my best options would be. My background is:

1000TT
80 multi (54 PIC multi)
80 hours instrument

So I am torn between the choices that I have.

Option 1: stay as a flight instructor for approximately 8 more months and move to a Regional carrier. Now it's valid to say that I hate flight instructing at my current flight school due to poor management and leadership. My life is pretty miserable there but I make close to 25$/hour.

Option 2: go to Cape Air as a FO, making 9$/hour, until I get my 1,500 hours then become a Captain making 15$ hour. The issue of being placed randomly at bases scare me when I'm only making barely minimum wage. But I have talked to many pilots from Cape Air and they all recommend it. The. After the required 1 1/2 at Cape Air I'd move on to a Regional Carrier.

Option 3: Go to Planesense (part 91k) flying the SEL TURBINE PC-12 initially making $34k as an FO ( after the 6-month evaluation) then stay with them for the minimum required 3 years ( rumor) then go to a Regional. Or I could just simply stay with them for the rest of my career since they just purchased 6 orders of the twin versatile jet, PC-24.

I am looking for a good future and good QOL. I highly appreciate any comments and advices. Thanks

yimke

What is your end career goal?

How much PIC total do you have? I personally would wait until you have 1k. Going over as an SIC can limit your potential for openings in the future.

Can you move to a Cape air base that does the ATR and what is the upgrade time there? Cape air is leaps and bounds beyond QoL at any regional. Heard nothing but great things about them; It is one of the best kept secrets in aviation.

OceanicPilot

Correct me if I'm wrong but I also believe the rate at Cape is for all of your duty hours not flight time.

RemoveB4flght

Read all of your options.. you list your goal in each one, moving on to a regional carrier.

The only thing standing between you and that right now are the remaining requirements of your ATPL. Right now you are in a position to get them, and while it might seem far off it could be done in less than a year.

You wage now is decent, and you are building PIC time and experience, gut it out and start preparing your resume and for airline interviews. I see no reason to change jobs, possibly move, make less money, and add more stress to your life to overcome 500 hours, no matter how "miserable" your job may seem.

Work hard, Fly smart, and keep your eye on the goal.

ClarenceOver

suck it up and keep instructing like everybody else.

OnCenterline

I wouldn't go anywhere that has requirement for you to stay a certain period of time. That is for their benefit, NOT yours!

Cape is a great company, and the pay is indeed for duty time, not just flight time. Don't discount that. Another poster mentioned the ATR, but that's only in Guam, and they only have 2 planes there.

I'd get your 1500, and go to a jet regional. You're too close to the 1500 to do the interim step to Cape Air.

Southern Fried

It sounds like you want to end up at an airline. If so, I would lean towards the Cape Air gig. If you are unhappy flight instructing, is it because of the company or because you don't like giving instruction? if the latter I advise you get out as soon as possible. Being an unhappy flight instructor is not conducive to giving good instruction. Leave while your integrity and record is intact. 20 years from now you can look back at your time as an instructor and feel good about the job you did. Also, the other two options will give you some good Wx experience and with Cape, more multi-engine. You will appreciate both of those as a Regional new-hire.

Also consider what your spouse does for a living. Can you survive without his/her income? If so, you can move to wherever you decide is appropriate and commute if necessary. If you are at Cape Air you can commute, but you will lose some days off each month doing so. If you go with Planesense, you will not be able to use an airline jumpseat to commute and will need to live where they have a base (unless they airline you to where the airplane is).

Basically I would say it depends on your situation at home and whether you need to commute or not.

rickair7777

Stay at the flight school. Regionals are hiring all comers and (baring a sudden outbreak of WW-III) will still be doing so one year from now. As for the family, you'll most likely be able to pick a regional which has domiciles located near or at where you want to be.

Cape Air PIC will not get you hired at a major.

Planesense *might* turn out to be an adequate career destination, but the bigger question is do you want to be an airline pilot or a corporate pilot?

Does your wife have a job? She needs to get one, and plan on working for the next ten years or so. Entry-level aviation paybis not designed to support a family...it's designed to support a single pilot who lives in his van and eats dry ramen (because he can't afford heat to boil water).

SkyBN

Thank you all for the posts, I really appreciate all of your comments. So let me answer a few questions. I have about 750 PIC, don't really care whether I end up at an airline or corporate. The most important aspect for me is have a good future or QoL, make good money to be comfortable and enjoy flying. My wife has a good job and we both live in the Boston, MA area. Thanks.