Originally Posted by Oberon

You can only afford to take a big gamble at the beginning of your career because you will still have time to make up for it over time. Right now a big gamble might pay off big but if it doesn't you are pretty much at the same place you currently sit (regional FO).

It's really easy to get comfortable where you are and let your career happen. The big problem with letting your career happen is that most people are doing the same thing so your resume is also going to look like theirs. At that point, getting to a major is a crap shoot. A better approach is to do what you can to differentiate yourself from the pack.

I am not familiar with the TSA program so I can only give my opinion based on what you've written. That said, it sounds like a really good opportunity for a couple of reasons. 1) PIC time will differentiate you from people without PIC time, 2) small companies with big growth present opportunities not available at bigger companies; check airman, chief pilot, safety, ALPA chairman positions all differentiate you from people who don't have those things on their resume. Another thing I know about TSH is they don't make deals that are risky which means the 40 airplanes they agreed to take are pretty secure.

My suggestion to you is to put together a spreadsheet with estimated monthly salaries at your current company and TSA. Run different scenarios good and bad and figure out what the break even point is for each. If you have to commute factor that in too. In 2007 I figured it cost me $5,000 a year to commute including crash pad, car, and opportunity cost of open time. I bet your situation becomes a lot more clear when you cost/benefit it.

For what it's worth I left Comair for Compass in 2007. It sounds like a no-brainer now but at the time it wasn't a sure thing because of the flow down provision of Compass' contract. I was fortunate that I was able to flow to Delta but the move allowed me to be marketable at any major because of a few of the opportunities I mentioned above. As someone who has benefitted from a career gamble I lean toward going for it.