Originally Posted by
scubaash
Back to the topic...
I left for ATC. I think it was a smart move, stable, good pay, retirement, benefits, home life, etc. I left 135 flying in South Florida for this opportunity. I'm single and 27, yet I miss being in the flight levels and seeing new places everyday. I feel like I was born to fly and thinking about going back to it... Is that crazy?
I don't think it's crazy at all...I'm a federal worker (not paid as well as some controllers, but still GS-13 pay, not bad) good retirement, etc...and we've lost plenty of folks back to the airlines.
We only lost one employee back to the regional airlines, plenty to mainline (mostly American) and a couple to 135 type operators. Each were former airline pilots, and they missed the lifestyle. I miss the lifestyle too, but cant afford to make the jump (wife and family). If I can stick to the plan, and pay down our debts over the next few years while keeping myself current, I might have some other options. But even still, knowing that I'd be putting back on my kid's college savings, or my retirement, I'd still be leery.
If I was single, I'd jump at it...and if I had an opportunity to go straight to a major I'd jump at that too...but there's no REAL desire to go back to $20k/year.