Originally Posted by
TransWorld
Good point. Some elect to be a lifer. Reasons may be quality of life, domiciles, position, age, etc.
Let's take the age, for example. Someone age 60 may very well stay for quality of life. Weekends off, prime vacation times, best everything. Going to a major as a FO they will retire as a FO with only moderately good schedules.
On the other hand, say someone who flows to AA at age 30 - 35 years will get on an escalator.
In 10 years, more than half of those above them will retire. (Sliceback has done excellent analysis of this in the major AA subforum and a thread of AA vs SW outside of the subforum.) In less than 10 years they will be a CA or a senior FO with weekend off, etc. In a few years more than a decade, they can hold a CA on a Group 4 pay aircraft (767/777/etc).
Big hirings are going to go on for quite a few years. Even some of the recently hired FO are 50+, so will continue the bow wave even further.
The choice for someone at 30-35 would be to stay as a regional senior CA for qol or take a hit for a few years, make double+ as a CA on a major, and spend 20 years of their career with a great qol on a narrow body as a senior CA or flying a G4 aircraft across the small or large pond as a CA, with associated great qol.
It all depends on a person's personal situation. A lot of factors come into play. Everyone has to make their own decision. And, as is always said, you will know for sure if you made the right decision the day after you retire.
I appreciate the great info so far. situation:
Age 50 at time of retirement from federal job, non-mil.
I will retire in 5 years from now. Hopefully this is in the middle of the "dire straights" that AA is rumored to be facing due to mandatory retirements (year 2022). Unfortunately SWA is kinda going gangbusters now. Not sure if they will taper off.
Most entire career has been flying the King Air 350. 'nuff said. Will have federal pension with federal health care benefits in retirement.
Pension will be approx $60K net, annually. No major debt (yes, home mortgage) and personal financial situation is fine. Any job with $50K annual salary after taxes will result in
same income or possibly slight pay raise, in total cash to the bank, over my present full-time job.
Observation: To obtain "retiree pass benefits" at AA, one must have 10 years of service. Unless I missed something. This indeed is a goal as I have family all over the freaking country and will have two kids in college possibly on different coasts.
4 year degree, partial MBA completed (1/2 way thru) from an accredited university with a physical campus, Check Airman, Safety, etc experience. "Target" is AA and SWA, both Dallas HQ since I leave in the Dallas area. Loose medical, etc I can answer phones M-F at HQ.
6500 TT, 2500 Turbine PIC presently. TT Time not higher due to numerous "staff jobs" and expected "desk duties" when you work for Uncle Sam.
Gameplan is apply to Envoy, AA, SWA, and "do time" at Envoy while my app sits at AA and SWA. Worst case, i flow to AA via Envoy at age 55ish and do the next ten at AA. Better case, I get picked up after 2 years of 121 time and then AA or SWA.
Ideal, super best case is I roll from this gig direct to AA or SWA but
I recognize that may not be possible.
Have about 3 Captains at AA and SWA each who advised they will submit LOR's/try to help me, once I get closer to retirement. Everybody else has this too, so....
I have some back-up skills in my pocket to include project management, IT, data analysis (those visual presentations involving scatter plots and heat maps) that I can hopefully pay the rent with in the event nobody calls me and I need to eat.
Thank you again. Comments, ideas always welcome
** AARP applicant LOL