Originally Posted by
tm602
And realize that we are now and will continue to be short on pilots. So your days will be long (12+ hours) and your nights short (10, maybe 11 hours). Every day. Your travel days will include flying 2-3 legs upon your arrival after you airline, sometimes after a 4 hour airline leg....and that just plain sucks. You will probably be denied every request for time off unless it is an family emergency (NJA is very good with this kind of thing). But it better be an emergency. Moving across the country? Denied, we are understaffed. Your problem. Wife having a baby? You will have an airline booked by NJA in minutes. Go figure.
But the pay is pretty god and the health plan is 100% paid by the company....only the $20 deductibles for visits are paid by you, and that's pretty darn good.
So in a nutshell: if you are fine with being a career FO, working long and resting short, and need a good medical plan, give it a try.
For anyone interested in NJ... this is spot on. It's the 2nd best JOB I've ever had in aviation. It is also probably one of the least "fun". For anyone that's ever flown for a good 91 corporate, good 121, or even decent 135, just know that with this job, other than required rest 10-12 hrs, you will have zero free time on the road. You can easily pack underwear, shaving kit, and whatever you sleep in, and be just fine, because most days, you'll change from your uniform into your pjs and and then into your uniform again. It's work, (decent paid, stable, good benefits, good aircraft work) but its work. They'll wear. Your. Ass. Out. Period. Also, if you need SIC jet time, good place to get it... lots of it.
That being said, there's an entirely different company within NJ's of pilots flying the large aircraft. Much different lifestyle. Also, infinitely senior.
I'm very appreciative of my job. I look forward to the day I punch out, because unless something changes, there is zero opportunity for 10yrs. At least. And I'm an optimist.