Originally Posted by
PerfInit
Make sure you factor in the 1.7% FERS Pension you would be walking away from if you bail. That is a very generous benefit of being in your shoes. Have you "run the numbers" and Considered sticking with it till MRA (56) then going 121? That will give you 9 years for an airline career. Believe me, you will have had enough 121 by then!
In 22 years I'll be eligible to retire, at age 51. I have thought about going 121 at that time, it's a great idea, yet I wonder how hiring will be? I imagine with so much hiring recently, there will be barely any movement in 20-30 years and may be hard to get in.
The pension is the biggest reason I struggle with the decision to leave...yet with a major captain salary of 250k+ (looking at just 5th year Delta captain pay), even if it takes another 25 years to get there, it seems the salary and extra time working as a pilot could easily and most likely would surpass earning potential through FAA into retirement. Even 160k pilot salary would be more than an ATC salary and for much longer. Along with some impressive 401k company matches these days (FAA is 5% and only 3% full match), a pension may not be as great. Let alone the thought of privatization and losing the pension, but that's another discussion. Thoughts?