Originally Posted by
midlifeflysis
1. For those that have maybe made a similar transition is it what you expected? Do you find you feel you work more or less (i.e. how is life when not tethered to a smartphone 24/7)?
Generally, much better QOL.
But before you get there, there's training (generally a special kind of hell, but that depends), then typically some junior-base reserve. Once you some seniority, it can be pretty good.
But the caveats...
- If you want to keep progressing to bigger planes (more money) at the fastest rate, you'll end up throwing away your seniority and starting all over with QOL. A mitigation is to suck it up until you get to a seat that pays *enough* money (typically Legacy FO), and then sit tight and enjoy your seniority for many years, and defer the CA upgrade (and big bucks).
Originally Posted by
midlifeflysis
2. If close out my last 300 hours and apply to a regional in the next 12 months, will I still have time to make the move to a Major before the wave fizzles and I end up a lifer FO with no seniority?
Yes, the wave is just warming up. But don't waste any time.
Also sounds like you have some education tickets punched, but you'll want to research all of the things which stack up to make you appealing to a major BEFORE you commit. Background issues can be problematic.
Originally Posted by
midlifeflysis
3. Unlike most on this forum I live in New York City and have the ability to stay here (wife works and does well and we own our place) - will this help me in terms of getting interviews and also moving up the seniority list faster?
Two things...
1. If you actually WANT to live in NYC, you should immediately drop everything and pursue major airlines. You will enjoy an significant seniority boost by staying based in what is the junior domicile for every airline that has a base there. You will also enjoy additional QOL benefits by living in a junior base (vice commuting).
It will probably take me nearly 30 years from the day I started pursuing aviation to be a legacy CA... and drive to work in SOCAL (which is my hard criteria). You could possibly do that in NYC in 5-7 years. From today.
2. A previous poster said it won't help with the interview... that's not entirely true. Most airlines (except DAL/FDX) will have some concerns as to whether you'll continue to shop around for better jobs. If you can tell them that you're rooted in their junior base, they'll know you'll be less likely to leave, and also less likely to be a reliability problem due to commuting. The majority of NYC based pilots (and FAs) commute, and they tend not to show up when it snows a lot.