As a (due to Covid) former regional guy… dude, I would kill for a CFI gig.񹙋񹙋񹙋

I remember the frustration of instructing my way through my hours and just wishing there would be a new reg or something that would let me into a jet cockpit asap. I ended up going the 135 route, after about 500 dual given, when things were good back in 2015. It was definitely a godsend.

That being said, with all that’s going on, I would hop back in the right seat of a 172 any day. Most of my buddies still “working” in the 121 world are barely keeping current with the scraps scheduling can give them. We as pilots thrive on doing the thing we’re good at so these days are depressing to say the least. No one is happy.

My COMPany went under (guess which one), so there’s no real end in sight to this dry spell for myself or my workmates. What it’s all taught me, personally, is that it doesn’t matter what you’re flying, as long as you’re flying. I’ve been renting a 172 every ~90 days to maintain currency and damn, I miss GA flying. Even instructing… and I never thought I’d say that.

My advice is to simply wait this all out and do what you must for the foreseeable future. Pay the bills, keep a roof over your head, have food on the table, etc. You said “Maybe writing this out will finally help me move on and do something else for the next two years.” So let’s just sit on the idea that this will all be over in the next 2 years. Assuming that’s the case, if a 2 year hiatus in your career progression is too much to handle in terms of a potentially lifelong career of flying, well, maybe you just don’t have the right level of passion. And if that’s the case, then it’s better to find that out now than years later with far more time put into it.

Ultimately, I hope you and everyone else in your position finds themselves gainfully employed and content with their futures in as short a time as possible. Things will get better. The only question is when.

Edit: Based on the previous threads threads you’ve started, I feel compelled to mention that I’m 26. Seems pertinent info about your opinion of things.