Originally Posted by MCJdrvr

Tough decision for sure... just found your thread today and couldn't stop reading until the end. Wish you the best of luck at UPS.

I am in a similar and, at the same time, very different situation. I'm a retired AF pilot that had a Delta class date last year until COVID crashed the party. My buds at Delta (~2016 hires) said that this job was a hidden gem and would be a fool to wait on another class date. DAL actually called this year in June the day the movers were packing us up but I told them I was committed to my new employer (that was one of most difficult things I've had to do). However, now I have a choice between joining UPS and staying at my current job with a defense contractor in the Atlanta area. The flying consists of mostly airworthiness and IFR certification flights for planes that come off the production line as well as conducting some training for customers. Schedule is 4x10hr days in the office (every Friday off), some travel (mostly a week or so at a time but can be a month or more) that is voluntary to a point. Starting salary in the high 100s with ~3% COLA raises, some performance bonuses on that raise as well as an additional 6-12% of pay in annual bonus, 10% company match 401K with my 8% (total of 18%). Vacation is 4 weeks per year plus 8 other paid holidays. Flying is slim, around 100-150 hours annually and is very unpredictable due to MX and production delays. Mostly day VFR flying due to the nature of the work. Background in the USAF is night flying and I want to get more hours than I currently get. Little to no upward mobility in the company since I'm not a test pilot graduate (despite having an engineering degree and 2 MBAs).

The financial side is hands down in favor of UPS (although I'll have to pay back $100K in relocation benefits if I leave for UPS). Starting pay and 401K benefits where I'm at just clears $200k and increases modestly after that. There is not an upgrade pay structure... everyone is an instructor. There is a possibility of a pay increase due to market forces... word on the street is that other top defense contractors pay their pilots much more.

The big differentiator is QOL and job security. Like the OP, commuting between ATL-SDF (long term plan) is pretty easy but I would not have the stability and predictability I currently enjoy. I have 3 boys under age 12 and they're in a great school here... we also just moved here so I don't want to move them again. I think I would do alright with the back side of the clock but that's not getting easier with age. I have a special issuance on my FAA class 1 that's not a problem for now but if I do have issues, my current job does not have as much of a vested interest to help me as UPS (or the IPA) would. I do feel a bit of pressure to maximize my earnings now in case the FAA medical becomes a problem.

I figure the mil retirement gives me the ability to mitigate the UPS QOL with dropping trips when I need too.

My situation seems difficult because it pits much higher pay against a significant change in QOL... but everyone's perspective is different. Anyone out there been in this situation or knew someone weighing a similar scenario? Any advice is appreciated.

Originally Posted by fightandflight

Now this one seems like an easier decision to me - you should come to UPS. Long term (or even relatively short term) you will be in a much better position. I’ve had too many friends hang on with a defense contractor, the contract changes, and they end up knocking on the door of the airlines much later in life. With no upward mobility you are the most expendable one there, and that retirement isn’t going to cut it if we have some bad market years (depending on your goals I suppose). It will be an adjustment when you get here, but once settled you will never look back with regret, I can almost guarantee that. Your QOL might be a nice routine, but get a few years under your belt here and you will have a great QOL and a fantastic long term outlook. I’ve seen this story play out - join UPS.