Originally Posted by swaayze
.....you should interview if only for the experience. If you have no other offers, take the job and get the 121 time.
That is good advice and I probably should have posted that first, but I wouldn't agree with taking the Eagle job just for 121 time (well unless you have 300 hours or something).
directbears, where are you now?
I have a non-flying job now. I just got burnt out on the airline biz. I gave it a good 8+ years (6+ with Eagle) and didn't make much headway. Eagle was the straw that broke my back (specifically the onslaught of flowbacks). Granted I made some decisions along my Av career that in hindsight were not great (Eagle being one), and I regret that. However my personal life (family, friends, health, and attitude) have fared the better for getting out. I'll admit that I miss flying, but I don't think I will give it another shot.
My intent here is not to dissuade folks from getting into the industry, but I just try to give a perspective (some call negative because it goes against the "pilot" mantra of how great and cool it is to be a pilot) and let these folks know that being an "airline" pilot is not what the brochure advertises. I also try to give my perspective on Eagle because I really feel like that place was a career killer for me, and I would advise people that (again) are looking for BIGGER AND BETTER career avenues not to go to Eagle. Plus I just didn't like the culture there (and I stuck around for 6 years - boy do I like abuse. Chasing the dangling carrot I guess).
And one last note about Eagle: saying Eagle is a stable company (someone else posted that so it’s not pointed at you) that is just not true. Eagle is just like any other “contract” feeder. There is always the potential to lose the AA feed (as ole Pete B likes to point out CONSTANTLY). Look at the connection feeders…..its already happened and probably will happen again with Executive (IF, but more likely WHEN) they sell it off.
Was it really a good move for you now that you'd be on deck for the Captain seat?
I think so. Again, my personal life is much more pleasant now, and that is obviously a sacrifice that people getting into the biz need to consider. I might be a Captain if I had stayed, but I’d be very junior with a crap lifestyle on reserve with 7+ years in. Not worth it to me.
Just my perspective. Take it or leave it. Doesn’t hurt to share, right?