Originally Posted by
jimmyz80
-For someone who is a quick learner, and already has a four year degree under their belt, how long (best and worst case) could it take to get hired with a regional, move to a major commercial or cargo, and make a decent above average wage? Am I talking 5 years after I earn all my ratings...10?
Remember also that I'm more than happy to leave CA, so an above average wage is relative to wherever I'd be moving to.
It's impossible to put a time line on an aviation career. This business is so dynamic. Last year, when oil was still trading around $50/barrel, everyone thought we were entering another golden age in airline hiring. Look at the situation now. Also, right after 9/11 people thought it would be years before anyone would hire again and that a low-time pilot wouldn't have a chance with all the experienced people on the street. Well, regionals were hiring 2 years after 9/11 and thousands of low-time pilots have been hired by them since.
I'm a new hire at Delta. It took me 20 years to get this far. Why? Because of a recession in the early 90s, a temporary career change as a result of that, then 9/11. However, in my Delta class was a guy who had just turned 25, learned to fly after 9/11, was lucky enough to get hired at a regional with quick upgrades and will retire #1 at Delta. Just as I would have never thought back in 1987 when I started this career that it would have taken me this long to get where I am, I'm sure my classmate would never have thought back in 2002 that he'd be working for a major in 2008. It's all about timing.
Also keep in mind that I have many friends still at my old regional that have been there 8+ years, not for lack of trying to get out. A 4-year degree and some PIC time is not an automatic ticket to the majors.
-How does the living situation work when entering this career? When you start work for a regional, do you pretty much have to pack up and move wherever they dictate, or is it usually doable while staying put? Are there desirable places to live which would give the most options for both regionals, and transitioning to a major? Generally is it a safe bet to locate near one of the major hub airports, like DFW for example?
It depends on the regional. Many of the bigger ones allow you to commute because they operate schedules that are similar to the majors and have domiciles in large cities. Some of the smaller ones, like Colgan and Great Lakes, may have domiciles in smaller cities (ie. Roanoke, VA) and/or may fly nothing but day trips. This would make commuting virtually impossible.
Living in base certainly has its advantages. One thing to consider at the regional level, though, is that your flying is always going to done at the customer's whim, which means that bases come and go much more frequently than at the major level. It would not be unheard of for a regional to open a domicile in a large city only to have it get shut down a year or so later because its part of the flying has shifted to another part of the country.
The other thing too is that living in a hub city that's not yours can also bring its own difficulties as you are competing with tons of others commuting to and from work.
-Aside from breaking into the majors, what other paths can be taken that are financially lucrative, and not a dead-end? Does flying for a corporate outfit work out pretty well, or is it on par with flying for a regional? What are the ups (no-pun intended) and downs of working for a cargo carrier vs working for a commercial airline?
Some corporate jobs are great, some are not. It's impossible to answer. I'm sure the pilots for Cisco are pretty happy but that's because they work for a large, successful company. But what if you end up at a small company with a single Citation II? There's no job security there. Some are careers, others are stepping stones. I also think that corporate flying takes a specific mindset that not everyone has. I did a little bit of corporate flying and it just isn't for me. You, on the other hand, may love it.
A popular option these days is Netjets. I've had several friends from my regional go there as a career.
Cargo is hit and miss. I flew freight for a while building time and enjoyed it. However, I'd only go to UPS or Fedex, simply because these are stable companies, fly their own work and have schedules that somewhat resemble an airline schedule (albeit on the back side of the clock). Most of the other cargo companies basically do charter work. In other words, they are vendors. If the customers cancels the contract, you have the potential to get hosed, so to speak. Also, many have schedules that have you on the road for weeks at a time. Some like this, not me.
Basically I've done my reading and understand the ****storm I'll be stepping into for a period of my life, making under 1/5 what I currently do. I'm just trying to figure out whether the light at the end of the tunnel is worth it, and which direction I'd want to head.
Thanks so much in advance for any guidance you can provide!
--James
The financial expectations many have getting into this business are no longer there. At the current rate, it will probably be 10 years, if not more, for me to crack $100,000. I certainly did not expect this when I started down this path. But I'm personally okay with that. Having done other things outside this field, for me this is still the best job I have ever had. So my house is a little smaller than I originally had hoped, I drive a Honda instead of a Lexus and I rent a boat instead of buy one. But career wise, I wouldn't change one thing.
Good luck with your decision.