Originally Posted by
proskuneho
Thanks for the great replies guys. Since my wife is actually excited about the Alaska idea, I am going to keep digging further. On one hand I think it might be best to try to get a job at PenAir when they resume hiring in the spring. Then I could at least have 121 experience if we only wanted to stay in Alaska for 2-3 years. On the other hand, I hear from my Alaska students that I could probably make more money right away with a 135 job (but then I would still not have any large aircraft experience). If we actually wanted to stay in Alaska (some friends have said that we would really like it), would it maybe be better to just get a bush flying job? What do you guys think?
Just hada friend with a couple thousand hours of Alaska PA31 time furloughed from PenAir 121 ops...
I disagree with the last poster about some of his points, but it depends on how you manage your career while in Alaska. It can provide you with a good paycheque while flying a piston single. A pay cheque that you can live on, that vs. a CRJ FO pay cheque in the south. But keep your on on the ball, where do you want to go with your career? What do you want to end up flying? After getting in the door with a company, any company, work there a year, reevaluate where you are, and stay or go. Stay and enjoy the company, or go and move to a company that can offer meaningful upgrades (or go back south after having gotten some flight time). Don't be in a rush to move on, just take some time to make sure that you're moving to the goal you think you'd like.
One difference up north that has not been mentioned here (thought I may have missed it) is that a very large percentage of Alaskan pilots actually DON'T want to fly for an airline, wear a uniform, have a captain that they work for and slave for, shave every day (even some of the ladies).
There are people like that!! I know, most lower 48ers would find it hard to believe, but I won't turn this into an anti-airline career path rant, tampting as it is, I'm sure you've read it all before.
In many ways, I will say, flying in Alaska means a great opportunity to see some amazing country, learn a lot of lessons about yourself and about flying, and learning from something other than just a book. It could well be the last place in America where the captain of a single engine piston holds a lot of respect for his abilities as a pilot from his passengers. I'd be happy to know that I'm wrong on that one.
Feel free to PM with any questions.