elijahmike,

I really DO think that the quiet times like now, are the ideal times to finish your ratings and be READY and WAITING for the next hiring wave. In that regard you were told the truth by ATP.

BUT-where you are in life, I agree with the others--DO NOT leave fire fighting. Find a nice plane to buy outright or get into a partnership. Live your dream that way. Honestly. You won't make enough money to buy a plane working for a regional-at least not for a long time.

Oh, and spread the knowledge. The public needs to be made aware of what working conditions are like at the airlines. The public still thinks pilots live like Ron Burgundy from the movie Anchorman. Not so, not so.