Originally Posted by
buffalopilot
I am a Physician Assistant. I work at Chautauqua Airlines as a FO. I was based at home and was able to work 2 days a week in medicine and fly 3-4 so I was very financially stable for 3 years. My base closed and due to commuting and long trips, I cant work my PA job so I lose 2-3 grand a month and cant survive. I took leave from the airline as I cant afford the job. Been off since june and I am dying to go back but i cant afford it. I done want to quit it but I have a wife a 2 kids to support. Flying for fun is not cutting it. Any suggestions? I need to go back!
I appreciate your circumstance. I was hired as an FO in 2007 and tried to commute to my base and keep my paramedic job. The paramedic job has a pension that begins paying after 20 years of service and I make about 7k a month.
I had originally planned to commute to my base and work 7/24 hour paramedic shifts for 3 years and then retire from my paramedic job. It would have been hard but I figured that at the end of three years I could collect the pension and then only work as an FO.
As the economy slowed, the number of flights to my base were cut and the planes were full or to heavy even for me to get in the jumpseat.
I couldn't walk away from a job that had a pension so I resigned from the FO position with a regional.
I am retiring next week and happy to collect the pension but I took another full time job as a paramedic. I don't get to do the job that I really love. I hope to make it back into a flying job as the economy improves.
My point is that its tough to make the right decisions for your financial future and family. But put them first. Try not to leave your FO job if that's what you love but you may need to move until a new base opens or you can find another place to practice as a PA.
I don't regret my decision but I also don't enjoy flying around in a C172 for fun. I need a mission or a reason to fly in order to be satisfied.