C17B74

No denying it, different lifestyles, different jobs, two really different worlds.

Elevation

To be fair our food is OUR food, not leftovers. Net Jets have newer planes, probably more diverse flying. So does that mean it's less demanding or better supported? I don't know. Even on our 747, you can expect to see the same five or six places 95% of the time. Is flying into some place in BC or the East Carribbean less enjoyable than Bahrain, Narita or Hong Kong? FBO coffee is probably better at NJA. There was a time when people were clamoring to get to NJA. Not sure what that means for upgrade and other opportunities.

Work is work after a couple years. I'd look at what's best for your home life. If you can be pretty happy at either place, then long term security and questions of what satisfies your sense of professional identity play a role. This last part is rarely discussed but important.

I can tell you I don't have answers or even recommendations. Good luck. Whatever move you make, you'll probably lie in bed at night asking your spouse if you should leave, pursue a promotion, just grit your teeth and eat it or whatever. When that happens know we're all doing the same thing, even if we act like we aren't.

Egg320

Very well said. I know I toss and turn at night from talking about what’s best in terms of a job with my wife. We call it ‘Talking Bases’ which is our pet name for what the hell are we going to do?

Lifestyle and QOL is everything, so forget the planes, Gucci bags etc, what will make you happy is the answer for me? Less money say but home with my family and friends a lot and enjoying life with a relatively stress free job and treated pretty decently at work.

If you can create that for yourself then you doing well and life is good!

stevecv

Im not married but I can relate completely. I'm a CFI about to hit the magic number and the pressure (albeit self imposed) of making the 'right' choice for my first 121 job has been a whirlwind. I have two friends at Atlas who are encouraging me to join them. All of my other pilot friends are at their regionals and are fitting into the 'typical' pilot path toward mainline. I don't like doing what everyone else does, following the herd so to speak. I felt that way when after I decided to become a full time CFI. As great as the experience was, when I look back at it I never truly wanted to be there. I did well and was committed to my students success, but being a CFI is selfless-its about them.

There are plenty of reasons to fly an RJ for years and then move on, plenty of reasons to want the adventure of Atlas, plenty of reasons to want a corporate gig. I guess in the end there are always reasons NOT to do something, and the indecision only makes one worse off.

Today where I am at mentally my desire is to fly heavies internationally and to fly cargo. Seems that my decision is rather easy under my terms.

CRJJ

CFI to flying heavies internationally is the plan?

stevecv

It's a goal to get to heavies, yeah.

CRJJ

You may get hired on the 73 with no turbine experience, but not the other 3 fleets. 24 months of seatlock and then heavies

stevecv

Yeah, that's entirely reasonable for me to expect. Still a much quicker way to a heavy than going through a regional then mainline I imagine!

Birdsmash

You are exactly the type of pilot that management is hoping will fill the seats.

akfrtdwg 57

Please do yourself and us a favor and grab some real experience before coming here. I don’t mean to make that sound derogatory. But your tactile feel of flying doesn’t improve once you come here, it will degrade. Your knowledge base will increase exponentially in certain areas if you apply yourself but all the gee whiz automation won’t help you. Find a gig that has multiple legs a day, 135 or regionals. You’ll get yourself into a more marketable position and gain experience doing it.