Notices
Career Questions Career advice, interview prep and gouges, job fairs, etc.

Am I Nuts?

Old 02-19-2017, 06:33 PM
  #1  
New Hire
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Position: RQ-4, MQ-4C
Posts: 4
Default Am I Nuts?

After 8 years flying unmanned, I have essentially reached the pinnacle of my field. I make great money and have a bullet-proof career with a great company. Despite this, I’m not terribly happy with my work or living away from friends and family.

I left Trans States Airlines in 2009 after having been downgraded and then displaced. It was a no-brainer at the time but now I am beginning to think I’d like to get back to the airlines.

I wanted to get some opinions from active pilots on how they would proceed. At 40 years-old, am I nuts to leave an industry where I have established myself? What is my best path back to flying the line? To a major? Any opinions are appreciated, I’m on the fence…


Total Time – 3000 (4300*)
- Pilot-in-Command – 1110
- Mission Commander – 1580*
- Multi-Engine – 2390
- Turbine – 1790 (550*)
- Instructor – 910 (180*)
- Night – 520 (2140*)
- Cross-Country – 2000
- Instrument – 105 (130 hood)
- Combat – 3720*
*unmanned aircraft systems
Yakrobat is offline  
Old 02-19-2017, 07:01 PM
  #2  
Banned
 
Joined APC: Dec 2014
Posts: 532
Default

You already know you're nuts. What you're looking for is reassurance that you'd be crazy to get back into the rat race of job fairs, logbook printing, interview preps, 2 day interviews, union dues, management shenanigans, 5 legs a day, pilots stepping on each other to get the job over you, etc. Yup. You already know you're nuts, but if you need me to remind you every so often, I'm your huckleberry. Don't be insane.
Whiplash6 is offline  
Old 02-19-2017, 08:16 PM
  #3  
New Hire
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Position: RQ-4, MQ-4C
Posts: 4
Default

When one breaks it down like that, then the question seems to answer itself. Trouble is, I'm just not enjoying what I do... as much as it sucked sometimes, I genuinely enjoyed airline flying. Maybe it's selective memory, but I'm finding it harder and harder to ignore.
Yakrobat is offline  
Old 02-19-2017, 11:58 PM
  #4  
Organizational Learning 
 
TonyC's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Directly behind the combiner
Posts: 4,948
Default

I don't think you're nuts for wanting to fly again. If wanting to fly makes someone nuts, sign me up for a staight jacket.


I DO think you're nuts for including UAS time on the same page with flight time. Night unmanned time?? Really?


You've got a good (almost) 25 years ahead of you. Freshen up your resumé and go for it.






.
TonyC is offline  
Old 02-20-2017, 03:58 AM
  #5  
Banned
 
Joined APC: Dec 2014
Posts: 532
Default

Originally Posted by Yakrobat View Post
When one breaks it down like that, then the question seems to answer itself. Trouble is, I'm just not enjoying what I do... as much as it sucked sometimes, I genuinely enjoyed airline flying. Maybe it's selective memory, but I'm finding it harder and harder to ignore.
Yes, the drama and the gamble of airline flying is addictive. "Will we grow next year and start upgrading again?".... "Will I get furloughed?"....The unknown can be fun, and I get it. The job doesn't feel like a job sometimes, but in 5 years you'll be just as miserable. Unmanned is the next emerging market and you have that locked down. Do what you feel is right, but I know I'd take the bird in the hand and enjoy my days off. Good luck, "mission commander".
Whiplash6 is offline  
Old 02-20-2017, 07:20 AM
  #6  
Prime Minister/Moderator
 
rickair7777's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,097
Default

* Go ahead and delete all of the UAS time from the resume...ESPECIALLY the combat time. That will **** off to no end any actual combat veteran who happens to see it. I know those numbers mean something in unmanned land, but it means worse than nothing in the manned world.

You can and should list the UAV experience in text format on the resume, just don't throw flight times into the mix. Or the word combat.

You can go to a regional to get current, but you're still probably looking at upgrading to be fully competitive for legacies. You could likely get on with LCC once current.
rickair7777 is offline  
Old 02-20-2017, 07:24 AM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 461
Default

Originally Posted by TonyC View Post
I DO think you're nuts for including UAS time on the same page with flight time. Night unmanned time?? Really?
.
More importantly, remove the C time. Nobody gives a rats a$$ about real C let alone UAS. Holy crap, I didn't even know that existed

Edit - I see 777 beat me to the punch. Seriously, follow that advice. And never let that see the light of day again...
60av8tor is offline  
Old 02-20-2017, 08:29 PM
  #8  
New Hire
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Position: RQ-4, MQ-4C
Posts: 4
Default

I appreciate the advice. I've perused these forum over the last few years and always knew I'd get unfiltered and frank responses; exactly what I wanted.


Now, in defense of my unmanned time:

Originally Posted by TonyC View Post
I DO think you're nuts for including UAS time on the same page with flight time. Night unmanned time?? Really.
By-far-and-away the most complex and challenging flight time in my logbook is unmanned. Three of my coworkers are prior F4, F117, and C17 and I think they would all agree. Moreover it shows that I've remained heavily engaged in aviation; I don't want to appear that I've been out of the loop for the last 8 years. I'll explore other ways to incorporate the information to make it more palatable.


Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
* Go ahead and delete all of the UAS time from the resume...ESPECIALLY the combat time. That will **** off to no end any actual combat veteran who happens to see it.
My resume makes it clear that I spent 4 years (the equivalent of 5-6 tours of duty) in-theater embedded with Special Forces. I'd say I earned the right to put that time down but I can see where someone might view it differently. Never-the-less, I don't have it listed in my resume for manned aviation... that list was just lifted straight from LinkedIn.
Yakrobat is offline  
Old 02-20-2017, 08:47 PM
  #9  
All is fine at .79
 
TiredSoul's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: Paahlot
Posts: 4,045
Default

I would certainly include it in a resume but as stated don't count it towards your flight time.
The average HR person won't know what to do with it anyway.
Pick a place and go for it.
And thank you for your service.
TiredSoul is offline  
Old 02-20-2017, 09:29 PM
  #10  
Disinterested Third Party
 
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,923
Default

Originally Posted by Yakrobat View Post
I'd say I earned the right to put that time down but I can see where someone might view it differently.
You keep insisting on your rights. That will gain you some real traction in seeking a job.
JohnBurke is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
clipperskipper
Safety
6
05-11-2012 05:45 PM
Deez340
Major
12
01-30-2008 08:54 PM
murl
Major
4
02-05-2007 06:48 PM
SWAjet
Major
0
04-27-2006 10:52 AM
Trash Hauler 1
JetBlue
28
03-23-2006 01:08 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices