scubaash

Sorry in advance for the long post, but worth explaining for a life changing decision... I posted here 2-3 years ago after leaving 135 flying in a Lear to be a controller with the FAA, for reasons every professional pilot is aware of. The transition out of the cockpit was tough for me, and while very grateful for the stability and benefits of an FAA career, I was missing flying.

Today I'm 3 years in the FAA as a certified TRACON controller, and while it's a great career that I'm good at in a place I call home, I once again find myself strongly considering leaving to go back to the professional cockpit. It seems things are much better at the airlines these days and for many foreseeable years in the future, at least compared to 5 years ago, and that the opportunity to make it to the majors is much more realistic.

I left 135 flying in 2014 with ATP and Lear 45 type rating, and have been maintaining currency with weekly flight instructing in 172 and PA44, about 350 hours each year. Total time over 3000, of which about 700-800 is turbine in the Lear and King Air, 150 TPIC although no turbine currency in the past 3 years.

Given the state of the industry, it seems like a great time to shoe into a 121 operator and get to a major or national for an enjoyable long career. I have been struggling with the decision for quite some time and advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

My brain tells me to stay with the stable government career, yet my heart tells me to fly and that the rest (financial stability and independence in the golden years, quality of life) will fall in place. It seems I could easily exceed my present FAA salary in 4 or so years, and in 20+ years double the FAA salary. More time off with a 121 schedule and get to travel and see the world and its people. I am not married but with a serious girlfriend and own a home, age 29, no kids. My biggest concerns are leaving my pension, getting stuck at a regional for a career, getting furloughed down the road, going back to reserve life (although temporary), and taking a 30-40k pay cut for the first couple years (greater income potential after). I hear 121 life is WAY better than 135...I couldn't stand charter anymore without a schedule. I'd have a hard time stomaching employment at a regional with all the fresh guys from the flight school, but maybe a necessary career step? Maybe I could bypass them and get straight in to somewhere like JetBlue or Atlas, stay for a career?

Do you think it would be foolish to leave a stable government job, quality home life, with benefits and retirement pension mid-50s? What do you think would be the best 121 to apply to and work for? Maybe the grass is always greener?

Thanks all.

PerfInit

Make sure you factor in the 1.7% FERS Pension you would be walking away from if you bail. That is a very generous benefit of being in your shoes. Have you "run the numbers" and Considered sticking with it till MRA (56) then going 121? That will give you 9 years for an airline career. Believe me, you will have had enough 121 by then!

NYC Pilot

Don't leave ATC, you will regret it. FAA ATC is a solid career with a real pension unlike the airlines. I was hired as an ATC Controller a while back and I regret every single day that passes on why I let the opportunity slip. I made it to a major and flew heavies but ATC is much better. Don't do it.

USMCFLYR

Keep an eye open for future openings with Flight Check.

If you definitely want to be an airline pilot - this is a great time to do that.

If you want the stability of the gov't job and to fly and (possibly) see the world - there are other options.

bkey79

I was ATC for 11 years, 9 years USAF and 2 years at Houston Center, and 90% of the time I'm glad I made the switch. There are those times when I won't be able make my commute home or bad weather days that I regret it, but overall I love flying more. And I'm still at a regional, can't imagine how it'll be once I make it out.

Good luck with your decision!

NYC Pilot

The stability of a government job is unmatched. As an FAA ATC, you are still involved with aviation. Airline jobs are one disaster away from a long furlough and even if you make it to retirement, there is no pension. If we go to war with North Korea for instance, the airline game will change dramatically. For the worse...Think hard about it. It's easy to become a major airline pilot, it's very hard getting what you currently have. Like I said, I regret every day not taking the FAA job. I would have retired in another 10 years with a full government pension and 10 years is not a long time. Still would have been age 50 at retirement with 20 years service with The FAA. If I still had the itch to fly, I would have had 15 years to do 121 but it would have been more for fun than relying on a paycheck. As we get older, the flying career becomes more difficult physically. Just know what you are getting into because you don't want to quit ATC just to go back to a regional and hate life.

scubaash

Solid thoughts, thank you. It seems you have some good time in the industry to be flying heavies with the majors...can I ask what you're dissatisfied with at the majors to regret not going ATC? Surely at this point in the airlines you are making more than a max FAA salary with good time off away from the job? What don't you like that would have been different in ATC? Just trying to play devil's advocate to help the decision, appreciate your feedback.

scubaash

In 22 years I'll be eligible to retire, at age 51. I have thought about going 121 at that time, it's a great idea, yet I wonder how hiring will be? I imagine with so much hiring recently, there will be barely any movement in 20-30 years and may be hard to get in.

The pension is the biggest reason I struggle with the decision to leave...yet with a major captain salary of 250k+ (looking at just 5th year Delta captain pay), even if it takes another 25 years to get there, it seems the salary and extra time working as a pilot could easily and most likely would surpass earning potential through FAA into retirement. Even 160k pilot salary would be more than an ATC salary and for much longer. Along with some impressive 401k company matches these days (FAA is 5% and only 3% full match), a pension may not be as great. Let alone the thought of privatization and losing the pension, but that's another discussion. Thoughts?

PerfInit

The FERS pension is shielded from market fluctuation. 401K's not so much. What if you get stuck at a Regional for a LONG time? Worse yet, what if you have a future medical problem? Ask the thousands of 9/11 era pilots out there what they think about stagnating careers, furloughs, lost pensions and airline Bankruptcy. It has happened in the past and can happen again. Right now times are great, but we are living in a bubble. When will it pop? Who knows... Point is, what you have "in hand" right now, If you don't realize the value of it "now", you will someday appreciate what you have (or had). Is it worth giving it all up to chase shiny objects? Only you can make that
decision, and then ask yourself 25 years later: "Was it worth it?"

rvatornate

I retired last September after a 25 year career as a controller. Today marks 1 year exactly at SKW. I would think long and hard before you bail on all that is the FAA career. It is really different to now have to think about what world events may do to the future of my employer, or the future of any aviation career. It is really nice to have the pension to fall back on if things go to crap, or I decide I'm not having fun. Working for the FAA generally gives you plenty of time off to fly and build hours, and money enough to not end up with $100,000 worth of debt like many young regional F/O's. 3 area retired controllers flying for SKW currently, and another at a 135 carrier. Anyway, my thoughts, and worth what you paid for them! Good luck with your decision.