I am pretty new to this forum but have been searching around to see similar situations and would just like a couple takes on what the recommendations would be for my situation.


I am a 24 year old currently working for a 135 operation currently flying king airs and a lear 45. I have just passed the 1000 hour mark and have my 1000 R-ATP. Currently I have about 300 turbine time and a bit of tpic from my previous job operating a citation ultra, to remove my SOE. I am on track to be at the minimums for left seat in the king airs in about 3-6 months, and have been told I can upgrade pretty much right when I hit the minimums.

The question is though, I am making below industry standard for pay and even after upgrading it's still low. Almost no benefits, and working about 20 days average a month. To fly the Lear I am having to drive 4 hours to a different city and am gone typically a week to 10 days at a time. My company manages the lear, and at this time I am the only one who is operating it as SIC. I do enjoy the flying, and appreciate the opportunities I have been given. I just think the regionals might be the better choice for my career at this point, and my QOL.

So do I stick out the lower pay, fly left seat in the king airs and average about 400-500 hours a year? I would get TPIC more quickly than the regionals, and could a couple years be competitive for say a LCC. Or make the jump to regionals and stick my time out getting 121 time, and have what I think would be a better QOL, around the same pay, and better benefits?

Thanks for any advice.
And I know the grass is always greener on the other side.

 

You really need help figuring this out?!

 

Do u want a life outside of work with scheduled days off? Go Regional.

 

Do you want to be an airline pilot?

If so....go be an airline pilot.
This is the time to do it when many of the **requirements** of the old school past don't necessarily matter now.

 

I think that question is hard for me to answer. I wasn't one of those kids that grew up with a parent in aviation, or even must of an interest in planes. I got involved with the aviation community when I was about to go to college. I have just enjoyed everything I have done in aviation, and I like experiencing what the industry has to offer. I look at the airlines as a great end goal, great financial security, and overall an interesting field. My only experiences in aviation though have been with corporate or charter, and I have had a lot of fun doing it. My last job was corporate and we travelled to cool places, company card, all the fun stuff. Being 24, it was the life. So it's hard to say I've ever had a dream of being an airline pilot, like many have, but I would say now i'm looking at what I can do to have a great life, but continue to enjoy flying as I have.

 

It sounds like you don't really care. If you're happy where you are, why not stay there?

 

There are many, many fields in which you can have a rewarding career in aviation without becoming an airline pilot; but as you say above, if you look at airlines as a great end goal - then I think you have answered your own question.

 

I'm in the EXACT same boat as you, if you scroll down a tad I made the EXACT same post, asking the exact same question, same situation, same age. similar types. lol

It's an extremely tough decision.

 

Sounds like you're comfortable at your current 135 job. Nothing more. You got the hours, go to the regionals. It depends what you want out of your life. You're 24. Enjoy your life in your 20s...because once you're in your 30s, you're married, kids and now your life is theirs. I don't know. I like the set schedule of the regionals and not cleaning some rich dudes jet. Not to mention, getting paid a decent salary. Pretty easy decision I say...

 

Trying figuring out the future. Think you're going to be 24 forever and enjoy doing XYZ? A wife and kids really change life. Age changes life. Life changes life.

I had a BLAST from 20-26. Great jobs. Left all of them because while fun they weren't life long jobs. They were resume and experience building jobs.

Now? I enjoy the heck out of flying a boring flight and waiting for the paycheck to be deposited. And while it might be boring I fully acknowledge the passengers are being given the best care they can get from three pilots with probably 15 type ratings and 45,000-60,000 hrs total time between them. Some of that experience was gained doing fun, dumb, and crazy stuff while we were younger and the job required it. The last thing we want in this job is excitement.