mstone76

Hello,

I am approaching the end of my first career (military) and considering a second career as an airline pilot. I am in a position that I could likely be ready for hiring by a regional upon retirement at age 43. However if I extend my retirement date just 8 months more, I would accrue additional pension that equates to about $3,600 more per year (so about $150K over my lifetime). But on the other hand, that 8 month delay would mean 8 months of lost seniority at an airline. So, I'm weighing the cost/benefit of that additional pension versus what seems to be a relative short delay to get into an airline (but I don't quite know how to quantify how important 8 months of seniority is).

So, my question: Is an 8 month delay (and 8 months lost seniority) worth the additional pension from my first career's retirement?

Thanks much for any thoughts and advice.

viper548

I would rather get going on the second career. 8 months could mean the difference between several hundred seniority numbers.

Web265

Obviously, this is something only you can answer.

These things change all the time, but, I interviewed at Republic in January and was given the CJO. I had some things I wanted to do before training started and they told me their policy at the time was you could take any open class date within the next 6 months. After that I would have to re-interview.

So theoretically, you could hold off a month, apply, hold off the interview for a month, pass that and take a class six months later and you'd be right there.

Several of the more popular regional airlines seem to have training delays anyway so you might be able to play that to your advantage.

Would you be giving up a big seniority advantage, maybe. Since my hire date in May, there have been 300+ pilots hired behind me. That has slowed down significantly and I believe they have even cancelled / postponed classes for a couple months in the beginning of the year.

Upgrade is currently running around 2.5 years, (also subject to change at a moments notice), assuming part 121 PIC is your goal, you'd have to add the 8 months to that.

This is all ramblings concerning Republic, so not knowing where your looking and not knowing what's happening at the other airlines, I'm sure it's of limited help.

Good Luck and Thank You for your service!

Otterbox

Each month of delay is a delay until you top the pay charts. Assuming that’s $25k a month you’ll lose out on $200k in return for $150k. If you assume the top of the pay charts is $20k a month then that’s a loss of $160k in return for $150k.

Sounds like it’s kind of a wash.

TiredSoul

One bird in the hand comes to mind.

rickair7777

The numbers are close enough that I'd agree.

Sliceback

Eight months is a long time to delay getting a seniority number. That can be a HUGE difference in monthly bidding that you’ll do for perhaps 20+ years at a major airline.

Excargodog

Indeed. Particularly when that bird has built in inflation adjustment that there is no guarantee the bird in the bush will have.

mstone76

All, thanks for your thoughtful and quick responses. I appreciate everyone's perspectives and advice, and the time you took to write them (Web265, thank you particularly -- I appreciate you quantifying several of the seniority-related considerations and taking the time to lay out potential courses of action).

TiredSoul and Excargodog: Although I hear what I think you're saying (a higher inflation-adjusted pension -- the bird in the hand -- may result in more income over time than topping the airline pay charts a little earlier), that dollar vs. dollar comparison isn't really at the heart of my question. (Please let me know if you meant something else, because I'd be interested in hearing it).

Although I'm aware of some of the ways that seniority affects an airline pilot's life (preferred schedule, vacation dates, pay scales, not getting furloughed, etc.), I know the folks out there with experience could quantify the importance of 8 months of seniority much better than I can currently visualize. Currently in my mind, it's simply "seniority = very important," so that's difficult to quantify just how important 8 months of it is (in more ways than just the dollars) versus the very quantifiable higher pension (which is just dollars).

The opinion and advice I'm hearing from viper548, Web265, Otterbox, rickair7777, and Sliceback: yes, even just 8 months of seniority (in all the ways it affects an airline pilot's life) is important enough to forego the higher pension. Retire earlier, get in, and get the seniority number established.

Thanks again all, and I would appreciate any additional feedback.

galaxy flyer

Remember, your DOH at a regional means nothing if and when you go to a major or legacy carrier. So, the additional income now might offset the lower pay at a regional. Will delaying hiring at the regional effect your possible DOH at your career airline? That’s hard to say now.

The bet isn’t about losing 8 months at age 65, but about getting hired at a major or legacy.

GF