Flightsoffusion

It's no secret that hiring is hot right now. I've been offered positions into 121 jobs even though I've been out of steady flying for a few years. Other than the obvious, which is having to tap out in three years due to mandatory 65 and most likely never seeing the left seat, does it even make sense to be chasing this endeavor at such a late stage? I know I am the only one who can answer this question for sure, and I do spend way more time on APC reading about all your stories then I probably should.. Anyone else at a similar age who could chime in? I meet the minimums and have an old, dusty CE500 type I acquired years ago and never used beyond the checkride. The idea of flying heavy metal is intriguing to any one of us down here at the bottom and I've spent years in having to exorcise diligent study habits to get through the training in my current career, but like anything, does it really just turn into a job after a while.?

Appreciate your honest words..

TallFlyer

If you live in base at any of your target carriers, I'd say go for it. Commuting will up your stress level considerably.

And yes, at times it feels like a job, but I also say this job beats working for a living. YMMV.

Otterbox

3-5 years of 15-18% 401k DC… depending on what you make now, could be a win. You could always work 3-5 on the line then to be a sim instructor to round out your 10 years for lifetime travel benefits. At DAL and UAL, a CA upgrade is possible in 12-15 months.

rickair7777

If you're financially set, and want a change of pace, probably no harm in it. As long as you live in base, and get hired somewhere with a lot of seniority movement, you could get some reasonable schedules for your last couple years. Maybe even upgrade if they raise the age to 67, which is now a real possibility (I'd call it 40% chance near term).

But it also depends on what kind of airline...

Regionals: Probably a lot of work. Also most have long delays for FO training right now due to CA/LCA shortage.

ACMI/Non-traditional: Schedules can be hard.... three week international trips and 24 hour duty days. Not something I'd want to be doing at 60+ (or 40+ for that matter). Research what you're getting into.

Sounds like you don't have currency/experience for legacies? A LCC would probably work if you can live in base and don't mind being on reserve.

Flightsoffusion

Wow! Thank you all for the quick responses! This would be an LCC but not living in base so a one leg commute would be involved. The other option is to finish out a current non-flying position, which would end in a couple of months, get a five-month severance then look at flying at the local airport. Maybe finding an fo'ing corporate position or even teaching a bit. Far from well off, financially my wife will be okay. Hard to tell from the outside whether I'm up for the 121 lifestyle. And if not, wouldn't want to have forfeited the severance from the current gig.

By the way, I commend you guys who have made it work for so many years. I had a flying job 17 years but was home every night and was never groomed for the lifestyle of being on the road. Wish I had been. You guys are the real troopers. Happy Father's day..

Continuingappch

I'm 58, 6500hr ATP, 1800 TPIC but zero 121.436 time. Got a few 121 apps in a few months ago. Endeavor bonuses &c. looked great but they're only hiring Captains right now. Timing - or lack thereof - is everything, even nowadays. I really grind my teeth over the pay cut to start over in the world of 121 bureaucracy. If no interview in the next month or so I will probably forget about it and stay 91/135...yes, I know lots of folks waited 10 years in the rain to get the 121 gig they wanted but I have other offers on the table...!

tnkrdrvr

At your age/experience level, I would also struggle with “starting over”. That said, why are you considering it? While you may be able to match 121 airline W2 earnings in a corporate gig, it’s unlikely the retirement benefits will be comparable. Basically, what do you value more, your net worth or your ego?

Continuingappch

I appreciate your chiming in - gotta keep a better eye on my aging Mom, who lives alone 1,000 miles away & doesn't want to relocate. Either I find time to spend with her every month or commute to a 121 gig where she lives...

BStill

I bet if you asked the LCC to delay your start date a couple of months because you have a a couple more months of a contractual employment obligation to serve out, they would work with you.

I'm 56 and in a similar circumstance: going back to flying after about 20 years of flying a desk. I have a couple of ULCC/LCC job offers, but asked for a delayed class date (October) to give me time to reach pension eligibility from my current desk job. They were very accommodating, willing to delay my start date up to 6 months from CJO.

Also: don't assume a lack of currency is necessarily a show stopper for the majors/legacies. Some are actually interviewing folks like us...

Flyhayes

Several years ago, at my former regional, we had a guy hired with 2 years to go. He then leveraged his experience into a corporate gig.
Today, if you land at an LLC you could average 120-130k over your three year stint.
As has been mentioned, most airlines will probably work with you on a class date so you can get your pension eligibility where you are now.
As for the time commitment, 3 years makes isn't too much of a commitment if you just want to scratch the itch, even if you have to commute.