Originally Posted by block30

If I may be so brash, I *think* what Unlimited Akro is saying is that when people come on the forums and ask about 121 flying like it is a neat thing to do for a little bit, that mind set cheapens the career, or frustrates people who have been working doggedly to even make it to a 121 gig. Zero to hero programs being worse.

I don't know how accurate the doctor comparison is, but if some one said 'after retiring from X main line at age 65 I will do family practice just for kicks because I got my MD certs awhile ago before I started flying. Since I already have a retirement check, my med practice will just be at cost.'. And now the young doc in town with their new practice and a TON of debt is thinking oh great. Again, not a one for one analogy, just trying to see things Unlimited's way (I think)

With that said, the OP has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. That will be recognized all over. Probably won't get main line, but you know the deal. Kinda surprised at the number of career changers that want either corporate or 121.... It's as if good 135 or CFI gigs never get asked about. You could probably freelance instruct and set your own price. Best wishes, let us know how things go.

Originally Posted by satpak77

Why wouldn't they ? I would rather have this guy than some 22 year old with acne and 800 TT in a Seminole

Originally Posted by UnlimitedAkro

What is the difference between working at a "fairly decent sized approach control" and working at "approach control"...... besides a giant ego?

This industry has reached a new low when people are retiring from their other careers to fly RJs for pennies because they think it might be fun to try for a while. I am going to throw up.

Originally Posted by GT ATCS

Here's my story. I am a controller at a fairly decent sized approach control in the mid atlantic coast. I have been working airplanes for 36 years. I have an ATP, FCC restricted radio telephone operators permit. I have 2325 hours. I am pilot in command Cessna 421, about 500 hours. I have SIC Type Rating in a King Air 350, 545 hrs in the plane, have not flown it since 2007 when our company got rid of it. I have SIC Type Rating in a Citation 750, with about 250 hours. I go to Flight Safety for recurrent training every year in the 421 since 1999. I have a 4 year degree. I don't fly alot, but I can definitely keep the airplane right side up. What do you guys think out there about my chances are of getting hired by a regional are? I can handle the wages because I will have a great pension from the FAA. I know it will not be layovers in Miami or Los Angeles for 36 hours, or making $300,000.00. I understand that and it does not bother me. I am 54 now and it doesn't faze me that the captain will probably considerably younger than me.

Originally Posted by block30

If I may be so brash, I *think* what Unlimited Akro is saying is that when people come on the forums and ask about 121 flying like it is a neat thing to do for a little bit, that mind set cheapens the career, or frustrates people who have been working doggedly to even make it to a 121 gig. Zero to hero programs being worse.

I don't know how accurate the doctor comparison is, but if some one said 'after retiring from X main line at age 65 I will do family practice just for kicks because I got my MD certs awhile ago before I started flying. Since I already have a retirement check, my med practice will just be at cost.'. And now the young doc in town with their new practice and a TON of debt is thinking oh great. Again, not a one for one analogy, just trying to see things Unlimited's way (I think)

With that said, the OP has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. That will be recognized all over. Probably won't get main line, but you know the deal. Kinda surprised at the number of career changers that want either corporate or 121.... It's as if good 135 or CFI gigs never get asked about. You could probably freelance instruct and set your own price. Best wishes, let us know how things go.

Originally Posted by UnlimitedAkro

There are many of us who really do this as a career and need to pay the bills. The backlog in majors hiring, decline in quality of life at both majors and regionals, and decline in pay has caused this to become far less of an attractive career for many. However that has not stopped large numbers of people to continue to flock to the regional airlines- usually because they have a very strong love for aviation or aviation is their hobby. Either way, the large number of pilots who have flocked to the regionals over the last 6 or 8 years have all said "I knew how low the pay was, but I still love it and want to do this job."

It sure sounds very similar to what this retiring ATC is saying. Just curious, what if every rich early retiring baby boomer with a pilots license decided to go to the regionals with the mentality of "I know they pay is low, I understand that coming into the job, however I love it and I have wanted to do this for a long time...". Then we are all doomed.

Originally Posted by afterburn81

I was thinking the same thing.

To the OP, please don't take this personal.

It truly lowers the bar when people apply to a job that really don't care about their QOL and salary. I see so many people doing things for their company, just because they are addicted to flying airplanes. Some people need to make a living. And hopefully after several years can enjoy their lives too.

Don't apply to a regional airline. Shoot much higher. Go to mainline or somewhere that has potential. That way you can work your way up the ladder and move out of the way for other guys.

I'm sure every regional FO would agree with me that the job is pretty much treated as an "apprentice" position. No matter how long you have been with the company, when a pilot is an FO by seniority he is just an apprentice. The pay isn't designed to really live off of. You are the captains biaatch. No big deal however, no one is going anywhere at regional airlines now. At least at a major carrier the F.O. job is a little more geared for the long term and many may just enjoy being an F.O.

Rant over.....

Originally Posted by CzechAirman

You got that right! I'm a senior F/O with great schedule and QOL making $182.29/hr! I'm in no hurry to upgrade as I've already been a Captain at a major in a previous life.

Originally Posted by 2StgTurbine

Wow! I am sure you already know this, but you are really cool. I think you should start your own thread about how awesome you are. We all know you are rich and were once a captain, but you never get the chance to tell us about your sports cars, your supermodel wife, or how many friends you have.

Originally Posted by CzechAirman

Not accurate at all. Pilots (especially regional pilots that went to big name aviation universities) think they are equals with doctors. The truth is that doctors are vastly more educated and put in way more time and effort getting thier MD than todays regional pilot working his way up.

It's typical pilot ego thinking they are the equal of doctors. They are not.