Should I stay or should I go?....Horizon Air
07-15-2012, 08:29 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Jul 2012
Posts: 7
Should I stay or should I go?....Horizon Air
Howdy fellow QX pilots, I need some help making a decision.
Three years ago I took a voluntary furlough to work for a local UAV company. My furlough lasted two years at which time I asked for and was granted a LOA. Now, the company tells me no more LOA's, I must decide between airline life and UAV life. I'm looking for a snapshot of how you guys and gals currently feel about working for Horizon, has quality of life changed with the new contract and scheduling practices does there seem to be an optimistic outlook etc.......? My current job while not as fun is pretty easy, weekends off, descent pay, good people but it isn't as satisfying as flying.
So, I'm just looking to see what my peers think. It's a really difficult decision, possibly leaving a career that I worked so hard to obtain.
Thoughts?
Three years ago I took a voluntary furlough to work for a local UAV company. My furlough lasted two years at which time I asked for and was granted a LOA. Now, the company tells me no more LOA's, I must decide between airline life and UAV life. I'm looking for a snapshot of how you guys and gals currently feel about working for Horizon, has quality of life changed with the new contract and scheduling practices does there seem to be an optimistic outlook etc.......? My current job while not as fun is pretty easy, weekends off, descent pay, good people but it isn't as satisfying as flying.
So, I'm just looking to see what my peers think. It's a really difficult decision, possibly leaving a career that I worked so hard to obtain.
Thoughts?
07-15-2012, 08:53 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Furloughed
Posts: 628
I tried to PM you but you don't have enough posts. I think you need to post 10 times to be able to private message. I will then give you an honest answer. Good luck on your decision. It seems like an easy one to me.
07-15-2012, 11:11 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Back in school.
Posts: 580
I don't work for QX but I will give my honest opinion just in case you think it may help. The airline industry will always be here and although I don't know the specifics of your situation (family, kids, debt, etc) a good job with a decent paycheck may not always be available. As long as you meet the requirements for an ATP (in order to get hired later on) and you aren't absolutely deadset on working for QX I would stay where you currently are. Now its very easy for me to give advice considering I don't have to worry about the outcome whether it be good or bad. Give it agood think, make your decision, and don't look back!
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
07-15-2012, 03:43 PM
#6
Eats shoots and leaves...
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Didactic Synthetic Aviation Experience Provider
Posts: 849
Originally Posted by CrakPipeOvrheat
I am more interested in this UAV job. Tell me about that. I would like to be home every night. What's the pay like?
07-15-2012, 03:46 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,177
If you want to be home every night, why be a pilot? My last trip had 4 nights in SAN, 3 in LFMN, 3 in LON and a night in Spain. I like being home, been here for a week and will be for another, but flying is about travel, not watching TV in the living room.
GF
GF
07-15-2012, 06:05 PM
#8
Eats shoots and leaves...
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Didactic Synthetic Aviation Experience Provider
Posts: 849
Because, 25+ years ago when I selected a career, this road led somewhere considerably different than where it does now. I've done my share of RON's, I had around 200 days on the road last year, and I didn't earn enough to make it worthwhile (IMHO). These weren't out for a three or four day and then back, this was gone two weeks or more at a stretch (three plus not being unheard of). Being gone that much makes it difficult to have any sort of a life at home, I'm over it. I'll fly a video game for the day then go home and fire up my smoker, it sounds like a winning deal to me!
07-15-2012, 08:27 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: SFO Guppy CA
Posts: 1,112
Originally Posted by chudonfire
Howdy fellow QX pilots, I need some help making a decision.
Three years ago I took a voluntary furlough to work for a local UAV company. My furlough lasted two years at which time I asked for and was granted a LOA. Now, the company tells me no more LOA's, I must decide between airline life and UAV life. I'm looking for a snapshot of how you guys and gals currently feel about working for Horizon, has quality of life changed with the new contract and scheduling practices does there seem to be an optimistic outlook etc.......? My current job while not as fun is pretty easy, weekends off, descent pay, good people but it isn't as satisfying as flying.
So, I'm just looking to see what my peers think. It's a really difficult decision, possibly leaving a career that I worked so hard to obtain.
Thoughts?
Three years ago I took a voluntary furlough to work for a local UAV company. My furlough lasted two years at which time I asked for and was granted a LOA. Now, the company tells me no more LOA's, I must decide between airline life and UAV life. I'm looking for a snapshot of how you guys and gals currently feel about working for Horizon, has quality of life changed with the new contract and scheduling practices does there seem to be an optimistic outlook etc.......? My current job while not as fun is pretty easy, weekends off, descent pay, good people but it isn't as satisfying as flying.
So, I'm just looking to see what my peers think. It's a really difficult decision, possibly leaving a career that I worked so hard to obtain.
Thoughts?
As far as QOL there since the ratification of the new contract, my friends over there love the flexibility that the scheduling changes provide. You will fly a turboprop and make a decent living though. Just some thoughts from a former QXer.
07-15-2012, 08:27 PM
#10
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2012
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by FL410
I tried to PM you but you don't have enough posts. I think you need to post 10 times to be able to private message. I will then give you an honest answer. Good luck on your decision. It seems like an easy one to me.
Two down, eight to go.
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