Stuck in the middle! Looking for advice!
 

Fellow pilots,

I come here looking for career advice. Figure you guys could shed some light on some of my options.

I am currently an FO with a smaller part 135 cargo/on demand charter operation. It is known, however with the interest of discretion I would prefer to leave it un-named.

Here is my deal. I was very lucky. As in I grabbed my commercial at ATP , then tried and successfully nabbed a right seat job with a 135 operator. I was hired with very low time and was very lucky to be placed in the right seat of a King Air 200. I was thrown the book with very little training, busted my ass, and passed the checkride. I was thrilled with my new gig! I was not paid much but, alas I was happy to be there! I did my time, learned from the more experienced bunch of pilots who happily showed me the ropes and flew on. I signed an 18 monther, which I was more than happy to do. At 500 hours, as they needed, they upgraded me to a Lear 35. Now, I am not one to lie. I again, busted my ass and passed the checkride with the help of my fellow aviators. They helped me tremendously as did our checkairman, who was great and treated it more as a learning experience than an end all, be all pass or fail.

I love flying for these guys and love the Captains I am flying with. I also know that a guy like me (850tt, 600 Turbine in an 135 environment) is still considered "low time." However I do have a Lear-Jet SIC type, and all things considered very desirable time for such low total time that I do actually have.

My only issue is that I have left an occupation that paid much more, and I have been bleeding money since taking this gig (without one raise) I am about to run out. So, my question being (from a guy who didn't get his ATP written done before the deadline)....What are my options? Should I seek better employment? Should I walk away from a Lear/King Air right seat gig? Or just bide my time until I have better mins?
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I have been a member of this site since I was in private training and have always respected the opinions of my peers. I do want to end up doing 121 Major flying. Just don't know what to do at this juncture!

Thanks for your opinions in advance!

Forgot to mention. It is 24/7 on call with the applicable duty rest (of course) with no benefits other than CASS

Get to 1500 as quick as you can and get to the regionals. I have only been at the regionals for 6 months so other opinions will be good. I had 800tt and got a Lear 31 part 91 right seat gig and did that and instructed part time till I had 1500. At 1200tt, 300 hours time in type, sic typed from cae I couldn't even get insured to take an airplane to mexico. At 1500tt 135 companies will put you right seat in a single pilot citation, cj, maybe a hawker if your lucky is what I found when I was looking. Some people can bypass the regionals but the numbers are small and in my mind it's taking a big risk competing with thousands of guys that have prior 121 time. If you go to the regionals and decide its not for you then you go back corporate with 121 time, an atp, and a pic type in an aircraft thats probably between 40-90k which might look better on a resume. Hopefully you get some more feedback from more seasoned people. Good luck

If you have a degree, you will have more options down the road (like the majors).

If I were you, I'd wait until you have 1,000-1,500 turbine, which would be very competitive for another job, and then ask for a raise. In the mean time, if you really think the regionals will pay you more, get your 1,500 total and move on. But, it's hard for me to believe that the first couple of years at a regional will be a step up in pay.

You need to get the ATP to be competitive with the majors, so you'll have to either upgrade to captain and get the ATP with the full type rating.

I do have a degree, so that box is checked.

I am only averaging about 30 hours a month with these guys, and again the pay is very low. On par with first year at a regional. Thing about regional, is that you get a raise every year. I have been with the company about 18 months, upgraded, and haven't gotten a single cent more. Trust me. You have to pay your dues, and I get that. It is just that I am not surviving. I would get another job on the side, but I cant due to being on call 24/7.

I am absolutely thinking about going to the regionals.....but then again, at 30 hours a month.....its going to take a while to make 1500tt. Im ok with sitting right seat for a while....just wondering if I should shop around for better paying right seat gig, or is it completely futile?

If you think you deserve a raise, ask for it; Especially if there is no payscale. Also, look at your expendatures. All of us have been guilty of buying items and food we don't need.

Trust me. I have. Lets say I make low $20s before taxes. My expenditures are necessities such as rent, bills, student loans. Not much more after all those are said and done.

Options:

1. Date a rich person.
2. Get a second job.
3. Find a better job.

Bleeding money to fly makes no sense. Paying dues doesn't mean selling your soul. Sounds like some soul searching is due. Giving up earning potential to fly...I guess it all depends on what's more important to you. I did a comparison of flying vs. non-flying pay and I decided it's not even remotely worth getting the flying job (starting at the regional level for 5 years and moving on to the majors). Clearly, that 5 year plan was really optimistic looking at it with today's eyes. Spend some time in spreadsheets.

Quick numbers using Republic Airways lowest pay scale with a change to captain pay at year 5 over 10 year period: $512,000. This is based on 1000 hours of flying at the hourly rate. You could make more or less so this is a ball park number.

$50,000 desk job* with 2% year over year increase over 10 years: $547,486.05.
$75,000 desk job* with 2% year over year increase over 10 years: $821,229.06.
$100,000 desk job* with 2% year over year increase over 10 years: $1,094,972.10.

* Not considering any promotions and salary increase commensurate with such promotions, compensation packages, 401(k), and other benefits.

What's more important? Flying or money? Only you can decide.

Get your CFI and instruct until you have the 1500 hours, should take less than 18 months and you should be able to make double what you're making now. If you're going to go the regional route, you just need to increase you total time.

Other option is try to get an AF reserve or Gaurd job.

I would subscribe (maybe share a subscription?) to a pilot jobs website or two--if only for a month, order to see what's out there. Also check into foreign sic gigs. It is frankly not acceptable that you should be paid 20k for the amount of tt you have, especially since they didn't spend a lot of money training you. The best way to get a raise in this economy is to go in with a job offer in hand, otherwise, they don't think you are serious. Avoid regionals for a while.