Howdy,

I'm trying to figure out which way to go next. I'm currently sitting at 3000tt 1000+ sel turbine 350 multi. I've been flying tbms, pc12s, and meridians. I seem to be going through corporate jobs every 8m-1yr. The company either downsizes, relocates, and etc.

I was in the process of closing on a house with my latest job and have since lost the house due to the loss of my w2 income. I have more 1099 work than I can handle but will not be able to get my family into a house with 1099 income unless I claim a boatload on my taxes.

I'm also getting tired of these corporate jobs lasting short term. I have a wife and two little ones and need stability.

I'm also stuck in the sel zone. I've got connections for a lot of multi gigs but can't get anything with such low multi time. I've got 1000 turbine but since it's mostly in singles I seem to be stuck.

I see most the regionals are hiring too but I can't keep a family off of 25k year and being gone 50% of the time.

Just getting a little frustrated here and am trying to make the best decision for my family.

Thanks.

 

Welcome to aviation!

You need to either suck up the regionals for a year to get some ME turbine time, or keep networking in hopes that you'll land the corporate job you need to enhance your resume.

My buddy who flies G-V's still wishes he had knocked out his 1000 ME/T early on in the regionals, figures it would have saved him five years.

 

I agree with the above. Does your wife work? With some of the regionals offering sign on bonuses it might soften the blow. Otherwise, it's all about YOUR networking.

 

AMRG is looking for a number of King Air captains for ambulance work, presently. They advertise minimums of 500 multi, but I suspect that they'd look at your times. Can't hurt to apply. Air Medical Resource Group. I believe pay is 50-75K, somewhere in that range.

 

With your hours, you know you could have a regional FO position lickety split; and the ME hours you want to build probably on par with or sooner than any other option. That means it just boils down to a money question. I certainly have no advice on that one.

Ball's in your court.

 

Two Kids? Man, what are you thinking?

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Seriously, I feel your predicament. Some additional information might be helpful. How old are you now? Did you complete college yet? Are you going to be competitive for the majors by the time you build enough hours? You sound committed to a professional pilot career track if you can figure out how to get there. Is you wife and family supportive, to the point of being willing to sacrifice and help you out to achieve your goals?

I agree that you're probably competitive for a regional job. And that is probably your best opportunity for a stepping-stone position that could lead to a lucrative career in the major airlines. How badly do you want this career? Are you willing to take a gamble on it paying off? Hopefully, it's a short-term sacrifice for a big long-term payoff. Unfortunately, it's a sacrifice that affects your whole family, especially your wife. She *HAS* to be on-board. If she is willing to help you tighten the family belt temporarily, that's a big benefit.

If the kids are of "school age", then asking her to work part-time or full-time could be helpful, but if they are younger (as they sound), then that is probably not a consideration.

To think of how to support your family on a regional salary, you might have to think outside-the-box. Could you live with family members for awhile or share a house with friends to cut your housing costs? Change the numbers or types of vehicles you drive to cut payments, insurance, and maintenance costs? Find ways to cut your other day-to-day living expenses for utilities, food, or clothing? Defer student loan repayments? Draw on savings or borrow money from family members to make it for a certain number of years? Put a budget together with your wife and find out if you're able to make it work (relatively) comfortably -- for the short term. I would put a time-line on it all. If it doesn't pay off within a certain period of time, you'll be willing to accept a different career track that will provide more appropriately for your family. Your family shouldn't be asked to sacrifice for the long term while you blindly chase your dream.

On the other hand, I believe that if you will be competitive for a major airline career and you are committed to it, sacrificing for a few years to get there *IS* the best thing for your family.

Short of being willing to take the sacrifices of a regional flying position, I agree that your only other option is to probably just keep networking to find that corporate position that will take you to the 'next step'.

Good luck with your decision!

 

You could try endeavor, 20k extra per year.
Where do you get the 50% of the time being gone? It's more like 70% at the regionals unfortunately.

 

I actually have been eyeballing Endeavor, not just for the bonus but for the overall package. I like what they are offering as a regional.

I'm still uncertain. I passed my 135 ride at my current contracting company. I have interviews with several local outfits, from another 135 to instructing.

Currently my inbox is full of 8-10 regional interview invites.

I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew. It appears that everyone is looking for someone.

I would like to not fly singles for the rest of my career....so the regionals might be the best path to that.