Vital Signs

What part of the country do you live?
170k would not sound as good in NYC.
Just an example.
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Vital Signs

As far as your corporate job, it sounds like you have one of the best but after a while even the best can start to wear on you....but your only 30, how long have you been at this job?

When you decide to leave let me know so i can apply.

gettinbumped

No idea on what to do having never flown corporate. But if you're going to do it, do it NOW. If you haven't gotten hired in the next couple of years I might stay put, as most majors are hiring a bunch of guys 28-32. Seniority is EVERYTHING here. Good luck with your decision. But do expect the 4 on 3 off schedule for quite awhile. 21 years in and I still can't sniff widebody Captain.

SimDriver

Personally, I'm with this guy. There's NO price I can put on time with my kids or a good relationship with my wife. That's a lot of stress over six years that not only you but your family will feel as well. And it's not just financial. That's a lot of missed recitals and softball games, man. I may be a lowly sim instructor, but I made my decision based on a stable job that gets me home every night unless I feel like contract flying. I'd consider very carefully whether it's worth the switch. Just my .02

clear4approach

I made the jump from corporate to a major. I flew corporate for 8 years and avoided the regional route. With enough flight and PIC time you absolutely can go from your G550 to a major. I understand all the duties involved OTHER than flying in corporate. They suck. It really is show up, fly the plane, go home at the airlines. I live in base and purposely bid reserve. I have 51 hours of flight time and I've worked 17 days so far this year to include 9 overnights. I make less than I would if I bid a line but you cant put a price on the time at home with your family. Its very important to live in base though, as commuting, particularly to reserve, sucks, and changes the whole equation. I say its totally worth giving up the corporate 170k/yr job for the airlines IF you can live in base, and as long as you're ok with the pay for the first 2-4 years.

backtoregionals

It sounds to me like you want to just try out 121 and hope it works out. I don't sense a lot of "want" to leave your corporate gig. I've done the 91/135 corporate stuff. Unfortunately, I was working for a single-airplane operation, and the owner made 2 threats to sell, so I left for another 121 operation. Your description of your current gig makes it sound like heaven for aviation. I can however relate to the schedule part, needy pax, etc. As the other guys mentioned...it will take years to make what you do now. If you live close to a domicile then it's 10x better in terms of QOL. The crash pad life SUCKS. If you work for a stable flight department and obviously a badass plane to fly, I believe I'd stay where I'm at. On the flip side, as the other guys mentioned if you're serious about the move then it's a good time to go.

Sliceback

Five to eight years to catch up? Another 3-5 years to make up for the shortfall? Worst case you'd breakeven in your early 40's? At that point you'd be ahead.

Age is your best friend *IF* you can get hired. Right now 30 would retire you probably in the top 100 at the Big 3. Right now that looks like about 15+ years as a 777/787/330/350 CA. That's about $375K (pay+retirement) in today's dollars.

It's just tough going from $170,000 to $60-70,000, then $105K, $125K, etc, etc. Does your wife understand the long term value vs. the loss of the current value?

RI830

Does his wife shop at Ross and Target or Michael Kors and Louis Vitton?!?!
She driving a Beamer or Honda?

Hard to take away from a woman has the taste.
Like a bear after it tastes its first red meat.

webecheck

Are you chasing quality of life, or money?

You have a pretty decent quality of life based on what you wrote. As for money, any legacy left seat will beat it, and the wb right seat rates will too, but from the sound of your current schedule you won't see that any time soon at a legacy if you want to chase the pay, ie being junior in category.

Idk dude, I'd probably stay put if I were you. If you WANT to leave your current job, or absolutely WANT to be a legacy airline pilot, then make the jump. If not, you're simply just pondering the idea and I bet that second month commuting to reserve will make you regret it. Additionally, your net income over 170k gross per yr probably only amounts to a best case .60 cents on the dollar.

stix'nstrings

I left a Global 20 company (still top G20, today) nearly 27 years ago and am happy with the way my career has turned out. It's not to say I loved it from day one. On the contrary. It took 10 years of second guessing myself wondering if I made the right move and another 10 before I became senior enough to enjoy quality trips and have the control and flexibility to get time off when I needed to. There is nothing worse than years of Arctic and South East flying (Alaska) in cold, windy, icy environments plus 10,000+ hours of red-eyes to second guess a career move. Being Junior sucks! But you’ll not regret it if you stick with it. You're young and could have a long, rewarding career with a legacy if you get on NOW! Pursue American, United, Delta in that order and take the first one to offer you a job. You should have no problem getting an interview with your credentials.

BTW, that same company still operates a large fleet of airplanes; 550's today and I couldn't care less. I've been there, done that and understand how difficult it is to leave a flashy lifestyle with an open expense account. Plan long term and you won’t regret it! Let me know if you want to chat.