C17B74

Great time to be starting or applying to Legacy and Fedups Scheduled Cargo if you hold the credentials. You can now pick a big city you may live nearby and then the airline, that’s a first. Regarding AMCI, either enjoy it or jump anywhere you see fit. Everyone has been, is starting to or will be getting squeezed to hire frantically due to attrition/lack of resources, etc. While those resources are still available no doubt, I hear it too often from my Fedup friends as of late - “come on over bud, we need good people!” It’s the “need good people” that has caught my attention which proves everyone is feeling some pressure.

I myself prefer long haul junk flying to cattle (real box cattle is still barely above pax for me), provided commute/hotels, 1-2 legs and venturing outside the U.S. ADIZ. Wife prefers the longer periods off as well as myself and driving/or flying to work (my choice) is limited to once a month. Routine schedule changes can be painful or amiable, just luck of the draw. I easily get bored so change is more interesting as I always bid for time off and never chase locations as that is 50/50 at best. Pajama flying, crew qtrs, and not having a door blocking my galley/bladder is invaluable. Warehouse security or not, vacationing with your spouse during work on the road can happen - better than standby ticket odds these days. Pay is just OK depending on what AMCI outfit your at. Grass is definitely greener $$$/ greater benefits of course at the bigger carriers, but I live to the guarantee so extra is gravy.

So if you prefer the reverse of most everything I mentioned, or $$$ is the greatest priority (it does enhance your life normally) it’s definitely not a good fit. Hate sched changes or flying to the edges of flat earth, definitely don’t waste your time. Resume building/stepping stone to get you where you want to be - high probability with AMCI. Plenty of friends have moved on. Don’t forget stability/longevity if those are words that can apply. Everyone is different, everyone has their needs, wants, goals - go get it.

3-5 kids or more w/no scholarships, exotic mortgages in great locations, yachts (not boats), fast cars (not nice cars like mine), multiple planes and you live in high cost areas NY, NJ, LA, etc. (not Lower Alabama), and multiple x-wives. You probably should chase the paycheck at the biggies, especially if your less than 45.

Face it, we could all use more money. Ted Turner when asked “How much is enough?” He or any other tycoon for that matter “Just a little bit more.”

Sure, I would most likely enjoy the lifestyle of any 25+ year Captain at the biggies with 5-10 years remaining. But they did the time and I don’t have enough time remaining so I enjoy what my situation dictates within AMCI. Gotta live today, could be gone tomorrow - Aviation is a fickle business.