It's about being able to pay your bills when you are a CFI. It's about being able to pay your bills when you are a commuter FO. It's about being able to save some money when you are a regional captain. It's about not freaking out about having to sell your house if we had a strike because you can go work your "back up career". It's about not worrying if I lose my medical because I have a back up career to fall back on. At least that's what it's about for me.

 

What are some lyrics?

 

And you complain about getting old in the right seat. Could it be that there was a foresight porblem on your part, here?

Did you pursue any corporate gigs? Cargo? I've seen this story too many times, and it's beginning to wear a bit thin, I guess, since it sounds like you felt too sorry for yourself to help yourself.

 

WTF are you talking about? I'm 24yrs old. Just graduated. Took this job because I wanted flight time, wanted to stay in texas, and I make over $50k a year doing it. I fly corporate in a merlin if I have the time but my airforce contract comes first and when it's over I'll then go to regionals in 4 months or so. I never said I was old in the right seat. I love my job. I just realize it's time I move on and I have 10 students left to do which will take a few months. I've eliminated debt and am saving up what I can so I can invest again and put some aside to survive that 1st year FO pay.. Tool.

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Sorry Duck...I meant that one for Sky...I was actually agreeing with you. Totally my fault

 

The day I interviewed at Horizon Air the chief pilot told me I could expect a 9 month to one year upgrade. At the time that is exactly what they were doing. The company was also proclaiming great expansion plans.

He went on to say that if I was to hire on that I would be in the F28 until upgrade in the Dash 8. What a deal !! Jet time and a fast upgrade. What else was I suppose to think? I didn't have a crystal ball.

SkyHigh

 

What is a back up career for? I mean I was supposed to be the lucky one with an exciting job in the airlines. It isn't like I was furloughed. Instead I was a full time working pilot who after more than 10 years in the profession had only attained $492 every two weeks.

Skyhigh

 

That's why you marry a rich man

 

SkyHigh:

What about my second question?

Did you pursue any corporate gigs? Cargo? I've seen this story too many times, and it's beginning to wear a bit thin, I guess, since it sounds like you felt too sorry for yourself to help yourself.

 

By the time I had reached Horizon Air I had already done charter, corporate and med-evac gigs. I have the contacts to do those jobs still. Most of those jobs in my estimation are not worth doing except for the experience. I loved flying but wanted a career with a future and not just another "gig". My aim was to make it on with a reputable company while still young enough to be of interest to the better employers. At 32 (I think I was actually 32 at the time) I felt the walls closing in and the knew that the door to my dream was beginning to close.

As many of you know most flying jobs flat stink. I knew that if I was stuck at Horizon for perhaps 5 or 6 years as an FO and than another two gaining competitive PIC time I would be too old to gain entry to the golden club and as it turned out (9-11) I was exactly right. I never had any ideas of making a career of Horizon Air. To me the meager compensation offered isn't worth the effort and humiliation. I love flying but not that much.

Those here who have the strongest disregard for my story are mostly those who are already sitting at a nice major airline. Since they made it I assume that their attitude is that I am just a whiner. Until you have done your best effort at something only to watch it slip from your hands you haven't walked a mile in my shoes. It takes a massive amount of focus and sacrifice but success in aviation is mostly about luck. Out of all the people who I went to college with or had as a co-worker perhaps three in fifty made it to a good airline.

SKyHigh

Every year over 60,000 new pilot careers are launched for an average of 2600 good major airline job openings in a given year.