I do too. I'm a shuttle FO too. After 5 years here, a furlough, getting jerked around on rsv for a long time and no pay, I'm finally enjoying a little quality of life that comes from the movement we're seeing. The pay and more important to me, lack of respect from this company (that and pay/qol/work rules go hand in hand) has made me want to walk away more than once.

Then I talk to my fiancee about it.

She has a good paying job in the health care industry that has fantastic security as we age and get fatter. Every week she gets cards in the mail saying "Come work for us, We'll pay you more!" Yet listening to some of her stories makes me happy I don't deal with the same people every day. It also makes me realize the grass isn't greener. I was lucky enough while furloughed to get entry level management position on the outside with the intention of working my way up in the organization and leaving aviation. Within weeks I was disgusted by the butt kissing, and back stabbing that went on to work up the ladder. I refused to work when not getting paid. I have more respect for myself than that. Believe it or not, I was happy to come back.

Bottom line, you have to do what works best for yourself. Leaving wasn't right for me. At the end of the day I enjoy what I do, just not who I do it for. We got in at a rough time but for the first time in years things are finally starting to get a little better and that's why I decided to stay. You have to sit down with your loved ones, do the research and figure out what's best for your situation.

 

Life is too short to do something you don't like. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

 

Well, three months later and my perspective has changed a bit. I have applied to nearly 50 jobs in the Washington DC area. A variety of govt jobs, most of which were aviation related (non flying), several aviation consulting companies, etc. I well exceeded the minimum requirements for most of them...thus far all I've gotten in reply are two negative responses. It is really, really tough to find a job out there.

I finally got back in the sim after waiting a month and a half and finished up the ATP ride. It feels good to finally be back in the saddle. Now im looking at a possible upgrade within a few months. Considering these developments, im going to give this career a bit longer. I've stopped applying elsewhere...for a while. That's the latest

 

Good job, and good luck on your potential upgrade. Some of your earlier comments in this thread indicated a lack of understanding between what responsibilities a 121 PIC has and what an ATP-carrying SIC has. It sounds like that has been resolved in your mind.

 

Glad to hear the good fortune, and congrats on the ATP! Wish you the best as you continue on in aviation. Don't let the lows pull you down, simply try to find what makes you happy...if being in the flying biz does that for you, persevere. If it doesn't, explore other options, but don't put yourself in a situation where you'll have to live with regrets...make your decision, and put your best foot forward!

 

Best of luck! I did the non-flying thing for a little over a year and both myself and my family hated it. Yeah I was home every night, but worked 12+ hours a day and even when I was home, I was really at work all the time. Now I'm guard(reserve) bumming and doing some contract stuff while applying to the majors. While I never like being away from home for long stretches, when I am home I actually have time to spend with the family, and am spending way more quality time with them than I did trying to work a 9-5 that consumed every minute of my life. Every situation is different but just my 2 cents.

 

IMHO, low pay Is no excuse to delay having a family. You will never be financially stable enough for kids! My wife and I had our first we I made 8 bucks an hour at holiday inn and she worked the night shift at Texas Roadhouse. We made a whopping 14000 bucks that year total.


As far as working the 8-5 job. Even though the pay will be much better, it's no fun working 12 hours a day 5-6 days a week being a slave to the man, trust me. Half my job is doing office work and it puts me in a much worse mood than low pay in an airplane ever did.

I'll never work a full time office job again.

 

I know it's crazy in the pilot world when we are used to 135 ops and trips, but 12hr days 6 days a week is not "full time". Its straight up abuse if that's what you have to work to earn a reasonable wage.