If you're like me, and were getting physically angry every time you looked up and saw a jet flying over, don't be afraid to take the chance on getting out. You're worth more, especially if you're a disgruntled regional FO.

The industry never panned out how I hoped it would, and I was tired of being broke. The prospect of getting married this fall and starting a family while commuting put even more stress on me than I wanted. I had to make a change and was fortunate enough to find a position with a large simulator instruction provider.

I now see my "family" every night, work for a company where I feel I have a real chance at advancement. Many of my coworkers have been with the company for 20+ years. All of the managers worked their way up the ladder. It's a refreshing change of pace to be around people that are happy to be at work. Great benefits, and more than doubling my pay are only icing on the cake. For the first time in 6+ years I find myself geeking out over airplanes and am actually considering going flying for fun.

If you're not happy, don't wait. Get out. It was amazing when I was discussing the move with peers that I respect the only comment they would make was "I can't imagine not flying for a living". There's more to life than airplanes. If you're not happy, do what you need to do to be happy.

 

I've been flying professionally since 2007, I still love it. I still look up when jets or even (or especially!) when a small Citabria or Cessna single flys over. I've ridden the roller coaster of highs and lows, dealt with the idiocy, flown as a captain, started over as a turboprop FO. I left an engineering career for this even!

I have no regrets. I enjoy my time off a lot, but I usually have fun on my 4 days too, even as a lowly CRJ FO.

If you were so happy with your decision, why are you even back here justifying your move?

 

I hate threads like this. What point are you trying to prove? That you hated life at your airline job? Great. Go defend leaving it to your family. Not us. Since you are back here typing about it shows that you regret it a little bit. You are trying to find people who will relate to what you did so you can have some sort of closure that you made the right decision. Some of us (like myself) love flying and doingwhat they do. Dont de-motivate them.

 

Did you happen to check what forum this is?

 

Wish you the best, and for those caught in the Regional quagmire, I hope that this chapter ends soon and the career you hoped for comes to fruition..

 

I'm back here justifying my move because I flew with a number of people who were unhappy and thinking about getting out of the airplane. If that's not you, great. As I said in a different post: different strokes for different folks. It wasn't working for me but I know plenty of people that love it. Your mileage may vary.

What exactly did you expect to find in the "leaving the career" forum?

 

This section of the Forums was created to provide a venue for those who have left aviation (and those thinking of leaving) to share with the rest of us their perspective and insight. People leave for a variety of reasons, many of which involve personal and professional satisfaction. Each person is the best judge of what is in his best interests. I do not believe we are in a position to judge or criticize someone else for leaving, just as we are not in a position to judge someone for staying.

For what it's worth, I asked the OP to write about his story. Lambasting him is not appreciated nor is it a worthy endeavor. The OP was not justifying himself to us, not trying to gain sympathy, and not trying to discourage others. If anyone reads his post as anything but sharing his story, then I fear for your reading comprehension.

Read his post. Learn from it if you can. If you think there is nothing to learn, move on to the next thread. Move to another forum altogether because this forum is about alternatives to an aviation career.

Lastly, the OP made it clear that he would like to fly for fun now. I congratulate you, Pilotpip, for making the moves necessary to have a balanced and fulfilling life. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

Pilotpip,

I think you were at RAH? From the RAH guys I've talked to, it's definitely been a rough go there for the last 6 years. Good for you on making a change. Happiness is what's important. Congrats on renewing it.

Were you able to find a position where you live, or did you have to re-locate? Perhaps you'll make it back to the line after some time off. Regardless, good luck with your new position.

 

Some will use the forum for the purposes for which it was created.
Others will use it for exactly the reasons that wmuflyboy stated.
You have to take each person's responses and motivations into account.
"Lambasting" isn't appreciated, a worthy endeavor, or called for in many cases - whether it for someone who left the industry or someone who has stayed in the industry. Let's be clear on both points.

 

Best of luck to you in your new endeavor.