What did you do after leaving?
#11
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 51
I went back to law school when our regional furloughed. I took a leave in trade for someone that would have been furlough. Law was something I had been interested in anyway.
After I graduated and took the state bar, I went back to the airline. I kept my seniority and longevity while I was gone. I was happy to be back for about two months, but had gotten used to making plans, being home, and having friends while out.
Also, it was really interesting to go from regional treatment to corporate treatment (at my internships) back to regional. It was night and day! There was no way I could stay after I knew what I knew. I was very picky with leaving. I didn't have to rush it since I had a paycheck. I was hired at one of my first picks as an aviation attorney. They loved that I had real life background.
I love what I do now. It's tough work. My brain is exhausted by noon. I work very hard, but I love it. And the way the firm treats me is beyond compare. I still can't get used to being treated like a colleague, like a professional. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never does.
After I graduated and took the state bar, I went back to the airline. I kept my seniority and longevity while I was gone. I was happy to be back for about two months, but had gotten used to making plans, being home, and having friends while out.
Also, it was really interesting to go from regional treatment to corporate treatment (at my internships) back to regional. It was night and day! There was no way I could stay after I knew what I knew. I was very picky with leaving. I didn't have to rush it since I had a paycheck. I was hired at one of my first picks as an aviation attorney. They loved that I had real life background.
I love what I do now. It's tough work. My brain is exhausted by noon. I work very hard, but I love it. And the way the firm treats me is beyond compare. I still can't get used to being treated like a colleague, like a professional. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never does.
#13
Welcome Boxed Foods- interesting screen name, thinking about tv dinners maybe? You sound like a candidate for an online degree in something besides flying. I would suggest suggest seeing a career counselor about it, and while you are there ask for the Myers Briggs inventory. The Briggs is a non-judgmental test that determines basic personality traits and your career counselor should be able to give you a list of jobs that match with your personality. Money will be an issue, so look for in-state tuition which is much cheaper. Looks like you need to stick with the flying for a while though until your new career plan is hatched. Ideally you could use your advanced flying skill to get a job in airport management or some other extension of pilot experience. Good luck, you are not the first person who found the pot of gold strongly resembles a pot of lemons in many ways. No need to do something you do not like, but you will need to pay your dues for the next career.
#14
Banned
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,222
I powered through the regional stuff... Made the best of it by living in base and playing flag football and poker on my days off.... Basically treating it like a $40k job and not a stepping stone.
Kept chugging through it. Moved onto a charter/corporate job, then larger charter job, hit a bump in the road, went back to turbo props for a bit... Then landed at a Legacy...
Now I hardly work, make great money and also receive some level of respect from the company and community...
Seems the people who don't make it in this industry are those who come in expecting accolades or great pay, weekends of, no holiday work right from the start...
In the end, for those that make it all the way, the lifestyle is envied...just gotta put in the time.
Kept chugging through it. Moved onto a charter/corporate job, then larger charter job, hit a bump in the road, went back to turbo props for a bit... Then landed at a Legacy...
Now I hardly work, make great money and also receive some level of respect from the company and community...
Seems the people who don't make it in this industry are those who come in expecting accolades or great pay, weekends of, no holiday work right from the start...
In the end, for those that make it all the way, the lifestyle is envied...just gotta put in the time.
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
So this is my first post but i've been reading this forum for awhile its the only one where i can find a leaving the career section. I am a regional FO who feels that i was lied too when I was in flight training, maybe I was dumb not quite sure. This job was exciting at first and continued to be for the 6 months after. Now I realize how screwed im getting and how far off a major job is. I despise going to work and leaving my family for 5 days. My counter parts who went to school for as long as I did have great jobs where they are respected. On the other hand I feel as if I'm treated like a child. So Ive come to the conclusion that I deserve better. I dont want to be one of the 50 year old guys begging for a job at women in aviation. So I'm starting my search on ways to get out. I would like to hear from a few of you on your action plans? If your self employed what are you doing ? How did you get there? Tell me how much greener the grass is on the other side.
I mean JHChrist.... I see it all the time on these boards... "I hate being away from home"... What the heck did you think pilots do??? sit at home all day and think about flying..??? Pilots fly...they go places .. they spend time away from home and family... if you didnt know that....BLAME YOURSELF... and just maybe you are using that as an excuse.....
Holidays, birthdays, etc.. it all comes with the territory.. seniority and living in base fixes some of those things... but even senior guys sometimes miss things...
This career... in any or all of its fashions is not for everyone... I get it.. but stop blaming the profession and move on if that what you wish to do. Granted... the last 10 years have been rough.. but times are looking up for those with the right credentials and age.... oh and for the record... I dispute there was ever a GREAT time in aviation... its always sucked for a portion of those in this career.....rant over.
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2014
Posts: 121
I get what he is saying. When you get into aviation you are normally single. You like being gone from home. Fast forward 10 years, 2 kids later and you wonder if it is worth it. I am lucky to currently have a job flying where I am home most nights and almost every holiday and weekend (expect for when I am deployed). I am exploring going back to civilian flying because I dont want to deploy again and I have wondered if civilian flying is worth it. If you are social person like me then being home is nice because you have friends, family, and things/events that you dont want to miss out on. I get it.
#18
I get what he is saying. When you get into aviation you are normally single. You like being gone from home. Fast forward 10 years, 2 kids later and you wonder if it is worth it. I am lucky to currently have a job flying where I am home most nights and almost every holiday and weekend (expect for when I am deployed). I am exploring going back to civilian flying because I dont want to deploy again and I have wondered if civilian flying is worth it. If you are social person like me then being home is nice because you have friends, family, and things/events that you dont want to miss out on. I get it.
#19
I flew for a good airline then several not so good ones. After struggling with pay resets and overall low compensation, finally departed the industry. I have a corporate job, more pay, better retirement, more time off and the boss wants a safe flight,,, so no stress on me.
#20
I suggest everyone read this, it summarizes very well the travails of the regional industry and how the pay STRUCTURE is so different from the majors.
Part 2) Regional Airline Industry ? (Fee for Departure) The back story. | Audries Aircraft Analysis
Part 2) Regional Airline Industry ? (Fee for Departure) The back story. | Audries Aircraft Analysis
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