swaayze

Can't really keep this short in order to provide adequate background, but I'll do my best...

I am furloughed USAir and recalls are getting reasonably close to me. I expect an opportunity to return there on a 737/Airbus within a year or so, or to the E190 in a few months (I will definitely bypass that initially due to low pay $46/hr). I am an Eagle EMB FO just barely able to hold a line. I came back to Eagle 10/04 (I was here 94-99) after bouncing around post 9/11 to justify moving my family back to DFW and because Eagle is a good regional job, relatively speaking. But...things here seem very cloudy, at best I'd expect a Saab upgrade in another 2-3 years IF we can recruit enough newhires to avoid AMR putting our flying out for bid by others. I don't need a ton of money but I certainly am struggling on FO pay and even SF3 CA pay would barely allow saving anything for retirement. I have small kids (twins) in Kindergarten and cherish my time home, so commuting (to reserve especially) would really be a bummer (we won't be moving anytime soon due to wife's family in the immediate area).

I have less than 1000 turbine PIC but plenty of TT. I can go to Republic as an E170/175 Captain under the Jets4Jobs program (basically like an AA flowback but at year 1 longevity and seniority). If I do that it would be strictly to book the 1300 turbine PIC before I go back to USAir, in case history re-repeats itself and I wind up on the street for a 3rd time (#2 omitted for brevity). That would give me the option of the A list jobs as well as SWA and AA in the DFW area in the future. The pay difference is only about $500/mo over the course of 1 year there because: I'd lose a month's pay, have 1 month of COBRA expenses, and by the time I fly 85-90 here vs. 75 there and pay crashpad expenses it just isn't as much more as it seems ($57 or 63/hr there E170 or 175). Hardly worth it monetarily for the hassles IMO.

So, should I bother going there? Should I go to USAir straight from Eagle? Should I just stay at Eagle and call it a career? Truth is I'm so dang gunshy of making another wrong decision I don't know what the heck to do! Does Eagle have a reasonable future for me anytime soon? FWIW $60k is about the livable wage point for us, assuming wife at home for the kids, which I prefer. I couldn't really care less about flying a 737 vs. an EMJ. Truthfully I don't really wanna go commute to reserve at RPA, or LCC for that matter, and then get stuck junior at LCC when age 65 takes effect. I'm almost 40 and I have a hard time envisioning a 25 year commuting career, but financially I'm just not sure I can stay here and have a reasonable retirement stash. Plus, I'm a little tired of trying to salvage what seems to be a toasted career. Perhaps I need to just enjoy not commuting and wait it out to upgrade here?

Your honest thoughts and insights are appreciated. Flaming is not.


Thanks,
Swaayze

B757200ER

Go back; the WORST job at USAirways is better than the BEST job at AMR Eagle. USAirways will survive, and looks to be a great competitor in the future with low costs.

Your career is calling; you have to go. Its a MAJOR, scheduled airline job. You honestly think you'll be happy, even as an ERJ Captain, at a regional?

Oh, and better go back to US before the May deadline when arbitrator rules on seniority integration. If you're on the street, you may never get recalled.

Purple F/O

What happens if you go back to USAirways, then they shrink/furlough again? Will you still be able to get that J4J slot? If so, this is a no brainer, like B said above.

Is there an advantage to getting back on the property at USAirways regarding the seniority integration? If so, then run back; if not then go back too the 737 slot at a convenient time for you.

Just my $.02

Slice

TPIC is king! Go get that jet PIC asap. It will give you more options than you currently have!

saab2000

I would go back to US Airways. No brainer for me. They are competitive now, making tons of money and there will be significant attrition there in the next few years even with the age 65.

I don't know your exact situation, but I would go back to US Airways.

BoilerUP

You're in Dallas, right?

What about going to work for Flexjet? You could be based in Dallas, fly a Lear or Challenger product, make better money at the low and mid-level and probably have an infinately better QOL with your wife and kids than commuting to reserve in DCA or PHL or being Joe C's biiiiiiach as a captain at RAH.

*might* let you have your cake and eat it too...

RedeyeAV8r

You have a seniority # at a Major............do not lose (or give it up) it unless you have a truly Better Gig.

Been there done that twice myself......and getting recalled is almost like starting over because you are generally the Junior person all over again.

It it very reasonable to expect that D. Parker (after his brief Alcohol Rehab is done ) will attempt another to merge or acquisition, or USair could get bought by someone else. Who knows.
Keep your # and that 1000 PIC you are trying to get might be a moot point.

Take your recall and go for the 737. USAir use to have a paragraph in the contract (when I worked there) they would give FO's (after 5 years vesting) a type in the aircraft they were training on. I got my 737 type there when I was an FO. If you don't have 5 years, maybe you could work something out. Get the type and then you have that to fall back on if USAir doesn't work out, however, I think you will be fine in the long run.

In any case Good Luck

sgrd0q

Go back to USAir as soon as you can. They will be competitive, make money, and most pilots will retire soon. You'll go up the list quickly. No matter how they merge the two lists.

Eagle may be good for a 21 year old kid with 500 TT, or whatever their minimums are right now. Not for you.

CA at Republic entails a job change, a training event, building PIC time, then another job change and another training event. A lot of uncertainties and hassles, and for what? For a chance at a major that you have right now without going through all that.

Slice

If you go back to US and get furloughed again without having the 1000+ TPIC aren't you going to be in the same boat your paddling in now? If you can go to RAH for a year or two get that PIC and then go to mainline, you'll have better seniority when you get there and be more marketable if the sh!t hits the fan again. Either way, I wouldn't stay at Eagle. Just my $.02

quimby

How about NetJets? I think they have a DAL base for newbies. Great part time job that would probably have you home more than any airline gig. Comparable or better pay than most jobs once you upgrade, great vacation time & no med. insurance costs....good job security too

.02