46Pilot

I will be getting off of Active Duty here shortly and will start flying for a regional airline. I will also be flying in the reserves as well. My question is where is the best place to live, where your reserve job is, or your full time job is? Looking for some personal experiences here from guys who have done it.

Thanks,
46

jdt30

Live where your reserve job is. That way you can make extra money when your'e bored at home. I've lived at my reserve unit, and at my pilot base, and I would definately move back to my reserve unit. Everyone in my reserve unit feels the same way.

46Pilot

Yeah,
That's what I was thinking too. Seems to me it would be less time away from home if you lived by the reserve unit.
Thanks

Mortgage-pilot

I would definetly live where my reserve job is. You will be making more in the reserves than at an regional or most majors.

Good Luck

Chris

46Pilot

Thanks for all the responses. In the end it's whatever the wife wants to do but just wanted to get some input from guys who have done it.

TankerDriver

The most ideal would be living near your reserve job and your full time job, but unfortunately, it doesn't look like you have that option. You may find yourself very busy for a while on reserve with a regional having to commute and use a crash pad. Lots of your free time may be spent commuting. Not ideal, but that's life in the airlines. Like everyone else has said, you'll make more money flying with the military, so you'll want to be close by in case they call you last minute to fill a tasking.

Bigflya

46Pilot, Here's a different view. Can I assume that you are/were a CH-46 pilot? If so are you taking a regional job to build FW multi-time? Is your reserve gig FW multi-time? Clear your head and do the math. A typical regional pays $20-25 an hour. The most you can fly in a year is 1000 hours so you make $20-25k a year. Now with your flying reserve job you should have 48 IDT's, 72 AFTP's, 30 RMP's (these are all types of drills), and a max of 139 days of AT/ADT (active duty) orders. I assume that you are a senior LT/USMC Capt or junior LCDR/Maj. If you max out the drills and do 100 days of orders then that is about $50k for an 03 and $55k for an 04. So who butters your bread. Also, this regional job I'm sure is not your career move so why you may be using your last military funded PCS move to go to your hub, you will be spending your own dime when you move again to your next job. I realize that you have 6-12 months to use/lose this bennie but either way you will have to spend $$ on a relocation when you get your "career" job. With the reserve job you will be home more, keep the kids in their school, stay near established friendships, etc. Now if your reserve job is non-flying or flying helos then maybe you should move, but also look at the stability of the regional you are going to. If you get furloughed the only guaranteed job you have is the one provided by Uncle Sam. You may have to move back. Try the commute for 6-12 months and see how it plays out. Good luck.

46Pilot

quaileman,
Thanks. Yup, you got it all right...as my 15 yr old step-son told me once..."How do you know me so well"... And I'm a Marine.

Good points which are all things I have factored in, now if I can only convince the wife.

46

atpwannabe

Not sure what your living situation is. Are you looking to buy a home or rent apartment? If looking to buy a home, whether you are living where your reserve unit is or not, check out www.newhomes.com.

Hope this helps.

atp