Hello everyone, I'm new to the forum and I thought I'd introduce myself by asking a couple questions. My apologies if I should have found these in some other thread because they've already been discussed. I'm a 130 guy a few years from retirement but I thought I'd start my research now so I don't end up crunched when the time comes.
1) This "networking" thing is probably the most foreign concept to me that I know I'm going to have to get the hang of. How/when/who did you get started with this when it was your time to start looking at the transition to the civilian world?
2) If there is anyone here that isn't flying for a Major, I'd like to know how the life compares to military life (time on the road, hours, fulfillment). I'm not exactly keen on flying jumbos across the continent but I think the "lighter" side making enough to supplement my retirement is where I want to be. Please forgive my ignorance if that is a stupid statement. I know people work very hard in the smaller airplanes and I mean no offense.
3) I'll take any advice anyone has on this one... At the end of the day, when I'm done with the military, the most precious thing I want to have is time. Money is a wonderful thing but time with my wife, a couple years with my kids, and picking up a hobby or two is what matters to me as I look forward. Can I get a job flying professionally, other than local FBO CFI guy, where I can make a modest salary and have time on my hands? What job is that, and how do I get it?
Thanks a lot to all of you. I've read through a lot of these before I signed up and there is a ton of great information here. It's good to know at least when I retire that I will still belong to an aviation family of sorts. I like how helpful people are in this community.

 

Depending where you are professionally, you may have options although most will not offer the part-time option. If you've been flying for a while, you should be in a place to skip regional flying and go straight to the majors, although again, it's a full-time job and won't offer you the time off you want or the ability to live where you want (without commuting).

Corporate tend to fly fewer hours per year, but you'll generally have less schedule flexibility (when the rich guy want to travel it's on his schedule not yours).


What kind of 130 squadron are you flying in that doesn't have gouge!

 

I'd prefer to simply say it isn't a regular 130 unit. Not a lot of people in my unit and a lot of them aren't interested in civilian flying.
Regarding experience, I'm coming up on 4K hours, and I have every qualification/certification my command tracks... which is fairly extensive given our mission set.
I appreciate the ideas. As I said, I'm just kind of shopping around to see what people out there are actually doing and how much they like it.
It may be a pipe dream but I'd like to hear from people out there that get more satisfaction from what they do than how much they make.
I've never worked a day in my life and I don't intend to start after I retire!

 

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...11-update.html

If the term "networking" seems ambiguous, think of it like this;

It's NOT the hipster/silicon valley attending a "networking" event type thing where everyone is acting phony or trying to be somebody they are not. At least NEVER was for me.

It's simply staying in touch with all the GREAT people you've met along the way that have moved on to other things. You know, staying friends, etc.

 

Welcome, I'm pretty new to the forums also. I'm slicks on the reserve side at Peterson; we probably know a few of the same people. I was SkyWest for four years and start class tomorrow at United. I hear you on the time at home with family front.

PM me if you'd like a perspective on the regional lifestyle, I had it pretty good. I can't speak to the majors yet.

 

"Networking" began when you were a butter bar. Get in touch with your old squadron bubbas that are now doing what you wish to do.

 

Getting hired by an airline is different, but definitely worth it. As has been said, networking is nothing more than tracking down old squadron mates, UPT IPs, etc, via LinkedIn, fb, or email. Ask them what it is like, and when the time comes, you can ask for a Letter of Recommendation.

As far as what it's like, I am a retired fighter pilot and fly for Alaska. Many want to fly a big airplane internationally, but I have no desire to do that, so this job fits me perfectly. I have averaged 7 nights per month not in my own bed, working 15 days a month or so. But that is unique to being based in ANC for Alaska. For May, I will only be gone for 5 nights, with 78 hours of pay. All in all, this is a great retirement job--but I would not have wanted to do it for 30 years.

 

My 2 cents...I've been at a legacy 2 years and I have 18 days off this month. Some months I have more (vacation months). It's certainly easy to bid a low credit flying line and get max days off. That's what I do. I'm still getting 75 hrs of pay with that schedule with the ability to easily pick up more if I need the money.

I have plenty of time to be with my family. 30 days would be perfect but impossible unless you win the lottery.

 

FWIW, I found old squadron mates, some of whom I had not spoken to in 15+ years, to be incredibly gracious about info and a letter of recommendation. I also was able to find a lot of folks I didn't realize were hired somewhere. Huge resource.

On one in particular, we had maybe 3 months of overlap before he retired, but he wrote a very kind recommendation, as if he had sought me out for help!

Everyone hired in the industry knows how the game is played. I didn't have one email go unanswered. Good luck!

 

Galt,

This quote is important because Cricket is based where he lives. The key to maximizing your time at home is find an airline/corporate/135 gig based where you want to live. Or find a job like NetJets that does home basing...i.e. they buy you an airline ticket from your home to the plane then buy you a ticket home at the end of your rotation. Its the commuting that can take a huge chunk out of you "at home" time.

Amen! You'd be surprised how many people you've flown with in the military are where you want to be. Some may even be Chief Pilots/Check Airmen. Their recommendations will carry even more weight.

Don't limit your options to just the airlines, either. There are lots of great flying jobs out there. They may not pay as much, but after a full military career you're not going to be a wide body Captain making the mega bucks anyway. Assume the top of the ladder for you will be narrow body Captain and compare your other options with that level.

Best of luck in your 2nd career!