Dear fellow pilots

Which on is better choice :

1) 135 wheels up pax king air 350

2) 121 Southern Air freight B - 737

Thank you all in advance

 

If you have a family 8/6 or plan on having one. If your single 18/12. While a lot of pilots do 18/12 that are married and have kids it’s a struggle and you need a good support system at home for when you are away.

 

do either of the choices have you ever back at home for a night or two on your work cycle or is it all on the road? I would choose whichever has you home most but thats just me.

 

Speaking from my experience, while living in base, 121 would rarely have you overnight at home (some exceptions). My 135 job (BTQ) had me home every other night while flying a line (as well as home while off). Rest rules are not as pilot friendly in 135, but if you are young, it is within your general abilities to withstand.

 

I figured thats why ive never really sought after that type of schedule. Young married guy with a newborn so im not too fond of overnights. Current company I havent had one in two months my hopeful future company will have zero

 

Stay there!

 

I fly the King Air's for Gama/Wheels UP and love it here, but it ultimately depends on your long term goal. If you want the airlines or UPS/FedEx then go to Southern however if you want to stay corporate and possibly be home more, come join us at Gama.

 

Wheels up over Southern Air any day of the week.

 

I concur with Otterbox...... Your pay, benefits, and QOL will be better at Gama/Wheels Up vs. Southern Air, UNLESS you live in or near CVG.

Unfortunately, the pilots at Southern ratified a contract, albeit under duress, that leaves them among the hardest working, yet lowest paid B737 pilots anywhere. Note, I'm not busting on the pilot group, only the substandard contract. Furthermore, their schedule is not exactly commuter friendly and CVG is no longer the same easy-too-get-to Delta hub that it was 20 years ago. I hear that jumpseating into and out of there can be dicey, and I believe that those 18 days on duty DO NOT include travel to and from the hub, so it could be more like 20 days on and 10 days off.. or worse.

Wheels Up, on the other hand with its 8 on 6 off schedule, travels you to and from work with positive space tickets on your duty day. So you are not worried about jeopardy commutes to and from work, and you are building frequent flyer miles on them. Also amazing is the health insurance plan that Gama/Wheels Up offers its pilots that covers the family. And several Gama/Wheels Up pilots have left to go to Legacies and LCC's (just what I'm assuming pilots at Southern Air are trying to do...) without prior part 121 time. Also, I know dozens of great people that spent their last $7000 to get that B737 type rating to absolutely no avail anywhere with regards to payoff with that coveted SWA job. DISCLAIMER: I don't work at Gama, but have many friends who do. It's crazy, but who would ever think that there could ever be a question on whom has better pay, benefits, and quality of life?: The Part 121 B737 pilot or the Part 135 King Air/CE-560XL/CE-750 pilot......? It's an upside down world that the King Air pilot has a better QOL.

If you live in or near CVG, and want that B737 time, then Southern Air would be a no brainer. If not, and you have a family that you want a great QOL and great insurance coverage, then Gama/Wheels Up is for you.

Good luck with your decision.