Part Time/Contract Retired 121
01-06-2022, 10:31 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 142
Funny how much and for how long I busted my ass to get the job, and yet how little it took to get me to depart the fix once offered the chance to leave. 30 yrs of crew desk BS, crappy management, long duty hours, embedded red eyes, idiots, stupid HR policies, commuting woes, CSR/PAX issues, knee-jerk broad brush procedural changes, mergers, seniority list screwings, union missteps, geopolitical upheaval, hotel van rides from hell, swap routes, deicing delays, bumps, check rides, crew "meals", packed terminals, Marvins, etc etc.
Life away from Mother U is good!
Life away from Mother U is good!
Last edited by Bat Guano; 01-06-2022 at 10:42 AM.
09-02-2022, 02:12 PM
#15
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Position: B-767 Captain
Posts: 83
RE: Retirement At 62?
Originally Posted by TANSTAAFL
Taking a shot in the dark here, picked this sub-forum because of the volume…..
Recently (early, 62) retired from major 121, looking to continue flying, but not interested in FT. I keep hearing there are lot of opportunities
for part time/contract work these days, and have considerable charter, corp, and fractional experience and types, but not current in any
of the types I flew previously (Lears, King Airs) and would require refresher.
What are the best resources for finding this sort of work? Back in the day (25yrs ago) it was purely contacts, contacts, contacts, but I see now there are several
online pilot hiring resources.
What is the most effective way into this sort of flying? Unfortunately not a lot of contacts in this part of the aviation world any longer. Any suggestions welcome
Recently (early, 62) retired from major 121, looking to continue flying, but not interested in FT. I keep hearing there are lot of opportunities
for part time/contract work these days, and have considerable charter, corp, and fractional experience and types, but not current in any
of the types I flew previously (Lears, King Airs) and would require refresher.
What are the best resources for finding this sort of work? Back in the day (25yrs ago) it was purely contacts, contacts, contacts, but I see now there are several
online pilot hiring resources.
What is the most effective way into this sort of flying? Unfortunately not a lot of contacts in this part of the aviation world any longer. Any suggestions welcome
Just curious about something here. If you retired from a "major" at age 62, why didn't you just ride it out until mandatory age 65? An interesting position you're claiming here.
09-03-2022, 06:58 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 142
I left at 62.5
Reasons? Gawd, there must be 100.
1. Relatively junior FO on the triple meant a relatively lousy schedule.
2. Commuting sucks and had gotten MUCH worse. Plus, commuting sucks, oh and, commuting sucks.
3. I got bumped off the triple and would have had to go to another full school on the 787 at the height of Covid mania, pre-vaxx. Since I already did 7 full schools at mainline and a few others as a commuter puke I wasn't too interested in that, again.
4. I got bumped to Newark. So, I could commute to EWR so I could sit reserve under some of the most heinous Reserve rules in the industry. Yeah, no.
5. Coved mania was sweeping the nation and I was tired of all the bullschitt required just to do my job.
6. After bing told for 30 years that "One day YOU"LL be senior and rake in the big bucks" Super duper Covid LOA was going to limit how many pay hours I could bring home each month. LOA was going to pay me to stay home.
I could go on, but I won't. I don't miss it one whit. Sure, I took a pay hit but I was in a position to do so. Now I'm having fun flying again and staying as busy as I want to.
Reasons? Gawd, there must be 100.
1. Relatively junior FO on the triple meant a relatively lousy schedule.
2. Commuting sucks and had gotten MUCH worse. Plus, commuting sucks, oh and, commuting sucks.
3. I got bumped off the triple and would have had to go to another full school on the 787 at the height of Covid mania, pre-vaxx. Since I already did 7 full schools at mainline and a few others as a commuter puke I wasn't too interested in that, again.
4. I got bumped to Newark. So, I could commute to EWR so I could sit reserve under some of the most heinous Reserve rules in the industry. Yeah, no.
5. Coved mania was sweeping the nation and I was tired of all the bullschitt required just to do my job.
6. After bing told for 30 years that "One day YOU"LL be senior and rake in the big bucks" Super duper Covid LOA was going to limit how many pay hours I could bring home each month. LOA was going to pay me to stay home.
I could go on, but I won't. I don't miss it one whit. Sure, I took a pay hit but I was in a position to do so. Now I'm having fun flying again and staying as busy as I want to.
Last edited by Bat Guano; 09-03-2022 at 07:15 AM.
09-19-2022, 05:00 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: single-pilot multi turbine captain
Posts: 240
Originally Posted by TANSTAAFL
Taking a shot in the dark here, picked this sub-forum because of the volume…..
Recently (early, 62) retired from major 121, looking to continue flying, but not interested in FT. I keep hearing there are lot of opportunities
for part time/contract work these days, and have considerable charter, corp, and fractional experience and types, but not current in any
of the types I flew previously (Lears, King Airs) and would require refresher.
What are the best resources for finding this sort of work? Back in the day (25yrs ago) it was purely contacts, contacts, contacts, but I see now there are several
online pilot hiring resources.
What is the most effective way into this sort of flying? Unfortunately not a lot of contacts in this part of the aviation world any longer. Any suggestions welcome
Recently (early, 62) retired from major 121, looking to continue flying, but not interested in FT. I keep hearing there are lot of opportunities
for part time/contract work these days, and have considerable charter, corp, and fractional experience and types, but not current in any
of the types I flew previously (Lears, King Airs) and would require refresher.
What are the best resources for finding this sort of work? Back in the day (25yrs ago) it was purely contacts, contacts, contacts, but I see now there are several
online pilot hiring resources.
What is the most effective way into this sort of flying? Unfortunately not a lot of contacts in this part of the aviation world any longer. Any suggestions welcome
09-20-2022, 02:41 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Posts: 286
Part time in 135 in this environment will be difficult to find. Impossible if you expect to be typed.
Maybe look into CAE instructor job and get a type out of it. I hear they’re very liberal about flying contract on your days off.
TC
Maybe look into CAE instructor job and get a type out of it. I hear they’re very liberal about flying contract on your days off.
TC
09-24-2022, 06:02 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 142
A bit surprised to hear you say that. The guys I work for paid for my two-week type course at FSI. They also typed two others as Captains and one very low-time guy as FO. All of us are part-timers, two retired airline geeks.
Admittedly this is just a single example, but it appears to me that a lot of operators and having a tough time finding pilots these days. This is good news for just about every pilot looking for work.
Admittedly this is just a single example, but it appears to me that a lot of operators and having a tough time finding pilots these days. This is good news for just about every pilot looking for work.
Last edited by Bat Guano; 09-24-2022 at 06:35 AM.
09-24-2022, 04:31 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2022
Posts: 48
I too have been struggling to find something part-time. I punched out of 121 at 55 years old, 30 years in the industry. I couldn't take the repeated redeyes anymore, along with the slew of what others have mentioned. I live near Carlsbad CA which is a hot spot for 135 and Corporate, but everyone wants full time and time in types, of which I have none. I dont find too many A320 charter outfits down here. If I could work 10 days a month flying a King Air or small jet up and down the west coast, that would be perfect. If I'm going back to full time, I have a CJO to go back to my previous regional at $200k and 4 weeks vacation to start, but I'll have to commute.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
