So,

I'm 55. Rated as a Commercial Pilot. 3,000 hours total, over 1,000 fighter pilot hours many years ago, 160 hours average in GA airplanes the last five years. I get upside down and all around, as well as fly formation. But, find myself letting the autopilot fly when I go A to B. May as well get paid for that, is my thought. Salary is not so important, but I need a five day block of days off every month. I can live in Reno or Baltimore. Where should I apply?

 

Depends on your geography. A lot.

Several potential COA's...

a) Find a local corporate 91 or 135 gig. Schedule is whatever you arrange with the employer. If they renege, you can just walk.

b) Find a regional with a junior base somewhere that you'd like to live. You'll move up fast as an FO. There should be several near Baltimore (PHL, IAD, so driving distance). Lots in NY, I'd take the train.

c) Do a regional and then apply to majors. That way your CTP/ATP is paid for. With fighter + 121 time you'll get scooped up pretty quick by a decent major. Any major should afford good scheduling opportunities, although if you can live in base that's even better. SWA has a BWI base.

d) Apply to majors now, but your recent experience is marginal, and you'd have to pay for your own CTP/ATP just to apply (I'm not aware of any majors providing that, at least not yet).

Nobody has a RNO base, but it's reasonably commutable to LAS, SLC, DEN, SEA, SFO, LAX.

 

Apply to SWA for the BWI base. It wouldn't hurt to get on at a regional to get more current in the meantime.

 

Delta Private Jets - 7 days on, 7 days off. No required base location, you just have to live within 1 hour of an airport where Delta flies out of. You get Positive Space relocation to where they need you to fly to. I believe if you put in 10 years you get travel privileges with Delta when you retire. If that's too much flying, you can fly 1 week and get 3 weeks off.
https://www.deltaprivatejets.com/

 

Wait, what?

 

Was talking with a Delta Private Jet pilot on the ramp a couple of days ago. Just passing along the information he gave me. Part 135 operation. If you are Semi-retired, sounds like a good gig to have.

 

Just to clarify, DPJ is an 8 on 6 off schedule. Airline to an airplane day 1 and airline home day 8. The 1 week on 3 weeks off schedule is a part time position. Half the normal salary and no medical benefits. Right now you must also be a captain to be part time.

 

What’s the normal salary? I know it varies by plane, but what’s the ballpark?

 

1st year FO 54,750
2nd year FO 56,750
3rd year CA 90kish

 

Does it have to be a specific five day block? If not, you’d probably be able to pull it off at a well-staffed regional like endeavor or republic (based on what my friends at those airlines have told me.). If you go someplace short staffed it becomes a lot less likely you’ll be able to get those days off. PBS seems to help as well.