Since this is SkyHigh's "only happy - happy only" place you might want to repost your query in its own thread to get a better cross section of responses. But here are my strictly factual answers.

1) I was away from home 220 days last year. I commuted to sit reserve. It was difficult for me and even more so for my wife, being away from home that much. It was not too difficult to actually commute to work, however. Even though CHQ serves FAY for US to CLT, they do not have a domicile in CLT. PSA does (negative PSA comment deleted). You can commute on any carrier, not just the one you work for. It is difficult to predict who will be hireing when, but in general, it appears that regionals will be hireing unabated until the next economic downturn.

2) On reserve you are subject to call out typically in the 1 to 2 hour range. 24 hour call outs are rare, and go senior. I do not know of any airline which has a 48 hour call. Your reserve days are scheduled the month prior, and are generally not subject to change by the company. You can sometimes swap your own OFF days with your own Reserve days, if for example you are scheduled to work on your wife's birthday.

3) Almost certainly, barring economic or other catastrophy.

4) Depends. As a line holder, yes. As a reserve you can probably count on not exceeding guarantee. Which is typically 70-75 hrs a month.

 

Get momma working once the baby gets here. Get some family to watch the baby or a cheap nanny and get momma a decent paying job with health benefits.

Keep plugging away and go get that Regional Job. Your pay could be as low as 18K but you might score some good lines and get up to $25K. Quit having babies, keep momma working and put your 2-3 years in at the Regionals. Upgrade on "whatever" ASAP and log that PIC time. Keep your expenses low. One huge mistake made is that when the poor broke FO upgrades, they upgrade everything else: House, car, etc. Live in a house trailer or rent a small home. Bank some cash for the bad days like strikes, lay offs or when you want to work for the big boys like CAL that will not offer you benefits for 6 months and pay you like a 1st year regional pilot.

Don't let the nay sayers talk you out of this career. It still is the best job in the world. Don't get ground down in the present. Set your goals high, like SWA or FedEx and go for it.

Good luck
A330

 

Many thanks robthree and A330. I haven't been too successful with getting straight answers. Ya'lls was refreshing and has helped. This is an awfully hard decision. My wife is a nurse and I know that we will be fine financially. My main catch is losing my family in pursuit of a lifelong dream....

 

It's just a job man. Your family should be your lifelong dream.

 

Well said.

 

Lets all try saying this togather all day long;

Aviation is a great and respected profession

Aviation is a great and respected profession

Aviation is a great and respected profession

Aviation is a great and respected profession


keep going, silently and to yourself... All day..

 

Here's a positive post:


I GOT A DAY FLYING LINE WITH ONLY ONE LEG EACH DUTY DAY FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!

 

I realize it is just a job. However, the reality of my plight is that I must make a choice that not only will affect me, but my precious wife. My family IS the important issue here, hence my intensive research into aviation as a career. I want to be sure I don't end up like others. I don't have the luxury of knowing the industry inside and out, so here I am, looking for answers to help with my decision. So, no, its not just a job; it is a decision that will affect my loved ones. And that is why I am taking this so seriously.....Nice picture of the C-17 though...

 

remember airline pilots have a higher divorce rate that average (or so it is said...reference AIDS-aviation induced divorce syndrome)...ok, now to spin this positively....let's see...It's a great challenge for those who like challenges! Seriously, my wife is currently in nursing school and I have been at a regional over a year and a half now. I'm able to get decent sched's and we have committed to working our schedules so our family is first. You can do it right as a family man as long as you are willing to make committments and sacrifices to safeguard your family. Some of ours are: No commuting to work for me longer than a 6 month period (if I can't hold the home base right away I will commute no longer than 6 months.) If it will be longer, then we move or I quit and find another job in aviation. We work family schedules around what I can hold (b-day parties etc...) When I'm home...I'm home (no golfing, bowling, poker, guys night out etc. Just the kids and wife-which I prefer anyway. Not a sacrifice if you marry the right person.) Get a good cell phone plan. Plan to live your life at the regional Capt.'s pay and strive to get to a major later. DO NOT expect to be making 100k+ within 3-5yrs. If it happens, great! But, those it happens to are the minority. Just don't set yourself up for dissappointment. It is a great job. I love flying. There will be hard times, but in my opinion it is the best profession out there.

 

Your quality of life at any regional would be greatly increased if your wife/family was willing to relocate into whatever base you were awarded. While I've been at CHQ less than a year, I commute and get an "ok" schedule. May is the best I've ever seen by far, so I'm a little excited. My counterparts that moved into base (and actually bid below me) get about 1-2 days MORE off a month and do not work 4 day trips (which means they spend the night in their own bed more often).

I can't tell you how to work your finances only earning 18K a year. My hope would be that you would bypass the 18K a year job (read as Mesa/GoJets) and hold out for a 23-26K a year job (read as Xjet/RAH/SKW according to what I hear). I can tell you this though, as a 1st year FO at CHQ, I've been able to pay all my bills, live pretty happily, and save about $3K since I've started working. It's all about discipline (and yea, I definately go out on overnights and have fun). Plus, by hanging around doing the CFI thing longer, it will allow a more gradual transition into the airline life as your wife grows accustom to you flying all the time.

I will not "discourage" anyone from getting into this profession. So far it has treated me right...but I've also had very open eyes about it from the beginning. While the feel good thread is nice to read, you definately need to know the good, the bad, and the ugly before jumping into this profession.

P.S. - I would give it all up if it was affecting my marriage/relationship with my kids (don't have either yet). Being happy at your job is important...being happy in your life is more important.

P.P.S. - It's time for Jack and Coke #3