Jumping Ship
 

Thinking about ditching Piedmont, probably for a decent paying flight instructor job or maybe Mesaba.

Before everyone tells me how lucky i am to be in the airlines and how i'm psychotic....

I was wondering if anyone has gone back to flight instructing or switched a regional lately. Piedmont is a decent place, but the QOL just isn't what i'm looking for right now.....

any positive info would be just wonderful, thanks guys and dolls.

I dont think you have to worry about that here...

Just my 2 cents-

It's all what you make of it. I'm trying to do the same, I have certain career interests/goals that I don't believe will happen if I stay where I am right now. It certainly isn't the worst situation in the world but I'm seeing another opportunity and I'm giving it a shot. If it's not working out for you at Piedmont then no harm in trying something else. As far as whether you want to go back to instructing or go to Mesaba, those are two pretty different paths so that part is up to you depending on what your long term goals are.

I know of several who left UND for Piedmont only to come back to UND after a year or two.

I'd be careful about leaving a 121 job for a lesser one(meaning non-passenger or cargo carrying on smaller equipment). It could and has raised questions in interviews...FYI, there is no great QOL at most commuter jobs out there these days.

Where do you think of going? Comair ain't doin' it for ya:p

Piedmont is just a stepping stone. I guess they even tell you that during the interview for what I've heard. Most UND guys that I know left Piedmont after a few months and then went to Republic.



I was thinking about jumping ship a while back, but I decided to stick it out where I am now, just because a) I don't want to go through training again and start at the bottom of the list, b) I can't afford to take another pay cut right now. As far as going back to instructing. I would probably look at some places like PanAm or similar schools that pay you a yearly salary. One of my friends works for PanAm Flight Academy flying a Warrior making $35k/yr + full benefits. Lot's of people are jumping ship to Republic and Mesaba right now, because of the quick upgrades, etc. Just remember, that can all change over night. Hell, Mesaba was furloughing people not too long ago.

QOL at ae is great for me now, but I too want to jump ship to a place with a left seat in the near future! The two places I want to apply to has currently put hiring on hold

One of the markers HR explores in a pilot interview is termed "industry motivation". What have you done to move onward and upward in the industry? What sacrifices have you made, what hardships have you endured?

Traditionally, the progression was CFI, Regional FO, Regional Capt., Majors. These days, you can easily find CFI jobs that pay more than a regional FO that allow for a much better quality of life. I would expect to be able to answer that question and talk about how you came to the decision in future interviews because it WILL come up. I wouldn't expect to leapfrog the regional lifestyle though, unless things change dramatically, you'll need to pay your dues to get to next rung on the ladder.

That said, the ability to triple your income and improve your quality of life shows excellent judgment!

[QUOTE=CRJDriver;335075]Where do you think of going? Comair ain't doin' it for ya:p


Hah yeeep basically, flying the couch all month wasn't what I had in mind as a pilot. I have an interview next week at RAH; if nothing else the upgrade time is shorter but if I'm able to get the base I want it appears there would be a vast improvement. If not, oh well I still have a job, I'll stick it out. And yes, I understand it could all change...

I haven't been here a year yet so I understand there are dues to pay etc etc, but if there's an opportunity to not sit around and play with myself month after month with only the occasional 3 or 4 day trip then I figure what the heck, give it a shot. I really don't have anything to lose having not moved much up the list at all the past several months.

Ok sorry for the hijack haha but it's sorta on topic...

Just pay your dues for now. Just like MD's, they have to go through a crappy residency for 7 years. I bet the hospitals love banking on their cheap labor for that period of time. But in the end they're the one's who have the last laugh. According to Careervoyages.com http://www.careervoyages.gov/transportation-air.cfm

Pilot jobs are in high demand over the next 8 years. The industry is going to need 33,000 more pilots, or a 17% increase. With the big shortage on the way, desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides if you don't want the job, I'll take. I'm used to living poor already, at least I'll live poor doing something I love to do.