My question is, what would it take to cause you to seek employment elsewhere; in a different profession; other than as an airline pilot at a regional airline? I would like to know; at what point would it become possible no longer? I would also be interested in hearing your ideas on how far is too far to go in seeking to remain employed as a regional airline pilot. I would also like to know if you would be willing to work for an alter-ego carrier and what you think the ramifications of doing so will be for your career expectations. I would also like to know if you would recommend being an airline pilot to your son; assuming you have one; or your daughter. Please be truthful and explain your position to the best of your ability; I believe we all need to hear it.

 

whoa





It wouldn't let me submit this post unless it was at least ten characters so I added this sentence.

 

Only time will tell. The desperation has been increasing with time but, it is quickly approaching its, "Critical Angle of Attack," at which point the level of desperation rapidly decreases then becomes no more and I will say "******* it! Time for a new career!"

 

I think I know where you are going with this. Let me take a stab at it, you are at TSA and you are fed up with how you are being treated and paid so you want to jump to the other side and fly at GoJet. So here is my feeling, ride it out brotha. Do not do this to your self because it will devalue what your your fellow borthers are trying to do at TSA. It sucks big time but you are not furloughed and you are not supporting what TSA Holdings is doing to your compnay by jumping to the "alter ego". The only one that can make that decision is you so just choose wisely. This fall out will probably be ending hopefully by the end of the year and things should start to be on the up and up soon.

 

Good question, I don't have a definitive answer but I would know it when it came. This is my second career and I can tell you that I knew when to leave the first. I can say that I have been pretty lucky in this career though so it would take a lot for me to leave. I consider my job fairly stable, I make ok money and I still love what I do. Yes, the company messes with me, the benefits suck and being on reserve is boring but I live in base, don't have any kids and have loads of free time to pursue hobbies.

My advice would be if there are enough times when you are up in the air and you can get through a whole flight without steaming too much about what the company is doing to you on the ground then stay. If it is following you around like a dark cloud wherever you go (i.e. affecting your life too much away from the job) then start looking into other things.

 

Go figure. My son hates to fly, does not necessarily like to fly with me when I take him somewhere in one of my friend's personal aircraft. He only goes out of convenience. I am sure not everyone's kids are like this, I mean they ARE interested in flying, but mine has other ideas about a career.

 

Don't think i'd try to convience my kids to not pursue aviation, but i wouldn't sugar coat what aviation is like.

As far as what it would take for me to leave flying. If i'm unable to support myself and my family in a manner that i would be happy with, then i'd be willing to say goodbye to the cockpit. What defines the proper manner to support the family, that will change from day to day.

The time away from flying is pretty good, it's always nice to be away from the cockpit, however, i tend to dread getting back in.

 

Well sir, first of all, welcome to APC!

It's interesting that you bring this situation up though. When I wanted to start flying and possibly make a career out of it, my Dad who is a pilot for SWA, warned me about the dangers of aviation, the hardships, and the drawbacks. At the time I had no idea how highly SWA was regarded amongst the aviation community. So yes, he tried to warn me about aviation, but I just fell in love with it. I will do the exact same thing for my son/daughter whenever I may be so privileged to have one some day (i'm only 23). If they truly want to be a pilot, then so be it, but I will warn them about what they are getting themselves into.

Regarding what it would take to leave aviation. It would take an act of God for me personally. I absolutely love my job and can't possibly imagine doing anything else. I enjoy other things, but couldn't see myself doing anything else for the rest of my life. At what point would it become no longer possible? I would say if you had a family you were supporting and making good money (70K+), it would be damn near impossible to leave to take a 50% paycut and still try to support your family.

In response to your question about leaving your regional for an alter-ego... the BIG one I see here is the situation with TSA and GoJet. I think TR Disagree handled that one fairly well already, but the only thing that would force me to move is if I lost my job at my first airline.

 

You're going to have to explain that. Because I don't think there is anyone out there in aviation or in the real world in general that doesn't take into account their interests first before others. If people don't agree with that they are lying. If you don't believe m, take a ride to the GJ offices in STL and look at the STACKS of resumes of virtual every commercial pilot that doesn't have anything going for them right now. You're confusing a little company feud which is pointless anyways with reality. It is not the companies fault that the market does not need 50 seaters. It's called business, the right to make a profit.

 

I would take a non-aviation job before working at an alter-ego. Seniority is not moving in this industry, your career will progress the same whether you are the lasy guy hired in the last upswing or the first guy hired in the next upswing.

After having done it once, I seriously doubt that I would work for a bottom-feeder again either. There are easier ways to make $20K and be gone 26 days/month. Alaska north slope, etc.