Airline Pilot Central Forums - Prefered Minimums???

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- - Prefered Minimums??? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/60741-prefered-minimums.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtlCSIP (Post 1035463)

BaronRouge,

I was in my 40s when I go hired at a regional. I left a 6 figure engineering career for a regional FO position, and I do not regret it, even though first year pay was less than I made in 1989. I was miserable in my other job, although I made good money. I had a very realistic outlook on what flying for an airline was before I did it, and as such, have not become completely jaded due to false expectations.

My wife tells me that I 'am back', kind of like FlyWife's husband. My youngest kid (senior in high school) tells me that she never wants me to go back to what I was doing before because I actually enjoy what I do for the first time in her life, and because I am a lot more fun now!

I also have a little Cessna I fly regularly. It is more fun to fly than a CRJ, but as far as work is concerned, this really isn't a bad job when you keep it in context.

For example, I don't live to work, I work to support my life, so I have based my life on monthly minimum pay and take the maximum number of days off. I have 16 days off in August. I could NEVER do that with an engineering job. When I park the airplane, I go home and don't think about it, the passengers, etc... again until I show back up at the airport. I could NEVER do that with an engineering job because I always had problems I had to deal with, and I took them home with me. I had chest pains in my 30's with my engineering job, but my blood pressure was lower at my last medical than it has been in 10 years.

It is a job, but much more enjoyable, especially after the door closes, than anything I have done with my pant on!

Good luck! PM me if I can help.

Thank you Sir for your post...... It is a big encouragement, it helps a lot, specially to see or hear from someone who has actually done what we are headed out to do & is successful & happy in his new life as a Professional Pilot.

A little encouragement & may be a little guidance along the way, is all what people like Baronrouge, me & others like us need......

Thanks Again, Your post just made my day...........

ATLCSIP...You did exactly the same thing I was about to do in 2007-08 because of lack of courage maybe, I didn't make the jump. But this time around, I am ready to switch. I am really glad it is working out for you. I may PM you, I just registered here a couple of days ago.
All the best, and enjoy your flying career!

For what it's worth, my husband is going to be 37 in September and just got an offer from Eagle. We have no children, but intend to have at least one. It's about to become way more challenging for us, but we're ready!

Hitmommapilot

Yes, I know, the US isn't Europe, spent a lot of time in Europe. So, what's your point? Structured training programs, military or airline cadet, are bad or good? That "punk kids" with deep pockets should not fly? That 1,500 hours as a CFI flying in VFR Florida are good, or bad, airline candidates because they can hold an ATP?

I happen to propose the best proven way to create safe, disciplined pilots is to put them thru a disciplined training process with high evaluation standards and a cirriculum that provides sold basis for growth. Where airlines use cadet programs (yes, that's Europe), it can be done well. To consider the haphazard program we have, where getting a couple of hundred hours as a CFI and an arbitrary number of hours is considered qualification to fly airliners, all sorts of bad outcomes are possible.

GF

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flywife (Post 1035488)

Congrats Flywife! I am sure it will all work out for you!
I will be trying Eagle soon, I am working on adding some multi (800/34).
It will be hard to go from $120k/year to $20k, it is even too crazy given the current economic climate. I will appy and see what happens!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaronRouge380 (Post 1036303)

Congrats Flywife! I am sure it will all work out for you!
I will be trying Eagle soon, I am working on adding some multi (800/34).
It will be hard to go from $120k/year to $20k, it is even too crazy given the current economic climate. I will appy and see what happens!

Hard, huh? Maybe you should try living on $20k for several months before you burn a $120k bridge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyJSH (Post 1036329)

Hard, huh? Maybe you should try living on $20k for several months before you burn a $120k bridge.

Yes you are correct and I have been doing it! If this doesn't happen, I will at least have some money saved!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaronRouge380 (Post 1036303)

Dude you need to take a good hard long look before you hop from 120K to 20K then 30K then 40K. I mean it's going to royally suck blowing through your cash reserves just to fly for a regional. Why not go 135 and at least make a little more money?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruz5350 (Post 1036362)

Don't all 135 operators need 1200 TT min.....
I haven't seen anyone with lesser minimums.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcpilot (Post 1036385)

Don't all 135 operators need 1200 TT min.....
I haven't seen anyone with lesser minimums.

Ya but I think he has like 800TT and he owns a 172. If I were him I would fly myself up to 1200TT and then go from there. It will give him time to save more money and see how this economy turns out. Heck that's exactly what I'm doing in my Dakota.