I know that this has prolly been posted many times before and is a totally opionated question (or answer) but I feel like I am at a fork in the road and dont know wether to go left of right. I have the time to go to the refionals (1300TT, 220ME) but am not sure if that is what I want to do. I am married and I think that that will play a factor in it, altough my wife is a nurse and can find work anywhere, but anytime I talk to a REGIONAL pilot or any airline pilot for that matter and tell them that I am thinking about putting my resume in they cringe. Not really the feedback you want. Why do I want to go make 17000 a year and have to sit in a crew lounge at the airport all day waiting for my phone to ring? The job I have now is good and I am fortunate to be where I am at but to take the plunge is pretty serious. Their has got to be a better way.

 

If you find a better way, please let me know.

 

A guy I was flying with the other day said it best. "This is a great job, but it's a ********y career!" If you do not unequiviqably (sp?) love flying, and want to do it more than anything else in life; you'll probably be miserable. If you're asking yourself that question now, I think you have the answer. You can't make lateral transitions if you get furloughed or lose your medical. You're screwed if you're older and that happens, with kids and a house payment.

Now, if you (successfully) sell real estate on the side and have family money, well then, heck, rock on. It's a fun job. But there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. You don't have permanent euphoria as you fly a jet. It's cool, at first, but being away from home is being away from home. Is your wife the kind of person that enjoys you being away? Does she have a large firend or family network to keep her content when you're gone? If not, double doom on you if you do the airline gig.

And that's the no-shi**er.

 

Tough for me to say if it is a sh..ty career or not, I have only been flying 121 for a year and a half. If you talk to any legacy carrier pilot, of course they are going to bad mouth it because look at just what happened to them!

I USUALLY look forward to going flying and only sometimes does it feel like WORK. Fox 1 said it pretty well. I know if I had to be around my wife more than four days a week she would kill me! I would definitely give it a try as you have come this far to see what "livin' the dream" is all about. I believe the industry is figuring itself out for the next 10 years and hopefully the guys at the majors get the standard back up as they all have contracts coming due in the next 3- 5 years.

You obviously have the time to get on with a regional, so MAKE SURE YOU GET ON WITH A QUALITY REGIONAL!!!!!!!!! I can't stress that enough and I think most would agree. Go to a crappy company (Mesa, TSA, gojet) and you will find a way to hate flying. When all you hear is how the company sucks and all of the other bs along those lines, you will not look forward to going to fly. Find a company like SkyWest, XJT, AWAC, RAH, Horizon, and you will have a good time.

At least give it a try before you quit. That way you can at least make an educated decision before giving it up. And wait until you get a line before quitting, reserve sucks no matter where you are at! Of course, unless you live in domicile!

 

If you are happy where you are at then save yourself the misery. Stay where you are and enjoy life.

Skyhigh

 

If you really love to fly, find a job that pays you enough to own your own airplane.

I do also agree however that you should take the plunge, if you are willing, no matter how brief and give the airlines a try. You will quickly realize that what many people say on here is not far from the truth. 10 years from now, you won't have to look back and wonder "what if..."

So much of this job is not actually flying. You really have to be in love with the lifestyle to be in love with this job. If it is just the flying you love, then find a way to make a living and fly when YOU want to and where you want to.

I have a friend that instructed, flew charter went to a regional, became a captain and left after a couple of years. He fell back to his degree, (computer science) and is now writing software for a large company. He makes an outstanding living and owns a Comanche 260. He has a hangar and sometimes after work will take his wife and fly to Chicago for dinner. They go to Colorado for the weekend skiing. They fly to visit college friends and distant family. He loves to fly. He did not love the airline lifestyle.

 

I am in a similar situation. I am a police officer making $39K a year. I recently quit to go to CFI school and focus on it and then get a job as a CFI making around $20K. The key is becomming an independant CFI and you dont have to give part of your money to somebody. You do have to be proactive and market yourself though.

ANyway, like was said eariler. If you truly love flying then go for it. I figure if it doesnt work out then I can always go back to policing. But at least I can say I gave it a shot. If I dont at least try I wil regret it for years to come

 

It is impossible to go through life without regrets. You can use logic and reason to avoid bigger regrets like "man I sure wish I hadn't done that aviation thing".


Don't use the old "regret" excuse to talk yourself into making a even bigger regret.

Skyigh

 

I love to fly and was not crazy about the lifestyle either. I disliked the pay and future prospects even more. Today I am much happier owning my own business and am looking forward to buying a solid plane to play with someday.

I noticed from your title that you are looking to get out of the regionals or did I read that incorrectly?

SkyHifh

 

It is such a shame that the pilot profession blows @$$. Many others I know that have passions for something live a great life working, giving it all, and getting a return. It seems that it is a waste to do the same in this industry, for it does not give back and it shows no mercy.