Am I stupid
 

Ok what would you do. I am arguably one of the highest paid CFI's in the nation. I planned on losing my position when the airforce was supposed to move the program to Colorado. However I'm still here. As some know I have almost 1800hrs now and (I thought I had more) about 110 multi of which 40 is twin turboprop. Not too long ago the airforce told me I have 10 students left. I'll finish my current 4 guys by the end of Feb. Then I'll have 6 more of which I'll run through as fast as possible. I'm staying here for a couple reasons.

A) Good pay. So I'm saving up what I can to make sure I have enough for taxes as well as pay off credit cards from all the darn holidays. (Most my guys took 3-4 weeks off so I didn't work and still had to pay all the bills/live/party of course)

B)I feel that I'm committed to my job. I'm the only CFI within 70miles and don't know who would take my place. The AF only has 60 days to push them through and I don't want to drop anyone in the middle of their training and force them to miss their SUPT dates ect.

C)I like flying the merlin for my boss. He flies it too and with me gone it would put quite a damper on his plans.

So I figure that with my last 6 guys I could finish them in 2 months so long as I quit getting the kind of weather I've been having. It's like God's after me. (Snowed 4 inches here last week in the damn desert). So at my current rate it's looking like the end of April till I'm done here and then moving back.

Do you think I'm an idiot for staying till then? I'm not worried about my hours anymore. If the airline doesn't hire me because I have "Too many" which I aquired by doing airforce work then boo on them. I just don't want to get there and see no one hiring.... I want an honest outlook. Where do you think they will be come april/may? I'm turning 25 on March 8th so I'm kinda having a pre-midlife crisis about my decision making abilities right now.

Hey duck, here's my two cents.

You're having fun right? Simple as that. It looks like the airline industry is on the up swing, so if you delay your arrival into the regionals, I don't see where it will hurt ya!.

I agree, it sounds like you have it pretty good at the moment. I would put all my focus in borrowing that merlin and getting my twin time up over 150 or so. It will open some doors.

In my limited time in this industry, it seems like regionals are a frickin rollercoaster. Right now people are hiring like crazy, in six months they may still be hiring....or it could all go to poo. The best regional now might be the one spinning down the toilet in a year. Who knows really.

But if it was me (and it was me, except I was flying a king air)... enjoy it but keep your eyes wide open for job openings you would enjoy. Do not, DO NOT, hold off your career advancement to help your boss. That is a big no no.

Get as much mutil turbine as you can. Get over 2500 and start applying at Continental.

Do whats best for you, what me or any of the other guys and gals have to say here about your situation is Rubbish.

The only thing i am going to say is Seniority is EVERYTHING in this business. If you think long term you want to be with the airlines than good god get in as soon as possible. Just for instance right now at XJT we are hiring 80 new hires a month. By waiting till April then you do the math on how many people would be a head of you. I don't know where you want to work but thats just whats going on at my airline. Good luck with your decisions.

Its not your job to take care of Lts...THe AF has NCOs that do that...<grin>

Just kidding - its true in a way...

The AF leadership will deal with the problem of not having a CFI. They deal with bigger issues this one won't be too difficult.

Finish your commitments and move on to what is best for you.

-LAFF

Seniority is worth considering...when the next downturn hits a few months seniority could mean the difference between a few years of furlough, reserve FO, or upgrade.

Not true :) There is always something to be learned from those who have traveled the path before you. It's because of the recommendations of people here that I held out and ended up at the current place I'm at. I was fresh out of college and stupid enough to almost fly anywhere and after a few pep talks I held out for something better and here I am.

Use you contacts to get a guard / reserve job, build a little more time, including 1000 Turbine PIC, use contacts to bypass regionals altogether. You'd still be ready for a job at a major by the time you're 30.

Yes that's what's on my mind too. I think I'm just going to take care of business then get on the road. I'm going to go through march. Hopefully have them done by then. Then i'm going to be moving on. I've decided anything past that could be too long.