Hello all. I am 25 years old, graduated from a 4 year university and been flying 135 as a type rated co-pilot for the last few years. I am currently flying for a company overseas making almost 100K a year, but it really isnt very enjoyable.

I have recently started to think about planning long term for my career and what is the best direction to go. I know that I can stay corporate (which is really the kind of flying that I have always wanted to do, never wanted to be an airline pilot), but with the amount of hiring going on at the majors right now, it seems to me that if I decided to suck it up at a regional for 5 years or so, I could be at a major in my low thirties and really make alot more money over my career and have a huge retirement account.

I am not positive that I would dislike airline flying, but I dont think I would enjoy it as much as I enjoy the corporate side of flying. But I know I need to make decisions for the sake of my career and future family, and I might be in a lot better situation financially down the road.

What advice do ya'll have? I appreciate any input. Thanks

Probably better go airlines, unless there's anything in your background which would preclude getting on with a legacy.

The projected seniority progression for the big-three means that they'll probably offer a near-unprecedented opportunity for pay, QOL, and stability. Anyone who has been around the block will tell you there's no other career field that can match airlines when times are good. Frankly you're lucky to be a very young and turbine-experienced pilot at this point in time...don't under-estimate the opportunity you have.

And you still get to fly jets.

Hard to argue with the above. I have a perfectly clean record and a few connections for recommendations with guys already at a major, so I know the ability to eventually get picked up is there. Thank you for your input.

I'd endorse rickair's advise wholeheartedly--the legacies will offer a better career--money, QOL and, perhaps, stability. That said, the same retirement bubble that is occurring in the airlines is happening across the industry. If the right major doesn't call, top-flight departments will be making great offers. Pay is riding fast in the major cities, lots of movement.

GF

With your experience, I assume you cover the ATP reqs, you will have no issue getting hired. Next you get into is what regional would work best for you, etc. I personally think one of the 3 WOs of American is one of the safest bets right now because of their flow into AA. I'm not like others that are just happy to sit back and flow whenever, I'll be actively trying to get hired at a legacy as soon as I resume looks good enough, so I treat the flow as a major insurance policy sitting in my back pocket.

No one knows exactly where the industry, hiring progression, etc will be in 3 years. It might take you 5 years to get to a legacy, maybe 7, and hell maybe only 3. No one knows, and those who proclaim to are blowing their louder smoke just trying to enforce that they will be right. What we do know is the forecast for the next 8-10 years is touching an unprecedented level.

IF you want to talk more about the regionals, what made me make my decision, etc. PM me. I'll be happy to chat.

I wish I had $5 for every time I heard that the hiring curve was vertical going thru the ceiling! I would have bet anything in the late '90s everyone was gonna get hired at legacy and no one would find a pilot. I could not man a squardon for all the guys telling me, "so long, no need for being in the reserves." Oops!

GF

Several things went wrong last time around, including a protracted war that started on US soil, economy, oil, and age 65.

Anything's possible, but some of those factors are unlikely. There will not be a repeat of age 65, and few folks would be able or willing to work much longer anyway.

Also...The airline industry business model had diverged from reality by 2001. It relied on premium business travelers who never came back after 9/11. The industry is much leaner and meaner today.

Rickair777,

I've been around for everyone of the "booms" and "busts" since '68 as a newly solo'd airline aspirant surrounded by legacy (and I mean, LEGACY) pilots in the neighborhood. My parents best friend was Eastern's #4 and my best friend's dad was UA MEC Captain rep in ORD! Best friend died in accident not unlike JFK Jr's. I'll believe this boom when I see it--from retirement.

Yes, the stars are aligned for epic hiring and advancement, but what about ULCCs (ULCC RPSM is less than DL's CASM); will international routes' yield be decimated by ULCCs; look at Ryanair and EasyJet did to EU legacies; another 9/11; perhaps, in a pilot shortage, the FAA goes with MPL licensing; it goes on.



GF

Thanks everyone for your input. One of the main reasons I have thrown out the airlines in the past has been because paying your dues in the regionals which previously meant making 30K a year and commuting and having a crash pad in LGA. I have zero desire to do that. But, I live in Dallas, and have all the credentials to get get hired at Envoy, so I could fly out of home base, and have a flow to AA as an insurance policy. Thinking I could be at a major in 5 years if everything holds as it is now.

Really my biggest setback from making the decision is the fact that I think I will be really bored flying the airline routes, not have any sort of challenge, and well just have a "regular" job schedule. I am used to having long stretches of time off where I can do whatever I want, and then go back to work for long stretches. Not having the ability to look ahead and know that I will have a week off to go on a motorcycle trip, or go to the mountains, or on a fishing trip because I only have 3 or 4 days off at a time makes me hesitant. Granted, I know nothing about airline schedules, or how you bid lines and how long it takes until you have a good say in your schedule. But I guess my point is, I am thinking that if I make the decision to go airline because of long term stability and pay, I will be giving up QOL that I will have staying corporate.