I've noticed that there are a lot of mainline widebody retirees on this board that have subsequently gone back to flying, frequently on contract rjs. Given the choice, which is generally better? I ask this because I am fortunate enough to have both doors open at the moment. On one hand, there's a cool, enormous aircraft, but I'm really over that. It's also 12-15 hour legs and the ensuing boredom. On the other hand, there's an airplane I've got a lot of time in, and I'd likely get to fly it all over the world (albeit in places I might not want to vacation). The pay is actually better on the rj as captain than fo on the widebody (for the first several years even). On the heavy, I'd have a little more time off, with overnights in many countries. On the rj, I'd be gone for 6 weeks at a time, but in one or two countries at a time, long enough to learn another language. And, God forbid, get to know people.

Maybe I'm an idiot for not foaming at the mouth at the chance to fly a heavy, and maybe an A380 one day, but I don't ever want to dread going to work another transpacific flight. I knew a lot of mainline guys at my previous carrier that flew the 777 or 747, but bid out of it after a few years ("It's too damn big, goes too damn far, messes up my body clock, and I don't wanna contend with that many gossiping flight attendants." Ver batim quote). Thanks for any insight.

emb,
who did you get an offer with to fly wide bodies?
if i were you i would jump all over flying a heavy. you can always apply for an rj job with heavy time...but it is not always the case applying for a heavy time aircraft with only rj experience.

Go for the RJ and don't even think about it, this flying heavy Boeings and getting paid very well for it is way over rated

The PIC time as a captain would be nice...

Can you guys tell me who are looking for RJ captains??I am currently a capt getting downgraded typed in the RJ.. Just curious ..pm me if you want..thanks.

Widebody on a north/south route with 6-8 hour legs and minimum 24 hour overnights or day out and backs blocking between 5 and 8 hours. Flying during normal waking hours. That's the best.


Typhoonpilot

Don't know how much Turbine PIC time you got, but I'd get a bunch of that. If you got that square filled, I dunno, probably bid the seat/equipment that pays best and gives you the best QoL.

or then again, what am I thinking, Dominican is right Tell everyone thinking about becoming a pilot it's horrible.

Earning potential at the RJ level is pretty much maxed out with some of these contract gigs, I don't think that you will ever see salaries go beyond $8,000 or so for an RJ captain there is a few that are close to $10,000 but it is typically in places that if they didn't pay those salaries, people wouldn't come and when they do they don't stay long (bullets flying and extreme poverty sours up a contract very quickly). Starting on the right seat of a heavy is the most common way to go to the left and there the potential earnings are in the $17,000 to $20,000+. Living in places that you actually want to live. About the difficulties of long haul flying, all I have to say is that "snoozing for dollars" is not as terrible as you might think and that those pilots that bid out of it where able to do it because of the money banked while they where flying the long haul

Ah, yes. Excellent point. But the widebody gig is contract, and it's not likely that I'd ever get to the left seat. Unless the global economy turns around, and pilots are in shorter supply. So there wouldn't really be the potential for more PIC time. Not a real big fan of gettin' shot at though. But it would place me far from the ex.