Well there are a few other circumstances that are pushing me to leave. The owner just sold the Lear 31A and bought a Citation V (Im just as confused as yall as to why), but I do know he wants to get back into flying a bit. He is CMEL but stopped flying to start his own business. I assume that he would fly some trips and leave a few for me and I am already bored flying 10hrs a month.

It is over-rated unless you get in young, before you start a family. At times I wish I went the ex-pat route and lived the international lifestyle. Now with two young kids at home I'd never dream of leaving them behind. Game changer.

Im kind of in the same boat, but i fly more like 10 hours a week. Not in a jet but im next in line to move into a kingair. Im 24, near 1,000 hours and have/had aspirations for large heavy jets. However there is something i still love about small airplanes and being home every night. I think id like to fly in the airlines, however with the good amount of flying im doing in good equipment and how good the company and people are in the company i work for now, i feel like i would regret it immediately. Its certainly a hard call, especially if its a paycut and more work. But then again, if its your dream i can certainly understand the desire to go do it. What do you like more? Flying alot with the airlines? Or enjoying your flying that you do get, but also having some more free time? Ride the hiring boom wave is a good idea, might even help people get faster upgrades in the airlines. But the boom is not just airlines...corporate aviation is also booming.

Anyway, have you considered taking a leave of absence? If you really want airline time, talk to your boss and see if he would hire you back in a year or two (whenever the training contract is up, or later...) heck, you'd get alot of good experience you could bring back. that way it wont be such a bummer if you don't like the airlines. If so, get in writing! Sign something. That way its not just on the word of someone. Not that trust is an issue, but its just a smart idea. From what iv read, your boss/owner is a nice guy. Im know mine would be open for discussion if i was at fork in the road with my career path, but would prefer me to stay. I consider him a friend for sure. But be careful with that, you never know when people get spooked and start searching for a new crew. Just my 2cents.

So you want a written guarantee that the boss will hire you back IF you decide you don't like the airlines. I suppose you would support a written agreement for the pilot to guarantee his return to the job and leave the airline correct? I mean this boss has held the position for that pilot for 2 years right, so not giving someone else a shot at the job.

Seems like the poster needs to make a DECISION about which road he wants to take and then press forward - with all of the chances and choices such a decision entails.

Flying large jets on long haul trips will get old and boring really quick. Red-eye transcons, multiple time zone changes etc.. wreak havok on your body. Also consider that cargo flying can and most likely will go "pilot-less" at some point in the future as UAS aircraft have proven themselves. Quality of life is and should be the highest priority!

I was in your exact spot a few years ago, except I was flying a CJ3. It was an agonizing decision... Do I leave a place I know with high QOL for a freaking regional? At the same time, where was I going to be in five years?

After speaking with pretty much anybody that would listen, I finally came to the conclusion that I absolutely had to move on in order to have a chance at my goals (flying for a Legacy carrier).

That first day in at the regional was a real *** did I just do moment, but here I am more than 2.5 years later. I don't regret it at all, and have applications in with United, Delta, American/US Air, etc. Without leaving my cushy 91 gig, I still wouldn't be even remotely close to competitive.

I also ended up enjoying 121 far more than I thought I would, even at a regional. Good luck with your decision!

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I wouldn't hold my breath for freighter UAS. It would be hard to put them in the flow with manned aircraft especially with weather, etc. Also, auto lands are limited to 15 knot crosswinds. Good luck trying to land a 747 from a computer with 35 knots.

eventually, but not in our working lifetimes.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have pretty much decided that I am going to get in touch with a few contacts and send a few resumes out in hope of landing a nice heavy 135 job. Since that is probably far fetched it looks like I will start applying to the regionals as well. Sometimes we have to make a large sacrifice to get ahead in life.

That's pretty much what it boils down to. Good luck with your next step!