Take the AF's second bonus to get recency?
09-05-2017, 08:10 AM
#1
At Landings Class
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2017
Position: B787 FO
Posts: 3
Take the AF's second bonus to get recency?
Hello aviators and thanks in advance again for the advice...
I'm an Air Force pilot with an ATP looking at career options now. I was planning on retiring at ~21yrs (2020) out of an inactive flying job, but then saw (thanks to your all's replies to my first post) how important recency plays into the equation at the majors.
So, the AF has offered guys like me a second bonus at $35k a year, which essentially would commit me out to 2022 (2 years past my current commitment). It's tempting because the intent is to get pilots into cockpits meaning that I'll likely end up in a cockpit after my current non-flying tour. So, I have two plans...
Plan A: Retire from my non-flying job in 2020, roll the bones on a major and likely(??) end up at a regional for X months before being a candidate for a major.
Plan B: Take the bonus, do a flying assignment and retire with recency in 2022 at which point I'll be more marketable for the majors.
Thoughts?
I'm an Air Force pilot with an ATP looking at career options now. I was planning on retiring at ~21yrs (2020) out of an inactive flying job, but then saw (thanks to your all's replies to my first post) how important recency plays into the equation at the majors.
So, the AF has offered guys like me a second bonus at $35k a year, which essentially would commit me out to 2022 (2 years past my current commitment). It's tempting because the intent is to get pilots into cockpits meaning that I'll likely end up in a cockpit after my current non-flying tour. So, I have two plans...
Plan A: Retire from my non-flying job in 2020, roll the bones on a major and likely(??) end up at a regional for X months before being a candidate for a major.
Plan B: Take the bonus, do a flying assignment and retire with recency in 2022 at which point I'll be more marketable for the majors.
Thoughts?
09-05-2017, 09:57 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: FDX 767 FO
Posts: 818
Nothing is guaranteed except the fact you will be locked into two more years doing whatever they want you to do. Now if that aligns with what's good for you remains to be seen.
09-05-2017, 01:30 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,527
Get out. Regional currency will be achieved in about 3 months. A year of regional flying post retirement gets you 500+ hrs.
It's a 20 yr retirement career. Last years will be $300,000 or more. Taking a $35,000 annual bonus, at the expense of 1-2 years of $300,000 along with being 500-2000 guys more junior for 20 yrs?
The hiring demand will be up, and supply is forecasted to be tighter, in the coming years. That increases the odds that an airline might take you without flight currency.
Currency at one point at "100 hrs in something at least commuter size." For some companies that's dropped away completely or to "anything". Join a flight club and start applying with 100 hrs of currency at least six months prior to retiring. Keep current, and above the 100 yrs in the last year curve, while applying. There's a thread about the timeline, and steps to take, transitioning from AD to the airlines. Search 'albieF15'. I think it's his thread.
AD guys in no flying jobs, but who were flying on the side (CFI's, etc), have gotten hired. Some non current AD guys have gotten hired. I've heard one or two airlines don't require currency for O-6 and above. That might drop lower, perhaps any retiree(?), as the supply/demand curve tightens.
Staying in doesn't add up.
It's a 20 yr retirement career. Last years will be $300,000 or more. Taking a $35,000 annual bonus, at the expense of 1-2 years of $300,000 along with being 500-2000 guys more junior for 20 yrs?
The hiring demand will be up, and supply is forecasted to be tighter, in the coming years. That increases the odds that an airline might take you without flight currency.
Currency at one point at "100 hrs in something at least commuter size." For some companies that's dropped away completely or to "anything". Join a flight club and start applying with 100 hrs of currency at least six months prior to retiring. Keep current, and above the 100 yrs in the last year curve, while applying. There's a thread about the timeline, and steps to take, transitioning from AD to the airlines. Search 'albieF15'. I think it's his thread.
AD guys in no flying jobs, but who were flying on the side (CFI's, etc), have gotten hired. Some non current AD guys have gotten hired. I've heard one or two airlines don't require currency for O-6 and above. That might drop lower, perhaps any retiree(?), as the supply/demand curve tightens.
Staying in doesn't add up.
09-05-2017, 01:32 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,704
Hello aviators and thanks in advance again for the advice...
I'm an Air Force pilot with an ATP looking at career options now. I was planning on retiring at ~21yrs (2020) out of an inactive flying job, but then saw (thanks to your all's replies to my first post) how important recency plays into the equation at the majors.
So, the AF has offered guys like me a second bonus at $35k a year, which essentially would commit me out to 2022 (2 years past my current commitment). It's tempting because the intent is to get pilots into cockpits meaning that I'll likely end up in a cockpit after my current non-flying tour. So, I have two plans...
Plan A: Retire from my non-flying job in 2020, roll the bones on a major and likely(??) end up at a regional for X months before being a candidate for a major.
Plan B: Take the bonus, do a flying assignment and retire with recency in 2022 at which point I'll be more marketable for the majors.
Thoughts?
I'm an Air Force pilot with an ATP looking at career options now. I was planning on retiring at ~21yrs (2020) out of an inactive flying job, but then saw (thanks to your all's replies to my first post) how important recency plays into the equation at the majors.
So, the AF has offered guys like me a second bonus at $35k a year, which essentially would commit me out to 2022 (2 years past my current commitment). It's tempting because the intent is to get pilots into cockpits meaning that I'll likely end up in a cockpit after my current non-flying tour. So, I have two plans...
Plan A: Retire from my non-flying job in 2020, roll the bones on a major and likely(??) end up at a regional for X months before being a candidate for a major.
Plan B: Take the bonus, do a flying assignment and retire with recency in 2022 at which point I'll be more marketable for the majors.
Thoughts?
09-05-2017, 01:32 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Petting Zoo
Posts: 2,110
Stay in if you want, don't if you don't.
I would say if you are extending solely for chance to leave current.....might not be a great plan. Not sure the program you are speaking of, but in general the AF wants rated guys to stay in...often for staff.
All things being equal, punch asap and you will get multiple offers from regionals. Pass training and fly line for a few months and you magically become very attractive to the majors.
Guys have been hired non-current as well, so don't rule it out.
What happens if you extend, and they put you in a non flying job. Would you be ok with that? Goes back to my first question.
I would say if you are extending solely for chance to leave current.....might not be a great plan. Not sure the program you are speaking of, but in general the AF wants rated guys to stay in...often for staff.
All things being equal, punch asap and you will get multiple offers from regionals. Pass training and fly line for a few months and you magically become very attractive to the majors.
Guys have been hired non-current as well, so don't rule it out.
What happens if you extend, and they put you in a non flying job. Would you be ok with that? Goes back to my first question.
09-05-2017, 02:16 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2009
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 296
You could extend for 2 years and they could give you a one year remote (flying or not...whatever) to thank you for your service. Or you could be in a "flying" job but be put in charge of (name an FGO job) and still not have the 100 in 12 that is needed to go directly to most majors. Then you wasted 2 years. Go to the regional, get current in 3 months, then be at a major within a year. Don't look back.
09-05-2017, 05:41 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: 767/757 CA
Posts: 2,737
If you can retire out of a flying gig then YES... if not depends on how you see the hiring in the future. Getting hired at a major without recent flying is a pipe dream... you'll need to go to a RJ gig for about 4-6 months ten update apps.
09-05-2017, 08:48 PM
#8
Get me outta here...
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: Boeing right seat
Posts: 1,541
Count, if you're absolutely loving what you're doing and just want it to last a few more years, then stick around.
But if you're purely looking for a strategy to go into the Majors, then I don't believe the extra 2 years in will help.
Also, won't you incur a 2 year commitment for requal? If so, that will add a few more months to your ADSC.
09-05-2017, 10:44 PM
#9
China Visa Applicant
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Midfield downwind
Posts: 1,930
Don't be one of those military folks who foolishly does backflips to avoid going to the regionals because they think it is beneath them professionally.
Yes, there is some short-term financial pain incurred by going that route, but everything else about it is a net positive professionally that will pay off big in the long game.
Yes, there is some short-term financial pain incurred by going that route, but everything else about it is a net positive professionally that will pay off big in the long game.
09-06-2017, 08:18 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,527
Don't be one of those military folks who foolishly does backflips to avoid going to the regionals because they think it is beneath them professionally.
Yes, there is some short-term financial pain incurred by going that route, but everything else about it is a net positive professionally that will pay off big in the long game.
Yes, there is some short-term financial pain incurred by going that route, but everything else about it is a net positive professionally that will pay off big in the long game.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
