airforcedude

Hello all! I am yet another air force pilot who is interested in getting hired on at the airlines. My commitment is up in 2013 and I keep going back and forth about getting out vs staying in.
Having young children, I am wondering what the quality of life is actually like as an airline pilot. Will my time away affect my kids that much in the long term? Do the pilots actually enjoy their jobs?
The only real reason I would stay in the air force would be for the pension/bonus/medical, which all seem to be in question with the recent congressional proposals and lack of money in the government.

rickair7777

Check out this thread....

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...f-stay-go.html

As far as QOL and kids, I feel that as a lineholder the airline is a net positive. I'm gone a fair amount, but when I'm home I can spend days on end with my kids, as opposed to the average upper/middle manager who will arrive home each day late, tired, and stressed out. Even little ones seem OK with it once they figure out the battle rhythm.

Of course if you are commuting to reserve, that's a different story.

I enjoy most aspects of actually flying. I enjoy drinking my coffee on a quiet climb-out with the sun just lighting up the horizon. But I didn't enjoy getting up at 0430, two times zones ahead of where I live, and doing a preflight in 5 degree F / 35 knot winds. Most of us mil types can hack that kind of stuff though.

Flamer

Read the very last sentence you wrote 10 times out loud.
I was in your boat.....don't stay in for those reasons. USAFR....you'll love it.

MongoC5

Why totally separate? If you end your commitment at least go to the guard or reserve. It is a great cushion for when/if (nothing is ever certain with the airlines) you get that pink slip furlough notice. Plus it keeps you building points and staying in touch with the military. You get a crappy airline schedule for the month, offset some of that with Guard/Reserve work to make your life that much better. Good luck, in the end it always works out, just depends what you make of it!

Mongo

KennHC130

AF Dude, As I said in that other mentioned thread, I did it back in '99. Only mistake I made was not getting in the Guard/Reserve as a fall back option. I was free and clear and loving the airline gig right up until a bunch of idiots started flying our jets into tall and funny shaped buildings. Almost instantly, no job, money, medical...just a promise to call me back when it all straightened out. Well that call has still not come after almost 10 friggin' years (Thanks AMR ). To say I got lucky (Returned to AD and now have a retirement) is a HUGE understatement, and not a gamble I would encourage anyone to take. I was just plain arrogant and stupid. I encourage you to get out, go Guard/Reserves, commute to only one (None if able) and enjoy the life with your wife and kids.

Best of luck Dude!

Elvis90

I concur with all of the above. FYI, Delta loves military pilots and will be hiring big time over the next 20 years.

rickair7777

Regarding that, I doubt there will be major retroactive changes affecting those who are already in the military, especially those with > ten years. Long term there may be erosions in medical benefits (increased co-pay most likely) and loss of incidentals which most of us don't use (commissaries), but I think the 20-year retirement pay system will likely remain at reasonable levels and the core medical benefit (comprehensive coverage with a low annual out-pocket cap) will be retained...at least for those who are already in.

While we do not have a fixed, binding contract rather whatever congress choses to give us, the historical precedent has been that significant changes to military retirement pay take affect only to those who join the service after the legislation is passed.

I think if it gets really bad, military retirements will be the last to go after federal civil service retirements. They CANNOT cut our retirements and leave the civil servants whole, and there are HUGE political hurdles protecting the servants.

But now might be a good time to join one of the military officer associations which lobbies Washington on behalf of our compensation package...

scottpw25

thanks for the replies guys. It's going to be a tough decision. I guess I should mention that another reason I would stay in is to support my family. The job security is the best, and it seems people are afraid to get out because of it.
It seems like (from reading these forums) most pilots are happier flying for the airlines. I am wondering if that is mostly because they were getting screwed with deployments in the military.
While I get deployed much less (and it's not to the desert), I am just tired of the "rat race" of self-promotion and working in an environment of people constantly trying to make themselves look better than their peers on paper. I would definitely try to secure a reserve slot but I hear they are doing away with many of their good deals and that part-timers mostly likely will only get their min hours.
It's definitely a tough decision and not to be taken likely, especially with small children in the home.
Another question: I have around 1500 flight hours right now...however, it's all in fighters, T-38's, and my current airframe which happens to be a bomber that is stationed at a single base located in the middle of the country. Will these hours be compared to the thousands of heavy hours for competition to the airlines?

Thanks again guys!

BDGERJMN

Plenty of threads here in the military section to search and sift through. My .02...don't stay in or get out for monitary reasons. Stay in or get out for quality of life reasons. I would also tell you that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I got out in August 2008, at the height of 'no hiring'. I was 30 days away from my last day on active duty with no job, no reserve gig lined up and 4 month old twins...no stress there. 2.5 yrs later I have a very nice GS(formerly Contractor) position and a reserve flying gig all in the same locale...I'm very lucky and very fortunate and have the QOL I left the navy for. I wouldn't have that in the airlines until I gained alot of seniority, depending on who I could have been hired with and I still would have had to commute to one or the other. It worked for me and I get the flying taste in my reserve job.

Bottom line, do what's right for you and your family and your overall quality of life, after all that is the thread's title...the hardest part of the whole decision is walking away from the security blanket you have now. I don't envy your decision but it's a decision that only you can make in your situation.

Best of luck

Pakagecheck

Gotta say, I agree with BDGERJMN... the grass is always greener on the other side(or over the septic tank). Gotta do what's right for you. I bailed really early and really enjoy what I get to do. over 15 years in and haven't missed a Santa's delivery yet(knock on wood). The airlines paid the bills while the guard fed the ego. I just didn't want to be at the end a career and no fallback so that is why I went early. Did the active duty thing, the GS thing(very short) the traditional guard and the airline thing. All of them have their benefits. I really enjoy the time off the airlines allow and not doing the 9-5 thing. I have a lot more time with the ankle biters now than before. That's just me. The only problem with being a GS at a fighter squadron would be the physical problems. Flying till you are 55 in a high G airplane takes it's toll. A lot of neck/back surgeries and mucho deployments. IMHO go ugly early.... beat the crowd.
You can still get some type of military retirement along the way. Good luck