squib

Blah blah blah. Says half the people flying planes as a career. Did you not realize what you signed up for? Apparently it's breaking news to some people that you aren't home every night working as an airline pilot.

For the people who get it, you can work your airline job half the month, and make another profession on the side to occupy your time off. Win win situation, if you chose to do that. Or you can sit at home, drink miller high life, and complain on the internet. Life's tough.

glassnpowder98

I know what I signed up for, but it wasn't supposed to take two years to get more than 11-12 days off and end up in a commute 2/3rds of the way across the country. But my original post wasn't even about that, it was about responding to his quote about having fun while flying. You can't crank a jet with 50-76 paying passengers in on a short approach without either scaring everyone in the back or the plane telling the safety committee about it.

To me, at least, that stuff is fun flying. 95% of flying at the airlines is repetitive monotony. The only time it gets fun is when the wind picks up or you're shooting approaches to minimums. Look, I'm not complaining about the job. It's a lot better than sitting behind a desk (I did that for 4 years). But for the most part it's not "fun" flying. Finally, if you knew me, you'd know this forum and Miller High Life are the last thing I'm doing on my days off.

doctorwho

That's what I'm doing. I'm not looking at the flying thing as a long term thing...something to do for a while until I get another executive job (which may take a year or longer based on the current environment). Know that seems crazy to many on the list, but that is what happens sometimes in industry at the more senior levels, hence my questions about what might be a good thing to do (charter vs. regional and which regionals). May be heresy, but I'm honestly not looking for a job that will let me move up to the majors...I'm looking for a job that will get me a bit of money and let me do some flying until the other thing sorts out (and yes, I own(ed)...for sale now...a phenomenal plane with my VP salary---a very nice, capable twin turboprop...was actually looking at upgrading to a jet when the layoff happened)...so the job stability thing is a reality everywhere.

In my old job I averaged 110 hours a week at work (not counting travel time), traveled about 3 weeks a month (most of it international) and generally flew commercial about 300,000 miles a year. Yes I was paid VERY well for what I did, but that's the nature of that kind of job...people pay a lot because not only do you have a particular skillset (and are good at it), but because there are very few people with that skillset available. When company needs that kind of thing, they are willing to pay...especially when having a person like that positively impacts profitability. I think that's a big part of the reason pilot salaries are so low...reality is that there are more people who would like to be pilots than there are pilot jobs, so a true supply and demand situation. Yes, some people walk away because of the low pay/lousy working conditions, but there are plenty of people happy to do that just so they can fly. Have a good friend who retired from the Navy shortly before I did...P-3 guy with about 8,000 hours multi turboprop time. Problem was the only job offer he got for flying in the airlines was American Eagle...about about 20K a year (this was 15 years ago). He was a 45 year old with a kid in college and a mortgage who had been making over 5 times that in the Navy. So he took an executive job with Giant Foods in FL, bought a Baron and never looked back...

glassnpowder98

Sorry to hear about your misfortune and hopefully it works out for you sooner rather than later. With all that said, I think the regionals would be a complete eye opener for someone like yourself who was on top and then will become just a pawn in this regional chess game. You really need to ask yourself if getting the chance to fly a jet is worth the hassle of putting up with being a slave to scheduling for a year plus. For me, the light at the end of the tunnel is making enough money to pay for my expensive hobbies that I'll one day get to enjoy with half the month off.

RedGuy

In your case then I would go do the charter gig. You'll make more short term and have more control.

AirRational

I know I'm late to this thread, having just joined the forum but my situation is quite similar to doctorwho's. What did you end up doing, and how has it worked out?

I am even a older than you (58) and now retiring from a relatively cushy and high paying software job but with 2000+ PIC and 800+ MEL I am considering either a regional or local part 135 (8 on, 6 off). The 135 appears to fit my QOL profile (sideline software work to supplement the low pilot pay, still travel in my own plane, etc.). I wouldn't have much time to move from the regional to a major but a good friend flies for SkyWest and seems to love it.

I am also reading Dick Karl's articles but would really like to hear how it worked out for you.

doctorwho

I ended up not taking the airline job. Was making enough money consulting to make it a toss up. Would go 6-8 weeks without work and be ready to bite the bullet and then I'd get another short term consulting gig (2-3 weeks) where I would make more than I would make in 3 months as a regional pilot. Ultimately ended up joining a firm as a senior principal (bringing my consulting work in) with a starting salary that is more than a senior mainline carrier Captain makes after 20 years (before bonus). I did pick up some short term co-pilot and charter gigs over the 18 months or so to keep my flying hand in, but it was minimal income.

Do I regret not going with the regional flying job 18 months ago? No. I think that if I had done so I would have been unable to do the consulting work that ultimately got me back into the job I'm in now. That said, it would have been nice to fly for a year and pick up 800 hours or so of additional turbine time. In the long term, I think my decision was right for me as the financial implications over the next few years are tilted strongly in my favor, but that's always the case with flying as a job...which is why it is really hard for us older folks to make the jump.

atpcliff

Other options besides regionals/-135:
Maybe you should look at an operator that flies you to the plane and back, and flies charter? You can get off about half the month immediately, and you don't have to worry about commuting. Kalitta, NetJets, FlexJet come to mind. I'm at Atlas. Other, probably less desirable options that are similar, are Omni, ATI, Travel Mgmt. I don't recommend Southern at all.

atpcliff

A lot of guys I know in the companies I posted about, above, have a business(es) on the side...