I got an email from someone wanting to move up the food chain a couple days ago.
He wants to move up the food chain to a different carrier but the possibility of sitting reserve on the smallest piece of equipment for years and years isn't appealing and asks more or less "What would I do?"
This is very common question.
The concept of a 'safe harbor' in aviation is false security, there's nowhere to run to, baby!
Nowhere to hide... (ooooo oooo ooooh)
Seriously. If you have an opportunity to move up the food chain, move up the food chain if it's what's consistent with your ultimate goal in aviation. Regionals are not safe, and if you think the regional you got hired at 21 is going to be around 44 more years when you're going to retire, you might be a little delirious.
Majors and LCC's aren't necessarily safe havens either, there are plenty of furloughed pilots from airlines that stated "welcome to the last job you'll ever have, here's your 747-400 bid but we might need you on the 777 in the interim"
Ask yourself:
I have a lot of friends that felt comfortable at Skyway because it was a good company, in their home town and they were going to be able to move up to Midwest Express and fly 717's. 10 minute drive to work, many of their co-workers have been their friends since elementary school. Cheese 'n rice. Don't add sugar to the iced tea because it's already delish.
At any airline you go to, you will be at the risk of furlough, dissolution, acquisition, merger, bankruptcy, loss of contract (if you're a capacity provider), etc. If you wait until the planets align, everything seems perfect, the pool finally reached the right temperature for you to step in, you're already at the back end of the wave and you will be on reserve, in the most challenging city, on the smallest aircraft and potentially swirling around that proverbial drain.
Look at any airline that you want to be and the people highest on the seniority list on the biggest equipment were generally people that make a risk.
"I want to fly A380's for FDX!"
Well, for a long period of time people didn't want to fly boxes in the middle of the night. They wanted the glamor of passenger aviation. The people that are in a position to bid A380's when they arrive are people that chose to go against conventional wisdom (at the time) and take the opportunity. Now it's one of the top five jobs in aviation.
"I want to fly 747's for UPS!"
The conventional wisdom at the time, much like above, was that they worked their pilots like truck drivers and the hours of operation were hard on a lot of people so many left for greener pastures. Again, one of the top five jobs in aviation.
"I want to fly 737's for SWA!"
Until the early 2000's, the conventional wisdom was that they "just flew 737s" and "who wants to do that" for the rest of their careers. Of course, another top five job in aviation.
Hell, people thought I was an idiot for going to Delta because I would be a 10 year L1011 second officer, if I was lucky and senior enough at the point because the real growth was at United Airlines and I'd be a 747-400 FO my freshman year, in SFO and I could save money by living with my folks and be a millionaire before I knew it.
I could go on and on but I think you guys get the point.
Flying is risky.
The best opportunities are always coupled with risk.
Always.
Opportunity is not going to knock at your door and say, "Hey! here's the perfect, risk-free opportunity! Your limousine is out front, loaded with Johnny Walker Blue Label and lovely ladies from the strip club, we'll get your bag, run on out there settle yourself in and we'll drive you to ground school sir! Ah ah ah! We'll get those bags for you."
Sometimes the risk in waiting until the water seems absolutely perfect is being on the bad end of the wave, so now you are at risk of furlough and swirling around the drain every economic downturn.
On the other hand, sometimes the risk of jumping hastily without looking at all the details can be equally as ruinous to your career ambitions.
Choose intelligently. Yes, it's a craps table where the shooter can roll a 7 at any time, but if you've got money on the table, play to succeed.
He wants to move up the food chain to a different carrier but the possibility of sitting reserve on the smallest piece of equipment for years and years isn't appealing and asks more or less "What would I do?"
This is very common question.
The concept of a 'safe harbor' in aviation is false security, there's nowhere to run to, baby!
Nowhere to hide... (ooooo oooo ooooh)Seriously. If you have an opportunity to move up the food chain, move up the food chain if it's what's consistent with your ultimate goal in aviation. Regionals are not safe, and if you think the regional you got hired at 21 is going to be around 44 more years when you're going to retire, you might be a little delirious.
Majors and LCC's aren't necessarily safe havens either, there are plenty of furloughed pilots from airlines that stated "welcome to the last job you'll ever have, here's your 747-400 bid but we might need you on the 777 in the interim"
Ask yourself:
- Where do I want to be in 20 years?
- Does this opportunity move me toward that goal?
I have a lot of friends that felt comfortable at Skyway because it was a good company, in their home town and they were going to be able to move up to Midwest Express and fly 717's. 10 minute drive to work, many of their co-workers have been their friends since elementary school. Cheese 'n rice. Don't add sugar to the iced tea because it's already delish.
At any airline you go to, you will be at the risk of furlough, dissolution, acquisition, merger, bankruptcy, loss of contract (if you're a capacity provider), etc. If you wait until the planets align, everything seems perfect, the pool finally reached the right temperature for you to step in, you're already at the back end of the wave and you will be on reserve, in the most challenging city, on the smallest aircraft and potentially swirling around that proverbial drain.
Look at any airline that you want to be and the people highest on the seniority list on the biggest equipment were generally people that make a risk.
"I want to fly A380's for FDX!"
Well, for a long period of time people didn't want to fly boxes in the middle of the night. They wanted the glamor of passenger aviation. The people that are in a position to bid A380's when they arrive are people that chose to go against conventional wisdom (at the time) and take the opportunity. Now it's one of the top five jobs in aviation.
"I want to fly 747's for UPS!"
The conventional wisdom at the time, much like above, was that they worked their pilots like truck drivers and the hours of operation were hard on a lot of people so many left for greener pastures. Again, one of the top five jobs in aviation.
"I want to fly 737's for SWA!"
Until the early 2000's, the conventional wisdom was that they "just flew 737s" and "who wants to do that" for the rest of their careers. Of course, another top five job in aviation.
Hell, people thought I was an idiot for going to Delta because I would be a 10 year L1011 second officer, if I was lucky and senior enough at the point because the real growth was at United Airlines and I'd be a 747-400 FO my freshman year, in SFO and I could save money by living with my folks and be a millionaire before I knew it.
I could go on and on but I think you guys get the point.
Flying is risky.
The best opportunities are always coupled with risk.
Always.
Opportunity is not going to knock at your door and say, "Hey! here's the perfect, risk-free opportunity! Your limousine is out front, loaded with Johnny Walker Blue Label and lovely ladies from the strip club, we'll get your bag, run on out there settle yourself in and we'll drive you to ground school sir! Ah ah ah! We'll get those bags for you."
Sometimes the risk in waiting until the water seems absolutely perfect is being on the bad end of the wave, so now you are at risk of furlough and swirling around the drain every economic downturn.
On the other hand, sometimes the risk of jumping hastily without looking at all the details can be equally as ruinous to your career ambitions.
Choose intelligently. Yes, it's a craps table where the shooter can roll a 7 at any time, but if you've got money on the table, play to succeed.
