Risk Aversions And Your Career

As I've said many a time:

1. There are no guarantees.
2. Life isn't fair.
3. Timing is everything
4. Seniority has its privileges

Remember that, live by it, and you'll never be surprised.
 
Sharks? Probably not sharks, but Ebola at my airline is a big threat! :)

(Actually...)
 
I have slow played my career on purpose. Back in 05-06 I turned down two jobs with regional airlines with the promise of "quick upgrade" because I wanted something different for my career. Boy am I glad I did because every single person I went to school with who went to a regional got furloughed when the SHTF. Instead of being out of work with no options I just kept plugging along building my time and adding advanced ratings.

That hiring boom always seemed too good to be true and it was. Instead of sitting here with no job and no "real" experience I took a bit of extra time and really built some practical experience. I've heard countless peers say they would love to have a certain job if they only had enough PIC time. I'll never have that problem. Instead of being a gear monkey my first "airline" jobs have been as PIC making the decisions and having my six on the line with no one else to blame. The best part is, even though I've only flown pistons I've still made more than most regional FO's make in their first three years.

I think the key to doing this right is setting a goal and doing what it takes to meet that goal. Sure those jets might be shiny but you can't buy a burger with turbine SIC. It's been a long road and it's not over yet but I'm well along the way. It hasn't always been pretty! I lost a pretty cush job because of my unwillingness to do something I thought was unsafe but I can look at myself with a great deal of pride in what I've accomplished and the people I've met along the way.

Of it all, the friends I've made are probably the thing I'm most proud of. This is a great industry if you decide early on what is important to you.
 
That is why I am switching over to ATC and be a flight instructor at my leisure by teaching who I want and not who I need to in order to get the experience needed to fly a regional and be kicked in the ass. Yes, ATC also have risks but flying far outweighs that. I have potential to make a six figure salary in my 20s... i can't really complain to that. Flying is only fun when it is a hobby. When it's a job, it becomes a chore.
 
I climb a rickety-ass ladder with my bags to work everyday. I'm scared of heights.

How's that for risk aversion?
 
esa17 said:
Sure those jets might be shiny but you can't buy a burger with turbine SIC.
Click to expand...

Well...I agree to an extent but I don't have a lick of turbine PIC. The turbine time I do have (all 600 hours of it) is SIC, but that combined with a couple years worth of 402 time worked out pretty well. Granted, I don't work for Southwest, but hey, it was a step up for sure.

You know this as well as everyone else, but networking is king. Always will be. :beer:
 
Doug Taylor said:
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.

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.
Click to expand...

I just had to boil that down. Seriously, don't be impulsive with you decisions, but don't rest on your laurels. Think long-term
 
Heights SUCK! :)

I'll tell you, home ownership helps that a little just like living in Arizona has somewhat cured my arachnophobia.

( Yes, yes, Seagull, I know it's an irrational fear! :) )
 
How I'm rolling so far:

-The grass isn't always greener.

-If you're going to make a move...make it a strong move. No lateral moves.

-I'm not working there if I'm not making enough to pay my bills.

-Sometimes you have to make sacrifices, but it's always good to shoot for a good quality of life.

-It will happen when it happens. You can't just force it. Sometimes you -have to be patient and wait on the good opportunities. Don't wait forever though.

-Always be looking.

-Network Network Network.
 
Doug Taylor said:
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:

  • 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.
Click to expand...

Excellent post. I contemplate these aviation careers scenarios all the time. Im going to save this to a word doc.
 
It sucks, but I've found that the moment it feels like it would be more trouble to move on, than just suck it up, and stay put... It's time to go.

That being said, given the current market right now, I wouldn't jump at the first job open. I want to wait and see how most of these mergers, age 65 etc all boil down.

I know senior guys at CAL who are 60+. the consensus there seems to be : With the merger If i can get a good package to leave now, I'm gone. If thats true, than the new UAL/CAL might not be a bad place to get on with in a year or two.

American could be a good gig with an old pilot group as well etc... It's no disrespect to Airtran etc, but if they offered me a job right now, I prob. wouldn't go. Jetblue - yes... but only b/c of their bases. Otherwise I want to wait for something with more options etc.

It's important to weigh your options, and plan your course carefully if possible. I know all plans fall apart eventually, but if you enter a job with a set of goals to work towards, you will find it pretty decent once you get there.
 
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