I feel like I'm leaving money on the table. Help please.

L

Leer-n-pilot

Well-Known Member
Basics: 3000+ TT, 1000 multi, 600MTPIC part 135 flying a Lear 35. ATP, BS, and good work history.

My pay scale will top out soon and I don't want to move since I could easily commute from where I currently live. It just seems like the corporate/part 91 world is falling behind on wages and I'd hate to miss a chance to earn some good money for my family.

Regionals are out since I can't feed a family on those pay scales.

Are there any majors that would even look at me considering my relative "low time" or should I just grind it out for 5 more years part 135?
 
I think you should absolutely apply at any major you want to. And just update your application regularly and work hard to network with people from the places you want to work. If they call, that's great and if not you're no worse off.
 
Yeah with those numbers and some genuine networking, you should get a look from the majors (maybe the lower tier ones initially - JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, etc)

YMMV, Objects in mirror are closer then they appear, Rinse-Lather-Repeat.
 
You'll never know for sure unless you plug applications. You may be surprised, and it costs nothing (or very little) except your time to jump through the hoops.
 
ozziecat35 said:
Yeah with those numbers and some genuine networking, you should get a look from the majors (maybe the lower tier ones initially - JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit, etc)

YMMV, Objects in mirror are closer then they appear, Rinse-Lather-Repeat.
Click to expand...

Frontier and Spirit are Majors now?

(this is how holy wars get started, right?)
 
Or Mediums? If the Regionals are the dollar menu, then the Frontier's / Spirits's of the world are what? Extra value meal?
 
If he can't afford to feed his family on regional money, he certainly can't afford to do so on F9 money either... But then again, only a handful of regional are terrible in pay these days.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
If he can't afford to feed his family on regional money, he certainly can't afford to do so on F9 money either... But then again, only a handful of regional are terrible in pay these days.
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First year is still pretty rough...especially compared to what I assume he's making now.
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
If he can't afford to feed his family on regional money, he certainly can't afford to do so on F9 money either... But then again, only a handful of regional are terrible in pay these days.
Click to expand...
Curious how you figure that, I did a little comparison and while it's not a big difference first year after that point even the F9 pay scale is pretty significantly higher than the regionals I looked at.
 
Leer-n-pilot said:
Basics: 3000+ TT, 1000 multi, 600MTPIC part 135 flying a Lear 35. ATP, BS, and good work history.

My pay scale will top out soon and I don't want to move since I could easily commute from where I currently live. It just seems like the corporate/part 91 world is falling behind on wages and I'd hate to miss a chance to earn some good money for my family.

Regionals are out since I can't feed a family on those pay scales.

Are there any majors that would even look at me considering my relative "low time" or should I just grind it out for 5 more years part 135?
Click to expand...

What happens in 5 years?
 
Roger Roger said:
Curious how you figure that, I did a little comparison and while it's not a big difference first year after that point even the F9 pay scale is pretty significantly higher than the regionals I looked at.
Click to expand...

Because if you can't afford to survive year 1, the rest of the years after that are meaningless...
 
Leer-n-pilot said:
Regionals are out since I can't feed a family on those pay scales.

Are there any majors that would even look at me considering my relative "low time" or should I just grind it out for 5 more years part 135?
Click to expand...

Like the others have said, network and put in your apps and good luck...

With that said, I have to reply to your regionals comment. It is a tough pill to swallow, but it might pay off in the long run. Lots of pilots have had to take that hit. I had to take a 50% paycut once I left my regional for the airline I'm flying now. I know a lot of pilots at my previous airline that said, 'I cant make the jump, i cant afford the paycut'. Well, I'm pretty sure, I made more money in my 3rd full year here, than a lot of senior Captains I left behind. And my pay will only go up from here and possibly even double once I upgrade. I got almost 30 years ahead of me at that much higher payrate. I'm not saying this to brag or talk about how large my $#&^$ is. But to show that in this industry, its just what it takes sometimes. You can sit here and say I cant live off regional pay for a couple years (some regionals are paying attractive bonuses), meanwhile, you are losing longevity/TPIC/121 time/etc...to make you a better candidate for a major or a legacy.
 
I took a six-figure paycut once in my life. It was difficult but we made it through it. My income now isn't paltry but facts are facts; 121 pay tops out better than 135.

I appreciate what you're saying but I just can't do that to my little one again. Tightening my belt can be done, hanging myself with it is another.

My goal is to have one job which allows me to "off" when I'm off. There are other skills I can monetize to bring in additional income but that's plan C.
 
Your quals/backround are almost identical to mine (save for some TT). I've been to 3 job fairs this year, multiple LORs and every single recruiter for a major asked me, "so, how come you never flew for an airline?" When I asked if that was hurting my chances, they all said, "well no, not really" in their nicest voice possible. I have yet to be called. No 121 time isn't a thing until it's a thing.

It's certainly not impossible to get to where you want to go without having any previous 121 time, people make the jump all the time (you know, your one buddy who knows that other guy who had a friend that did it) but looking at it from a pure numbers perspective, you're putting yourself in a much smaller statistical category. I liken it to a casino; where can I play to get the best odds to win?

Biting the proverbial bullet is never an easy thing to do, especially when you have other responsibilities in your life, but just realize that it might take a little longer for you to get there, which in your case sounds like you are able to do. Unfortunately in this business, waiting costs you money and QOL. Sure everybody is hiring right now. 5 years from now? Well, let's just say you'd have better luck at that casino than trying to figure that one out....
 
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