Career Cross Roads

FlySooner9

FlySooner9

Well-Known Member
Feel like i am approaching a career crossroads. Do i commit to pt91 flying the rest of the way or do i try to make the jump to the majors. Here is my current situation.

Almost 28 years old. Been flying a CE-680 the last 3 years. Before that i was at a regional for 3 years and acquired about 1,000 hours of 121 time. My current gig is a simple pt 91 outfit. Just me and another pilot. We fly 250-300 hours a year. Maybe 4-5 overnights a month on average. Pay is in the low 70's. It really is a great gig and the QOL cant be beat. However....

Both owners are up there in age. Im fairly confident the job will be around for the next 5-7 years but beyond that is a pretty good question mark. Not really any room for advancement as the chief pilot is only in his 40's. Pay wont go up very much besides a small bump every 5 years.

I feel like im fairly close to maybe getting a call from a legacy airline if i were to put my apps in. The benefits i see of jumping to 121 now is getting in on the front end of hopefully this very large hiring wave. Could nearly double my pay in a few years. Hopefully after a few years have an OK QOL and a pretty stable future. Its also been my life long dream to fly for a major airline at some point in my life.

My biggest fear would be to ride my current gig until it goes away but have missed the prime window to start a career at a legacy.

So the question id like some input on is do i start pursuing a legacy career now (knowing it could very well still be a couple years before i even got a job). Or simply stick to my current gig until it goes away then deal with whatever options i have at that time? I feel foolish for even considering leaving my current job as i hardly ever work and make a liveable wage, but dont want to be stuck down the road wishing i had pulled the trigger sooner. Or constantly always having that question in my head on if i should have followed my dream.
 
Well that's the dilemma. Right now I'm not worried. However I know this job won't last forever, but probably has 7-10 years left in it. However say it ends in 10 years I've all ready missed the boat at the majors.
 
Unless you need to stay I'd get out now to find something better. Depending on your commute, the regionals aren't even a bad pay hit for you now.
 
FlySooner9 said:
Well that's the dilemma. Right now I'm not worried. However I know this job won't last forever, but probably has 7-10 years left in it. However say it ends in 10 years I've all ready missed the boat at the majors.
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And lost 10 years for seniority as well. That's why I am applying now. I'm not too worried about my position going away I am more worried about the lack of movement in a single aircraft flight department.
 
I'm sure you could slide right into a 787 left seat gig at one of the Norwegian carriers US domiciles 10 years from now.....


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Finny said:
Unless you need to stay I'd get out now to find something better. Depending on your commute, the regionals aren't even a bad pay hit for you now.
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The regionals are hardly what I'd call a better choice. With his times, he could at least apply to a place like Spirit or Frontier while waiting on a major, if not able to get on with a major now.
 
Yeah regionals are out of the question, unless I were to be unemployed tomorrow. I'm thinking I'll apply and however long it takes for a call and a successful interview so be it. In the mean time I'll enjoy my current gig.
 
FlySooner9 said:
Yeah regionals are out of the question, unless I were to be unemployed tomorrow. I'm thinking I'll apply and however long it takes for a call and a successful interview so be it. In the mean time I'll enjoy my current gig.
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I get that for QOL. Just commenting on how it's not a huge financial hit it once was.
 
FlySooner9 said:
I feel like im fairly close to maybe getting a call from a legacy airline if i were to put my apps in.
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There are many very well qualified people out there not getting called. If you want to get called you have to put in an application, but putting in an application that put you ahead of others out there that don't have an app in. Past that its a crap shoot as to who gets called. My advice is everyone applying is a Pilot, what makes you different is things outside of being a pilot.
 
As of right now you don't even have a decision to make. So apply and you may wait 5 years to get a call, whom knows. But right now you have what all of us corporate pilots deal with, it's called the unknown. I'm telling you, you can't hedge against it.
 
Let's substitute major airline pilot with some other childhood dream career; doctor, musician, porn star... If the opportunity rose to get into your dream field, would you pass on it now, and try for it later or would you start making the efforts to make that happen yesterday?
 
FlySooner9 said:
Its also been my life long dream to fly for a major airline at some point in my life.
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This is the answer to your question right here. If it's your goal to fly for a major airline, then start applying. As others said, it's better, and easier, to find a job when you already have one.

The way I see it, if you now have a good job that meets your needs, you have the luxury of taking your time and looking for the right job. Your back is not against a wall, and it also means you're not an empty vessel when you go to job interviews.
 
I am in an almost exact same position as you, it took some soul searching and a little bit of convincing myself but moving from the 91/135 world to 121 is what I have decided to pursue. I'm still working on my Bachelors, but have an Associates, attended a job fair, and things are happening. If you want to make the jump now is the time. Apply now, and take the opportunities that come your way.
 
If I were you I'd definitely be applying to at least see if you have a choice to make.

Also, while you might have a great QOL, low 70s is pretty bad for a sovereign.
 
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