criticalaoa
Well-Known Member
I’m currently a CFI approaching ATP mins within 4-6 months. I have a CJO from a regional, although I have yet to accept a class date. I’m having a hard time deciding where I want to end up within the next year. I’ve got friends at the regional/majors pushing me to go 121. They insist the upgrade times and therefore QOL is actually decent. 12-18(sometimes more) days off a month, and the ability to make 80-90k as a captain after spending a year or two as an FO. Then you have the potential opportunities with the majors shortly after. I also hear from other sources how horrible 121 flying, and QOL is, especially for those with a family. Im married with young kids. he wife is all for the airlines, because she envisions me making 6 figures and flying for free one day.
The alternative option is to fly light twins for a small, but growing 135 operator. Home every night, although work days are long(especially in the summer), and only one day off a week. Single pilot, New England weather, so lots of low altitude IMC. I almost feel like it’s a right of passage, and a really cool challenge, different then blasting through the weather in a jet, and inspecting the overhead half the day(I’m sort of kidding because flying a jet also seems amazing). Pay will be a bit more than a 1st year FO at a regional, but I expect it will top out around 70-75, which I assume will take at least a few years. The wife figures, what good is it being home every night if you don’t get home until late, and your wiped out. At that point your living for your 1 day off, which will never be a weekend. In comparison, at a 121, although you’ll be completely gone half the month, you’ll also be off and home(assuming you don’t commute) the other half the month.
The alternative option is to fly light twins for a small, but growing 135 operator. Home every night, although work days are long(especially in the summer), and only one day off a week. Single pilot, New England weather, so lots of low altitude IMC. I almost feel like it’s a right of passage, and a really cool challenge, different then blasting through the weather in a jet, and inspecting the overhead half the day(I’m sort of kidding because flying a jet also seems amazing). Pay will be a bit more than a 1st year FO at a regional, but I expect it will top out around 70-75, which I assume will take at least a few years. The wife figures, what good is it being home every night if you don’t get home until late, and your wiped out. At that point your living for your 1 day off, which will never be a weekend. In comparison, at a 121, although you’ll be completely gone half the month, you’ll also be off and home(assuming you don’t commute) the other half the month.