Am I nuts?

Roger Roger said:
I absolutely am not a “I had to cheat death flying POS Cherokees so you should too!!!” Person but I do think that when you’ve got someone like the OP and all the 2008 or even 9/11 vets are trying to educate them on history and why they’re crazy, it might be a good idea to listen
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I apologize if I came across the wrong way.. like I said earlier, I had a lot of dumb luck with timing. And the reason I haven’t left my current place is the assumption the music will stop again soon.

I too joined this site around 2008, I just don’t really ever post. I came into the industry expecting a much worse career trajectory.

The thing I hate the most is when older pilots just assume I’m oblivious to history, or wish me a harder time, because of my age.
 

“When life hands you lemons, just say eff the lemons and bail.”​


- Paul Rudd. Words to live by.
 
podrick said:
I apologize if I came across the wrong way.. like I said earlier, I had a lot of dumb luck with timing. And the reason I haven’t left my current place is the assumption the music will stop again soon.

I too joined this site around 2008, I just don’t really ever post. I came into the industry expecting a much worse career trajectory.

The thing I hate the most is when older pilots just assume I’m oblivious to history, or wish me a harder time, because of my age.
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Was hard to tell from the original what kind of age group you were, and I didn’t happen to stalk your profile.

That said, you did ask us if you were nuts 🙂
 
podrick said:
I apologize if I came across the wrong way.. like I said earlier, I had a lot of dumb luck with timing. And the reason I haven’t left my current place is the assumption the music will stop again soon.

I too joined this site around 2008, I just don’t really ever post. I came into the industry expecting a much worse career trajectory.

The thing I hate the most is when older pilots just assume I’m oblivious to history, or wish me a harder time, because of my age.
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Yeah, it’s exhausting. You’re super lucky to be at a legacy, but also you’re •ed because the next unprecedented world event is around the corner!

You can’t aspire for a better situation, because the people before you had it worse. But did the ones before them have it better? When were those good old days?

Good luck.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Makes them less interesting to talk to though.

"So what did you do before this?"

"E175 at Skywest for 11 months."

"And before that?"

"I was a CFI for about 6 months."

"Oh... so, do you like... stuff? Uh... do you live near the airport?"
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Dude I loled so hard.

You win my 🏆 for most real, funniest, yet sobering post of 23.
 
podrick said:
I apologize if I came across the wrong way.. like I said earlier, I had a lot of dumb luck with timing. And the reason I haven’t left my current place is the assumption the music will stop again soon.

I too joined this site around 2008, I just don’t really ever post. I came into the industry expecting a much worse career trajectory.

The thing I hate the most is when older pilots just assume I’m oblivious to history, or wish me a harder time, because of my age.
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Is there anything about your current position you just really dont like? Company just doesnt fit? Crews are terrible? Career progression? Or is it totally the commute and your like of ORD?
 
ZapBrannigan said:
Makes them less interesting to talk to though.

"So what did you do before this?"

"E175 at Skywest for 11 months."

"And before that?"

"I was a CFI for about 6 months."

"Oh... so, do you like... stuff? Uh... do you live near the airport?"
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Is SWA really hiring guys with that low time/experience?
 
FlyinSol0 said:
Yeah, it’s exhausting. You’re super lucky to be at a legacy, but also you’re •ed because the next unprecedented world event is around the corner!

You can’t aspire for a better situation, because the people before you had it worse. But did the ones before them have it better? When were those good old days?

Good luck.
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There is at least a little bit of irony when this topic comes up that the top 100ish on our seniority list were hired in their early 20’s.

Kingairer said:
Is there anything about your current position you just really dont like? Company just doesnt fit? Crews are terrible? Career progression? Or is it totally the commute and your like of ORD?
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I think I’m fairly set now on not leaving. I really like it here, only time I haven’t felt welcome is when the CA starts a trip with “well gee, did you know other airlines are in ORD”.

Even if I don’t move, I’ve done the commute to DTW and MSP and it never bothered me then. I think I just shot myself in the foot by commuting to NYC for international flying.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
If you can fog a mirror and identify a 737 on the ramp two out of three tries you’re in.
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In my limited CA time at my major, every FO has either been a jet captain at a 121/135/91 operation, or prior military. This upgrade has been worlds easier than my regional upgrade. I would think your “probationary regional FO” who got hired at SWA was the exception not the rule.
 
Ian_J said:
And that’s a good thing, right? It’s good that the industry is doing well it’s good that new pilots haven’t had to endure crappy times. This is good for them and for the rest of us, right? Right?
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You'd think people would be happy that they're rapidly gaining seniority at the majors with all these pilots who haven't endured hard times yet coming in under them.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
You 08’ guys are cute.

When I started in the mid 90s, the competitive minimums were 1500 hours, 500 multi-engine for the privilege of paying $10,000 for your training to fly a 19 seat turboprop with steam gauges, no autopilot, no cockpit door, lav, coffee maker, or FA for about $13,000 per year.

If you wanted to go to one of the premier regionals that didn’t require PFT, like Piedmont or Allegheny flying the Dash 8, then you could up those requirements to 2500 hours total time and 1000+ multi engine.

To build the time I flew cancelled checks 5 nights a week in a Piper Lance or a Bonanza until I was finally able to transition to a Cessna 402 flying Airborne Express stuff. It paid $90 per night, which I thought was the most money anybody could make. I didn’t know how I would spend it all! The commuters were a substantial pay cut after that.

And then, right about the time we grabbed the golden ring and moved up to the majors… BAM! 9/11, age 65, and a 7 year furlough.
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IMG_2143.gif
 
podrick said:
Even if I don’t move, I’ve done the commute to DTW and MSP and it never bothered me then. I think I just shot myself in the foot by commuting to NYC for international flying.
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My impression of the CHI-NYC shuffle is that it’s really not terrible. It’s a bit of a haul compared to the two closer bases of DTW (which you could conceivably drive if you had to) and MSP (which is itself an over-subscribed commute of the likes of PHX-LAX), but it’s not as ludicrous as e.g. DFW-NYC.

I have yet to 1) not make it home when a flight was available and 2) not make it to work, though I have availed myself of the UTCP and been positive-spaced.

Incidentally, my answer to “gosh, there are other airlines in Chicago“ usually goes something like “yeah, and they never called me despite having an application in for a decade.” I don’t read it as unwelcoming, I read it as smart-assy and sarcastic, and as a sarcastic smart-ass myself, I can appreciate and even embrace it. Though, your mileage may vary.
 
podrick said:
Thinking of switching majors after 2 years at SJI, am I nuts?

I've had a good time at SJI, but live in a UAL base (ORD). After 2 years the commute has lost its luster, and now that I've "made it" I've realized at the end of the day this is just a job, and being close to home and making my life less complicated is probably more important than a seniority number. In a perfect world I would've made the switch already, I'll turn 30 by the time I'd be hired, so I have time to make it back and just consider the two years a sunk cost.

I've been extremely fortunate with my timing, even though its only been two years at SJI, I'm already sitting at 75% in the company. With that, I don't worry about furloughs. For the last few years I feel like we've been on thin ice waiting for the next downturn. I have no interest in moving in base at SJI, long term career goals is WB flying, which I also just finally reached at my current shop. Am I nuts for thinking of leaving?

Hate to make another "what should I do" thread, hoping to get insight from those that have made the switch, and not so much a DAL vs UAL thread.
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I would highly recommend that you take a look at Envoy. With your experience, you would likely get an interview quickly. Envoy has the flow thru to AA so you are AA on Day one in indoc. Same uniforms, computer systems, NN tailed aircraft and exact samepass privileges. You'll go straight to the 175, similar size to the 73. ORD right out of training is very likely.
 
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