Do I really Want to Fly for the Airlines???

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DMBinHBurg

New Member
Hi everyone,
I just found this forum yesterday and love it. Been reading it for hours!!!

I have lots of questions but I'll start with my main concern/question.

I just turned 28 and I have been flying for over 12 years. I have:
950 TT Single Engine (300 retractable)
0 hours MEL.
I do have my PPL, IR, & Commercial Single
I have been fourtante enough to own a 2004 Cirrus SR20 Glass Panel. I have around 400 hours in it.

I started my own businesses (restaurant) almost 5 years ago. It has done ok and is making some money but I have always thought of flying for the airlines. My biggest hang up about it is I am am married and will be starting a family soon so I am not excited about being away from the family for days at a time. ( I do love to travel though and I love flying!) I met a guy this past weekend that works for Colgan and he said he is back at base everynight 99% of the time. That's sounds like what I am looking for. I am really thinking about selling the business and trying to go for the airlines (preferably Colgan) I live in VA and Colgan has two domiciles within an hour of me (a Beech 1900 and Saab340 base). I have been very fourtante that the salary doesn't sway me to much starting out because I have savings and investments I could live off of.

So my big dilema, should I sell the business and go for Colgan? Are there any other regionals that have you home each day? I would probably stay at that regional for my career since I would like senoity in picking schedules, etc... What would I expect to top out at with salary say after 10 years at a regional such as Colgan? Am I crazy for thinking about this change???

Thanks for any feedback!

T
 
how bout keeping the business as your "side" career while in the regionals? that would be the best bet for keeping a good financial outlook!!
 
DMBinHBurg said:
Am I crazy for thinking about this change???



T
Click to expand...

Yes. There are many pilots at major airlines who are trying to create a side business to be able to have a good QOL, and would trade places with you. You've already got it, with a kick ass plane to satisfy your flying urges. Stay where you are and enjoy.
 
you have the coolest plane man keep it and the job. i went up in one when i went on my first private flight about 8 years ago. good luck with everything and keep us posted.
 
Seggy said:
Go for the flying career but KEEP the business!
Click to expand...

And to the other people that said this, I'm not sure one could own a restaurant and fly. Restaurants swallow up all free time and are extremely sensitive to the local economy.

He could think about having someone run it for him, but that would eat into a lot of his profits and might not be worth it. I say, if you can sell it for a good price, take that and run with your money. But if some how you can swing owning and flying, I'd do that if isn't too hard on you.
 
Hey everyone,
Thanks for the messages so far!!!
First I would like to thank Doug & Kristie for a great website... There is so much to read and learn... it's GREAT!

For some of the replies.... I think I would have to sell the restaurant since it does take up a lot of my time. It is a 7 days a week business, and open ALL DAY! I would try to get top dollar!

However, I do have an opportunity to work in an "office" type setting and earn a decent salary from that. It's a Mon-Fri type job working accounts payable but I could be flexible with my time.

My question would be though, do I really have enough time "on the side" to work another job? Is that what most pilots do?

Thanks!

T
 
Man that is a tough one. You need to ask yourself what do you want to do in ten years down the road? Having friends in the restaurant business I know that would take up too much of your time while working for Colgan, but do you have enough capital currently to play with other investments to keep up your current living status while on Colgan first officer wages? At least all you have to spend at this point is maybe 5 grand on a multi commercial and maybe a MEI and you'd be ready to be picked up by Colgan, and since they have bases that are close to where you live, it might not be too tough of a road for you if that's what you decide to do. Good luck!
 
You love to fly and you love to travel. Do you love to travel while flying?

Think about it. It is one thing to jump in your airplane and go buzzing around for the afternoon. Great Fun.

It's also great to take the occasional business or vaction trip. Stay in a nice hotel for a few days, enjoy the sights, eat some different food perhaps.

Now consider this. It's December 23rd. You get your a$$ out of bed at 4AM to make a 530 show time at the airport. Fly 5 or 6 or 7 seven legs in a 14 hour duty day where, if you were lucky, you had enough time to go grab some lousy airport food and cram it down between flights. Get to your overnight station at 10P. Finally make it to the hotel by 11PM only to find that all there is not food available because the restaurants are closed. get about 6 or 7 hours of sleep, then get up and do it all over again. For the next 3 days.

Now imaging doing that every week for the next 20 or 25 years.

Still sound like fun?

My advice: Stay with the restaurant, or go with the job. Keep your airplane and fly for fun when you want to and where you want to.
 
Hootie,
It is a tough decision. I have always thought about flying for the airlines since I was a kid. All my friends were into Military Aircraft, I always had my toy B737, 727, Jetstream 31. hahaha I am very fourtante I don't have to worry as much about the starting salary since I have several investments to live off of and my wife's salary & benefits.

Since I have 0 Multi, I figure I would have to spend around 15-20k getting my Multi certificate and 100 hours in a flight schools "time building" program.

I would definitly sell the restaurant though because it would be to much to keep up with. The good news is I own the building so my best bet would be to sell the equipment and then rent it out. My money from the equipment would cover my 15k flight traing plus I get a monthly rent check.

Decisions, Decisions... :confused:

T
 
You should serioulsy research the life of an airline pilot, and that of a colgan one in particular since that is where you want to go.

I think your eyes might be opened quite a bit. It's not like getting in your own plane and flying. It's an actual JOB.

Now, if you can make ends meet living off of investments without the need to stash any more away, working for an airline would probably be more of a hobby then a job for you.

Keep in mind, bases open and close all the time. What would you do if Colgan closed the bases around you? Commuting is the devil, to really enjoy the time off you need to live in base.
 
Sky Dog,
You bring up the great points of "what keeps me from making the jump". I am fortunate I can fly my SR20 whenver I want (well almost anytime depending on business of course). If it's snowing hard, or winds gusting to 35, heavy rain... I don't go. With the airlines... you go. I am excited to be challenged and fly in different weather but it is nice to decide when I want to fly. I know that I don't want to be doing 3-4 day trips a week and away from home every night hence the reason I would look at applying at Colgan since they are outbased and are home 99% of the time. I would probably be the minority that would stay at that airline for my entire career (with no aspirations to jump to majors). So many thoughts... I just feel that at 28, we don't have kids yet (probably start within 2 years though), if I really want to do the airlines, this is my best time to do it. By the time I have kids, and as they grow older, I would have some senority at a place like Colgan and a bit more flexibility.

Thanks for the great input!

But Again... Decisions, Decisions....

T
 
Seggy,

Yes SHD (15 mins from my house and my homebase for my SR20) and CHO(45mins away). I saw in a past post you fly the B1900. Ever fly into SHD? Would love to pick your brain on flying for Colgan and flying the B1900. If you have a small layover I'll treat you to lunch/dinner from the restaurant. :) Let me know what you think!

T
 
Dont spend 15-20 grand. You could get 100 multi for half that. And fifty multi for even less. If your goal is Colgan you don't need to be "overly qualified".
 
"I have been very fourtante that the salary doesn't sway me to much starting out because I have savings and investments I could live off of"

Are you prepared to never make more than 60K, in today's dollars, for the rest of your career? That's Colgan's max pay and I wouldn't expect it to do any better than rise with inflation. Our last contract didn't even keep up with inflation, overall.

One negative about what I'm hearing you say is you're tied down to a certain area and even willing to work for Colgan forever to make that happen. Don't forget airlines get bought out, go out of business, park a fleet type, and change domicles on a pretty regular basis. Colgan has been steady in your area for a long time but they also branched out to Houston and will go wherever they can make a buck.

If there is one steady thing in aviation, it's change.

I hate to see you jump into this and be disappointed in five years when some of the "flying is so much fun" wears off, you'll never make over 60K, and they close your base and you get shipped off to Houston. Feel free to jump in, the waters fine, but have your eyes open.
 
If you're looking for specifics regarding Colgan......PM me.

I'm at Colgan and it's true that you're home most nights. Typical reasons for NOT being at home would be to ferry planes to maintenance at the end of the night or weather. Besides that, you should be home every night.

In reference to Hooties last statement. It's true, you don't need to have 121 turbine (over qualified) time to get picked up at Colgan. BUT YOU DO NEED TO BE QUALIFIED. Don't skimp on the multi.....you do need it. Ignorance is bliss for those that don't know.;)
 
It might be hard to handle your current business for at least your first year at an airline, however as your schedule improves it could become more feasible.

What if you don't get on at a regional near your current home? Are you willing to move or commute? Big question: Is your significant other willing to put up with this job during the low pay/bad schedule years you WILL face when you start? (It does get better, speaking from my personal life.)

I love what I do, but I never, ever want to be a 1st year F/O at a regional again.
 
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