Long time no see.

mojo6911 said:
Welcome back. Honestly, I would buy a Cessna 140 or Decathlon and fly a few times a month, if I were you. I am sure driving a truck and flying for a living have about the same minuses.
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Having done both, I can tell you without a doubt that any flying job is 20x easier and better than any driving job. When you start sleeping in the plane, have a bad back, work 80 hours a week not a month, and have toothless ladies of the night waking you at 200AM for some "company" we will talk. There is no comparison, the difference is that I can net $60-70K driving, rather than $18K.
 
You mentioned you've done the regional thing so you have more info than I, but there are others on this forum (jtrain609 comes to mind, wrxpilot is another) that are a little less pessimistic on the regional FO thing. Yes, you'll take a pay cut to start, but your QOL will go up, as you know. Having spent three years on the road myself (entertainer coach) I can relate to some of the driving stories. And I think 18K is being a little pessimistic on the pay. Others have done better than that first year I'm sure.
 
I was actually considering going to Taylor Coaches at one time. I'm not familiar with that kind of driving.

The short time I was at the regional was enjoyable in many ways, not so much in others. It still doesn't change the fact that I have expenses and I have to make a certain amount to pay those. No regional first year pay works and certainly not the one I was at. That was a bad choice by me trying to chase TPIC when I couldn't even weather the first year.

It is what it is, I will kick the bushes and see what happens for now. If I don't find anything, I am no worse off than I am now. No hard feelings. I did the things that many said I couldn't do because of my age, my education, my handicaps, etc. No regrets.
 
Sounds like you maybe went to Great Lakes or Commutair? You should talk to bunk22. Recently got out of the Navy and just got hired by an east coast regional. He's got a few threads he started on the subject comparing offers.

Also head on another board that RAH had an entire class no-show for training, and that's with a 5K bonus as well.

I drove for a private organization with its own coach so I'm not sure my experience would be similar to a charter outfit. I averaged about 750-1,000 miles a week which I know is way under what a trucker would do. Lots of other job duties though.

One thing I'm sure you're aware of though, you will live a lot longer if you get out of trucking. Those breakfast buffets at Flying J will kill you.....
 
Welcome back Desert Dawg. Your quals might get you looked at by a few 135 freight outfits that come close to 40K. I've heard there are 40K Caravan jobs out there and I think you can get close to that at Amflight pretty quick. Also maybe Cape Air? Part 91 singe pilot Corporate stuff? I would think there are entry level singe pilot gigs out there they pay 40K. Air Ambo? Recency of experience is important so you'd need to fly a little and get current and comfortable flying IMC before you interview. But there has to be a flying gig out there, with your quals, that starts at 40K.
 
Yeah that 58 yo life expectancy is no myth. I have managed to kick my tobacco habit both chewing and smoking though.

I'm not looking to do anything until later this year, if I do anything at all.

DE727UPS, its good to see you again.
 
desertdog71 said:
Having done both, I can tell you without a doubt that any flying job is 20x easier and better than any driving job. When you start sleeping in the plane, have a bad back, work 80 hours a week not a month, and have toothless ladies of the night waking you at 200AM for some "company" we will talk. There is no comparison, the difference is that I can net $60-70K driving, rather than $18K.
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I've encountered all of those things in some of my flying jobs.
 
Don't cape air guys net at least 40k? Also Air Wisconsin is hiring and I bet you could get around 30k your first year.
 
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