Looking for Advise (Airline or corporate)

William Valencia

William Valencia

Well-Known Member
Hello to all and thank you for taking the time to read and give any advise.

Current situation
40 Years Old
2 kids (10 and 7)
Mortgage

Family if very important and I dont mind been away for a few days, but I would like to be home 3 to 4 nights a week.

I have an associates in aviation, with little over 1200 total time, ME Commercial License, and instrument rated, I became discouraged about flying in 2003 and seeing how much the regionals paid, so I started my career in Real Estate, I have been very successful in real estate, I have my Brokerage license and I make a 6 figure income, this income has help us, me and my wife to open her own Chiropractic practice (that is about to take off and start paying the bills). I also have a part time job with United for the benefits of flying for free and medical, it will be hard to give it up. I have experience in the operational side of aviation as Crew Scheduler and Crew Coordinator both for Regional and Continental/United.

But you know once you have tasted flying, you will always walk looking up, so about 3 years ago, I started getting back into flying, renting planes and getting current, going back to fly some banners, offering service as Ferry pilot (completed a few). Last year I met a pilot and started working contract for him from time to time, and and also flying right sit on King Air 350, CJ 3 Medevac flights, Citation Ultra, and some other singles props.

Now im at a cross roads and need advise, Regionals still pay peanuts and QOL is not the best, and I have friends that work corporate and that another avenue that I would like to get more info, but some of them want between 2000 to 3000 TT.

If you were in my position, would you go to a regional with the hopes of flying for a legacy airline? would you consider going Corporate or fly contract.

Thank you for any feedback and advise
 
Is there is a regional in your immediate area where you could be based? That could make the difference on QOL issues and being home. Pay will still suck but might be tolerable if you can get to the left seat quick. You could keep doing what your doing on the corporate end and eek out some hours while making connections. As the "pilot shortage" continues perhaps someone would pick you up. Whatever you do, keep the real estate thing going enough to give yourself an out if nothing works. Part of me said too bad you didn't stick with it in 2003. Another part says good on you to walk away and become a success in another field. It's a crapshoot. Everyone's situation is different. I have 4 cats that don't miss me much but if I had a 7 and 10 year old I'd put a pretty high priority on the home life for the next 8 years or so.
 
Corporate pros:
On a salary and have worked 2 days in the last 7. Seriously.

Corporate cons: at 9pm in my pajamas tonight I got a call for an emergency flight for the family. I cursed a little and wished I drank that beer earlier. Went to the airport, did a pre flight and then it cancelled.

Corporate pros. Not on food stamps and have spent 2 night in a hotel this month. 4 nights last month.

If I were you i'd work the corporate side. Chances are your first real gig will start around 45-55k and It's not always about the time once you get to know enough people.

Maybe get your ATP and start charging proper rates for the flying you do. I just got offered a c206 day trip at 450/ a day that I can't do.
 
William Valencia said:
Hello to all and thank you for taking the time to read and give any advise.

Current situation
40 Years Old
2 kids (10 and 7)
Mortgage

Family if very important and I dont mind been away for a few days, but I would like to be home 3 to 4 nights a week.

I have an associates in aviation, with little over 1200 total time, ME Commercial License, and instrument rated, I became discouraged about flying in 2003 and seeing how much the regionals paid, so I started my career in Real Estate, I have been very successful in real estate, I have my Brokerage license and I make a 6 figure income, this income has help us, me and my wife to open her own Chiropractic practice (that is about to take off and start paying the bills). I also have a part time job with United for the benefits of flying for free and medical, it will be hard to give it up. I have experience in the operational side of aviation as Crew Scheduler and Crew Coordinator both for Regional and Continental/United.

But you know once you have tasted flying, you will always walk looking up, so about 3 years ago, I started getting back into flying, renting planes and getting current, going back to fly some banners, offering service as Ferry pilot (completed a few). Last year I met a pilot and started working contract for him from time to time, and and also flying right sit on King Air 350, CJ 3 Medevac flights, Citation Ultra, and some other singles props.

Now im at a cross roads and need advise, Regionals still pay peanuts and QOL is not the best, and I have friends that work corporate and that another avenue that I would like to get more info, but some of them want between 2000 to 3000 TT.

If you were in my position, would you go to a regional with the hopes of flying for a legacy airline? would you consider going Corporate or fly contract.

Thank you for any feedback and advise
Click to expand...

If family is very important to you, then my advice is to stay away from the airline industry. There's a reason it's called A.I.D.S. (Airline Induced Divorce Syndrome).

That aside, it seems to me, the opportunity cost is too high. Think of the expense to get qualified. Think of the lost income while you work your way up the ladder. It might be the a better part of a decade before you were back to earning what you were earning before, and several more years to make up the lost income.

Think of the time lost with your family. Your kiddos are entering that age when they really need their Dad, and quite frankly, where they are probably becoming really interesting. Do you want to miss out on that?

If it were me, I'd stick with what I was doing. Work hard, do well, retire early, and then maybe spend the last few years of your working life doing the flying thing.

I don't mean to be a downer. I love flying too, and I've thought about doing what you're doing. In the end it just didn't make any sense, for me.
 
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