What would you do?

DavCo

DavCo

Well-Known Member
I work for an airline that hates its employees, and it appears I will have to work there, in the right seat, for sometime now. Here is my situation...

I have about 2000 hours, 1000 of them in 1900D as SIC. I can't seem to pay off my debt and I'm sick of ramen. I'm 25, single and fed up with getting treated like by my company. I came here for the quick upgrade and the quick PIC... both of which are out of the question for the foreseeable future.

Should I wait it out and continue to die slowly for SIC time, or take an offer (non flying) making money I should be making and wait out this slow time and pay off some debt? Thoughts and comments please!
 
If you had a family to feed it would be an entirely different discussion -- but, being that you're single and you can live on peanut butter and ramen noodles, my vote is stick it out (IF, indeed you want to continue to try and make this a profession)

It's way too hard to get back in once currency lapses.
 
ZapBrannigan said:
If you had a family to feed it would be an entirely different discussion -- but, being that you're single and you can live on peanut butter and ramen noodles, my vote is stick it out (IF, indeed you want to continue to try and make this a profession)

It's way too hard to get back in once currency lapses.
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This. You're gonna have to make the decision if this is REALLY what you want to do, or if you'd be okay doing something else. I see a light (it may be a train, or even a shiny carrot) at the end of the tunnel, and that's what keeps me going day after day. However, if I'm still a CA at 9E in 5 years and getting treated like I am now, I'm gonna trade the wings in for a shovel to scoop up elephant or giraffe poop.
 
wahmbulance.jpg
http://robdamanii.com/macros/wahmbulance.jpg
 
If your career expectations are not materializing in a manner you had hoped, then it's best to turn in you company issued equipment and badges, and move onward.

Good luck.
 
I was in your same situation 6 months ago, and this is what I did. If I am guessing right on who you work for, the pay and company treatment is about on par with my company. I was sick of being broke, no upgrade in sight, and I was going through a break up with a woman I thought I would marry in a city alone. So there I was, 23, single, broke, with a company that treats its rampers better than the pilots.

I went part time... moved 1000 miles away, cleared my head, and now that I think back I wish I would have sucked it up and kept with it. I am going back full time sometime ASAP, with a somewhat new respect for things. Thing is I screwed myself, because the company just furloughed some CA's and FO's for the winter, so now I have to wait to come back.
 
I'd say if you have plans to stay in this industry as a career stick it out. If your finding its the lifestyle associated with the job (which I dont think it is) then maybe a new job path would be desirable sooner than later, however its not the best time to be job swapping.

I know many people around here are dying to get out, working in certain conditions I think can really jade the image of a career choice. As Murphy's Law would have it, as soon as you leave things will start moving again, until then just find ways to have fun at work without getting in too much trouble.
 
DavCo said:
I work for an airline that hates its employees, and it appears I will have to work there, in the right seat, for sometime now. Here is my situation...

I have about 2000 hours, 1000 of them in 1900D as SIC. I can't seem to pay off my debt and I'm sick of ramen. I'm 25, single and fed up with getting treated like by my company. I came here for the quick upgrade and the quick PIC... both of which are out of the question for the foreseeable future.

Should I wait it out and continue to die slowly for SIC time, or take an offer (non flying) making money I should be making and wait out this slow time and pay off some debt? Thoughts and comments please!
Click to expand...

Personally, if you want to be a professional pilot, tough it out. If you're out to find a company that values you professionally, well, you may never find that either in or out of aviation.

Go to work, do your job and leave the pursuit of "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" for your off time! :)

That sounds a little brash, but it's totally unintentional.
 
You'll have to make that decision for yourself, but I got furloughed at the beginning of this year, kind of a blessing in disguise, I've made more money after taxes in 5 months then I made in an entire year net on second year pay at my old regional which had good pay and work rules compared to other regionals. I don't see it as an issue at all to come back and get current again, I have good contacts at all my previous employers and know plenty of flight instructors when the time comes.
 
Any of you work second jobs?? Would you recommend it (from a safety stand point) and what kind of experiences have you had... i.e. relationship woes, mental and physical health. Something has got to change and I guess I'm just looking at my options.

You all bring up good points, thanks for the input!
 
DavCo said:
I work for an airline that hates its employees, and it appears I will have to work there, in the right seat, for sometime now. Here is my situation...

I have about 2000 hours, 1000 of them in 1900D as SIC. I can't seem to pay off my debt and I'm sick of ramen. I'm 25, single and fed up with getting treated like by my company. I came here for the quick upgrade and the quick PIC... both of which are out of the question for the foreseeable future.

Should I wait it out and continue to die slowly for SIC time, or take an offer (non flying) making money I should be making and wait out this slow time and pay off some debt? Thoughts and comments please!
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You're not the only one!
 
Substitute teaching is a great recommendation, even if it is from taildragger173:p

Tony, you are having way too much fun in ONT in your avatar.

As for the OP's question.......I dunno. I'm wondering what to do myself. There are rumors of everybody being recalled at my previous regional and if that's the case, I'm pretty sure I'll be outta this hell hole. I will say this though. I think our pilot group here has gotten better but needs to grow a pair and stand up to management more than they do. Like when scheduling extends you an extra day on a trip and refuses to give you junior man pay because the extension was due to mx. There's nothing in the contract that says that's how it works but guys take scheduling's word for it and just do it for no extra money. If they try to do that with me, I tell them to give me junior man pay or find somebody else. I have some hope things will get better here but I'm doubtful. Upgrades look like they'll never happen at this rate. I'm getting displaced in December due to STL closing. I'm unhappy but I'm sticking it out one way or another. I think you probably should too.
 
DavCo said:
I work for an airline that hates its employees, and it appears I will have to work there, in the right seat, for sometime now. Here is my situation...

I have about 2000 hours, 1000 of them in 1900D as SIC. I can't seem to pay off my debt and I'm sick of ramen. I'm 25, single and fed up with getting treated like by my company. I came here for the quick upgrade and the quick PIC... both of which are out of the question for the foreseeable future.

Should I wait it out and continue to die slowly for SIC time, or take an offer (non flying) making money I should be making and wait out this slow time and pay off some debt? Thoughts and comments please!
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What is more important to you, paying off this debt or staying on to continue to build time? With 1000 sic you could probably have any regional job when they start hiring again. Future employment is not an issue but it will probably be at another regional if you stay airline.
 
Copperhed51 said:
As for the OP's question.......I dunno. I'm wondering what to do myself. There are rumors of everybody being recalled at my previous regional and if that's the case, I'm pretty sure I'll be outta this hell hole. .
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Why? The only difference between GL and TSA is the equipment. Lateral regional moves are not worth it man.
 
Socal321 said:
Why? The only difference between GL and TSA is the equipment. Lateral regional moves are not worth it man.
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Eh, I'm at the bottom of the list both places and there's no upgrade in sight at either. Might as well be making more money and be more comfortable on better equipment. We'll see how things look if/when the recalls actually happen though.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Personally, if you want to be a professional pilot, tough it out. If you're out to find a company that values you professionally, well, you may never find that either in or out of aviation.

Go to work, do your job and leave the pursuit of "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" for your off time! :)

That sounds a little brash, but it's totally unintentional.
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It would be ideal if the place you spend the majority of your life at helped on your journey toward self-actualization.
 
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