CatchyScreenName
Well-Known Member
First of all, I know no one has a crystal ball and the decision is 100% completely mine and mine alone 
Just wanted to try and get some feedback from different viewpoints than my own. That said, my backstory - started flying with the intent to become a helicopter pilot. There were no helicopter schools in my area so I started in a 172 down at the local airport. Eventually met a guy at a private air park that had his own helicopters and airplanes. Trained with him for private airplane, then private helicopter add-on and commercial.
Through his acquaintances I got a job right away giving helicopter tours. Spent the next four years working seasonal positions getting to the magic 1000 hours PIC which became the magic 1500 PIC then the whole bottom fell out of the helicopter market and people were getting laid off in droves in the major heli markets (GOMEX).
So I added on my commercial multi and instrument and got a job with 121 regional DEC 2016, because after years of seasonal only work I needed a real job and with increases in pay its better than I had been doing. I originally figured I'd give it a year or so and if I didn't like it then hopefully the helicopter market would rebound.
Ok, to the point - the helicopter market rebounded a little quicker than expected. I've been at my 121 carrier for 7 months now. I have two tentative offers in the helicopter business. As far as the 121 flying goes, its not bad at all but I could take it or leave it - the biggest thing would be leaving before the first year and having to pay back the bonus.
One job I'm considering is in the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) and was my original dream job when I started out in the helicopter business. A point to add to that though, is I used to live on the Gulf pre divorce, so the job would have been literally right down the road - I'd have to move back to the area to make the commute reasonable. Starting pay is good at 60k and a signing bonus. Stability is normally good except for 2015 apparently. Schedule is 14/14 so I like that too, I actually have enough seniority at my airline to bid and hold a decent schedule but I find the act of bidding, SAP trading, etc, etc, to be cumbersome(yea, I'm that lazy) as opposed to just having your schedule for the whole year already set. I'd be giving up travel benefits but I don't really use them anyhow. Any other pros & cons ya'll may see with that?
The other job I'm considering is as an Air Interdiction Agent with the Border Patrol. Government job, holiday pay, buy back my military time and put toward retirement. Cool mission, cool aircraft. Have to be a Law Enforcement Officer - could take or leave that either way. Crappy base locations obviously. Dual rated so I can fly Helos and Planes. I'll be able to get experience there I wouldn't be able to get anywhere else (NVG) if it didn't work out. The hiring process takes at least 6 months even though I can bypass the USAJobs website with my combat deployment. So that would take the sting out of paying the sign on bonus back to the 121 airline (after 1 yr its pro rated, before 1 yr they want all of it back).
I probably had more direct questions before I started typing but I kind of rambled a bit and kind of lost my direction.... I appreciate any feedback from people that have been around the aviation block a time or two !
Thanks
Just wanted to try and get some feedback from different viewpoints than my own. That said, my backstory - started flying with the intent to become a helicopter pilot. There were no helicopter schools in my area so I started in a 172 down at the local airport. Eventually met a guy at a private air park that had his own helicopters and airplanes. Trained with him for private airplane, then private helicopter add-on and commercial.
Through his acquaintances I got a job right away giving helicopter tours. Spent the next four years working seasonal positions getting to the magic 1000 hours PIC which became the magic 1500 PIC then the whole bottom fell out of the helicopter market and people were getting laid off in droves in the major heli markets (GOMEX).
So I added on my commercial multi and instrument and got a job with 121 regional DEC 2016, because after years of seasonal only work I needed a real job and with increases in pay its better than I had been doing. I originally figured I'd give it a year or so and if I didn't like it then hopefully the helicopter market would rebound.
Ok, to the point - the helicopter market rebounded a little quicker than expected. I've been at my 121 carrier for 7 months now. I have two tentative offers in the helicopter business. As far as the 121 flying goes, its not bad at all but I could take it or leave it - the biggest thing would be leaving before the first year and having to pay back the bonus.
One job I'm considering is in the Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) and was my original dream job when I started out in the helicopter business. A point to add to that though, is I used to live on the Gulf pre divorce, so the job would have been literally right down the road - I'd have to move back to the area to make the commute reasonable. Starting pay is good at 60k and a signing bonus. Stability is normally good except for 2015 apparently. Schedule is 14/14 so I like that too, I actually have enough seniority at my airline to bid and hold a decent schedule but I find the act of bidding, SAP trading, etc, etc, to be cumbersome(yea, I'm that lazy) as opposed to just having your schedule for the whole year already set. I'd be giving up travel benefits but I don't really use them anyhow. Any other pros & cons ya'll may see with that?
The other job I'm considering is as an Air Interdiction Agent with the Border Patrol. Government job, holiday pay, buy back my military time and put toward retirement. Cool mission, cool aircraft. Have to be a Law Enforcement Officer - could take or leave that either way. Crappy base locations obviously. Dual rated so I can fly Helos and Planes. I'll be able to get experience there I wouldn't be able to get anywhere else (NVG) if it didn't work out. The hiring process takes at least 6 months even though I can bypass the USAJobs website with my combat deployment. So that would take the sting out of paying the sign on bonus back to the 121 airline (after 1 yr its pro rated, before 1 yr they want all of it back).
I probably had more direct questions before I started typing but I kind of rambled a bit and kind of lost my direction.... I appreciate any feedback from people that have been around the aviation block a time or two !
Thanks
