When did it lose its luster (if ever)?

C150J

C150J

Well-Known Member
Hey guys -

So right now I'm having a blast at my company. Great pilot group, having fun flying the plane (when they let me - I'm on ready reserve and don't fly very often), fairly good contract. I hear complaints from coworkers (scheduling, growth, bases, etc.) here and there, and can empathize. Overall, the pluses definitely outweigh the negatives. I'm also exploiting the travel benefits by visiting just about every friend I have on my weekends (which, thanks to summer loads, has become a little bit tougher). I'm basically the epitome of a greenhorn (coming up on 6 months). I'm sure being single helps too, as some of my classmates are attached and I can see how that muddies the waters.

Several years ago, I applied to be a special agent for a certain alphabet agency in the Government. They came knocking. Vacancies are few and far between, so I'm ridiculously torn at this point (this is my only shot to work for these people). Do I jump ship from a place I love to pursue yet another childhood dream? I'm just not sure. This agency would give me opportunities to fly small equipment, and eventually the ability to POSSIBLY fly corporate iron for another agency while simultaneously acting as a special agent. If I were to get to that point, I'd consider all my dreams to have come true. However, it's kind of a crapshoot (akin to getting on with FDX, UPS, etc.) versus continuing to fly and enjoy myself.

So, here are my concerns for each decision...

If I stay:

I am concerned that my "good" regional will not provide me the opportunity to upgrade and move on within a reasonable timeframe (I don't see myself flying here forever - I have the personality flaw of wanting bigger airplanes and longer routes when it comes to airline careers). I am also concerned about my feelings towards the job... does it get old? How much luster does it actually lose? Does the job get a lot harder when you have a family? Does it get old when you're flying your butt off as a junior lineholder, taking in the same paycheck I do on RSV because you're flying right under monthly min's?


If I go:

Will I miss the time off and freedom to live where I want (with this job comes a mobility agreement... they send me where they need me)? Will I miss flying fast/high-flying/all weather capable equipment? Can I tolerate leaving the cockpit for a couple years while establishing myself as a strong case agent? Are the people there as clever, funny, and intelligent as my current pilot peers?


Obviously I am not asking for a decision to be made for me. However, I lack the insight that those who've flown for decades have gained when it comes to the career. I would like to hear from those that have been down the 121 trail I'm on right now. I consider the JC community an excellent resource and would love to hear what people have to say should they find the time to read my post. Thanks!

J.
 
Just look at all the bottom level attrition that is going on right now. If you don't leave to go to the ###, maybe consider jumping to the greener grass somewhere else.

FWIW, if I was a junior (well, still am) FO that was commuting from the midwest or west coast, I'd be gone.
 
wheelsup said:
FWIW, if I was a junior (well, still am) FO that was commuting from the midwest or west coast, I'd be gone.
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I'm two-legging it, but can't say it's an issue right now as a single guy... Now, if I manage to get serious with someone, I could see commuting becoming an issue.
 
Remember, 150, there are non-pilots that commute more than airline pilots, and don't whine half as much.

Don't let them get to you!
 
This is just my opinion today, but I'd be vary wary of lateral moves at the regional level. I KNOW I'm going to get hate mail because I always do when I say that, but I really think there's going to be a bloodletting in the next five years in that business because of fuel prices and the operational dynamics of 100 seat aircraft at major airlines.

Personally, I'd focus on experience and making conditions better for the pilot group then moving up the food chain.

Personal opinion only and that may change after a beer so beware! :)
 
Doug Taylor said:
I really think there's going to be a bloodletting in the next five years in that business because of fuel prices and the operational dynamics of 100 seat aircraft at major airlines.
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Never thought about that... good point! On the other hand, there is a part of me that wants to hop into a 1900 and add some character to my experience (not to say that the RJ is super-easy to fly, etc. etc.). That would have to do with personal satisfaction more than anything! I should note that I would aggresively be pursuing a guard slot should I stay with the 121 world.

MSTU - Believe me, I hear you buddy! The commute is not an issue right now... I would probably face similar travel tempo with the fed job anyways...
 
Move up, not laterally, have fun! :)

In my opinion, the guard is a kickass way to go. Guaranteed government retirement if you stay long enough, you get to fly high performance aircraft in all sorts of interesting scenarios and such. If you get hired by a major and you get furloughed, you have a built-in backup by going full-time. Some of my friends fly in the CO ANG and when I'm sitting in my home office tinkering with my mac, they're out pulling G's in Vipers.

If you're happy where you are, that's a position of power, stay and evaluate your opportunities for vertical moves. Just because your pal in your crashpad says, "Shoot, we're getting upgrades before we even show up to initial to fly the jet" doesnt' mean jack -- I had three guys leave their probationary year at Southernjets to chase short upgrade times and big jets at United and all got furloughed when 9/11 hit.

If you're still in PHX, we'll go out for a beer and chat after groundschool.
 
Doug Taylor said:
If you're still in PHX, we'll go out for a beer and chat after groundschool.
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Thanks for the advice! I am definitely happy here and it's nice to be reminded of that. Unfortunately I made the move for the job back to the East coast. Let me know when you're out of school though - there's a "SWA Direct" (aka a couple stops on the same plane) ORF-PHX... I'm dyin' to go back. Miss parts of the place terribly.
 
I'm not really in the same boat as you, but slightly I guess.

I'm just below middle seniority of FOs where I am at. On the plus side, I live in base and hold (just) a line. I can get about 50% of the days off I want. The company is just starting to move along again. We have 500 pilots and didn't upgrade for 10 months. They are currently doing 6 a month and would like to do more but can't staff the bottom end. At that rate it will be another 3 years before I upgrade making it a 4.5 year upgrade time for me.

I had a job offer to go fly a 1900 in FL (no, not THAT place) for the government. It would have paid well. They would have typed me right away and I would be home every night. At the time (this was last summer) I was single, hating where I live now and not seeing any movement at the company I was at. I too have the character flaw where I want to fly bigger planes on longer routes (but mostly because the pay and QOL are better). So I went back and forth and back and forth about whether to take this job on FL. In the end I decided that it would be more of a lateral move then I was willing to make and to stay where I am. Was it the "right" choice? who knows. If it takes me another 3 years to upgrade hear, if I had taken the other job I would have had over 1000 hours TPIC by then and would have *in theory* been able to go after my dream job (assuming that those places were hiring at that point). So instead, I am here still and it will take me (as stuff is currently going) 5 years to get my 1000 hours. But you know what? Seniority may be everything, but I am, for the most part, having fun. Has the excitement of flying a jet around worn off a bit? Sure... It's just a job now. But it's a job I enjoy. Any of you who read my blog will see the post I made on the 1st or 2nd of this month about how "those" moments happen some times when you are flying the plane. (You'll also know how bad I am about updating the thing!).

Anyhow, nobody can tell you whether to bail on your current job and move over to the XXX Agency. You need to look at it and decide which is the one that you will be most happy at 5 years from now. Right now, you are happy at the regional you are at because you think that at some point you will be able to move on. While I very much think you (and all of us in little plane land) will be able to do that, remember, it might never happen. Would you be happy making a career where you are at now? Or would you be happier making a carrier working for the man? It's hard to predict your future happyness (yes, spelled wrong. go see the movie) but some times all you can do is try to be satisfied with what you've got.

Good luck to you in deciding.
 
How do I word this....would the govt. flying job involve any sort of duty that you might possibly find morally objectionable or of 'questionable' legality?

I'm really not trying to start a flame war or political discussion - all I'm saying is that if I was faced with the same decision, and the context of the flying was somewhat morally questionable to me, I'd likely decline the position. That's just me, though, and I didn't know if it was a factor in your decision process.
 
"Be careful, these days, you can often replace "insight" with "bitterness"

I was going to comment, but at the risk of being considered bitter, I don't believe I will...
 
Are they guaranteeing you a flight position after your minimum ground time? Can you handle not being able to obtain that flight position after the two years and just fly on your own, non-professionally or possibly have to reinterview with an aviation company if you find that the career move was not for you? Those are the questions that I would ask myself. I would seriously consider joining to be an agent and nothing else. If that excites you, why not?
 
falconvalley said:
Are they guaranteeing you a flight position after your minimum ground time? Can you handle not being able to obtain that flight position after the two years and just fly on your own, non-professionally or possibly have to reinterview with an aviation company if you find that the career move was not for you? Those are the questions that I would ask myself.
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Great questions, all of which I will be asking at the end of the month when I visit some folks on my days off. The one thing I CAN tell you is that this opportunity would increase the likelihood of flying business jets for that second agency to which I was referring.


falconvalley said:
I would seriously consider joining to be an agent and nothing else. If that excites you, why not?
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One of my biggest concerns is the job being tremendously overrated. It's incredibly hard to get a "day-in-the-life" due to all the operational security measures.


Thanks everyone, I really appreciate you advice. Ethan, thanks a lot... I appreciate the time you took to write that up. I think we're in the same boat in a lot of ways.
 
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