TO THE PEOPLE WHO THINK AIRLINES ARE NOT THE BEST JOB

[Northern Skies]

If you want to go airline, more power to you. That saves the other stuff for those of us who want to do it. I might end up there one day because of available options, but it's not the first choice of all the possible jobs. You can bet I wouldn't take that giant paycut either.

This is pretty appealing any only one of the possibilities... get a trailer, travel around, and fly some really cool airplanes:
-fly a 5 month summer, make some good money:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C0HZj8KzRw
-go somewhere warm in the winter for 5 months, do some diver-flying and do some jumping yourself, make a bit of cash:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJrCqLZEgb8
-2x 1 month "vacations" for other travels
-and if you're lucky, a cool girlfriend who is not rushing to settle down :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM1MTXZ9 ... re=related

80k/yr is in reach, no rent, no mortgage, very few expenses, not a number, no seniority/union, everyone's having a good time. Live well below your means and watch your savings grow. If you need the lifestyle change, you have the hours to get on board with anyone. I could definitely get into that for a while.

[Tim Tam]

Hey, way too many airline pilots die at 61-65! Must be all that pesky radiation!
Some like the "personal touch" of knowing everyone they work with. Home, perhaps every night. No "PITA" base bids. Not having to "strut" through terminals in a spiffy (read girly) uniform. Not having to deal with retina scanners, security checks, red tags, and all the related BS. Not having to commute through the GTA to Pearson. Not having to park at Pearson? Being able to pack a Swiss Army knife in your flight bag. Not having to even carry a flight bag. Knowing some (if not all) you passengers. Having you passengers know you by name......

Doc, I sense some animosity towards the "Airline" lifestyle. I understand that it is not for you, but was it always this way? Did you work for the "airlines" in the past that you can compare the two?

I prefer to be a number. I like to go to work, do my "job" and go home and forget about it. I don't know the fellows I fly with, they don't know me. We fly. We go home.

The "BS" as you like to call it, is just part of the job. I don't see "strutting through terminals" as a PITA, I kinda enjoy it. I am proud of myself to be here. I worked hard for 12 years in "your type of work" to get to this point in my life. I enjoy grabbing a Starbucks or Tims on the way to the gate. You trade the good with the bad.

As well, you cannot compare the eye-candy between Dorval and Iqaluit can you?

Cheers.

[Doc]

Tim Tam...you're reading way too much into my post dude. Whatever turns yer crank. Cheers

[wxnut]

Not have to make 18,000/year just to get my head in the door to get a chance to fly a shiny jet.

I personally can't name one operator that flies jets and pays 18 000 / year, and there are many out there. Do you have any info on which company pays that much?

[Meatservo]

Would someone please delete this thread? You guys remind me of Adam Sandler in the tub arguing with himself about which is better.. shampoo or conditioner?

[Anonymous1]

I wasn't going to post because of some of the jackasses here that manage to criticize and twist everything people write, but anyways....
I have done both (airline and 703/704) and these are my thoughts. Most of my classmates at AC did not go there for the flying...they went because they had a responsibility to their spouse and children to provide some security and stability for them or were tired of all the bullshit of the smaller operators. Everyone took a substantial pay cut, in some cases over $100,000 per year. In other courses, there were Emirates / Cathay / Gulf Air pilots that were simply looking to return to Canada so their children would have a better quality of life or to be closer to their family. I never heard anyone become excited about the jet they were assigned...there was far more interest in available bases, pass privileges, bidding, benefits and so on. The average age was probably around 35 and most people had at least 10 years industry experience. The point is that it wasn't so much about the flying as it was the associated benefits of working for an airline. Is it better than 703/704? That depends on the individual and their personal circumstances. My best advice would be to fly as safe as possible on every flight, don't fail any rides, don't get any violations and continue upgrading your education through correspondence so you not only stand out more during the selection process but are also productive on your layovers instead of wasting your life watching TV.

When you are given the okay for a course date at Transat/WJ/AC/Cathay etc... study as much as possible and commit yourself. Once you are on line, take some time to think over your options and decide what is best for you. None of these companies have training bonds and not only are they seeing if you fit the company, you are also seeing if the airline lifestyle fits your goals. The most important thing is that you don't want to be flying a King Air 20 years from now wishing you were on a 320 with a Barbados layover....give yourself the opportunity to do both and then decide which you prefer after you've tried both.

In my case, I did not attain my objective of a Winnipeg base and had prior commitments from my previous employment that I had to see through and therefore had no choice but to resign. If you're wondering why I didn't just postpone the groundschool until I was clear...well, it wasn't an available option. If I did not have these commitments, I think I would have stayed at AC simply for the lifestyle as you get a lot of time off and its a great time in the industry right now. It does take some time to move up the ladder at the airlines, not to mention the chance of a merger and losing 10 years seniority to some guy who joined up from a bankrupt company and considers it his right to be ahead of you.

If you feel that staring at an EFIS screen for 12 hours, living in hotel rooms and paying half a million for a house isn't your thing, then I would advise you to think about how to make some real money in the 703/704 world. There are very few individuals that I've come across that have much interest in northern aviation beyond the short term but are also the type of individual that would add strength and opportunity to a small operator. If you are experienced and were to approach the owner of a profitable, growing 703/704 operator, you could get an opportunity to move into management and invest into a partnership that would far exceed what even a 777 Captain makes at AC. Sure, there is risk but its probably about the same odds as jumping on the seniority wagon and hoping that things go perfect and in 25 years you've made it. There are small companies out there that can buy a Caravan for $2 million and pay it off in 3 years. What they lack most are qualified, experienced personnel that are willing to make a long term commitment as so many pilots are looking to move onto bigger aircraft or a less isolated location. Buy into one of these smaller bush outfits (after you've had a lawyer and accountant look over the financials) and work towards something that can provide an equivalent airline salary while enjoying the benefits of a smaller company.

These are just my thoughts but also know that I've come across some very bitter and frustrated older 703 pilots that were passed over by the airlines due to their attitude or history. Make sure you don't become one of them by always being safety conscious and paying attention to your job all the time. If you get anything from this, please understand that you should make the decision to either fly airlines or work at a smaller 703/704 once you are already at the airline seat as you can always go back. Only from this vantage point will you really be able to decide what best meets your goals and aspirations (which may change significantly over time if you marry and have children).

[rightseatwonder]

When I was working the docks, or driving the shuttles or washing the planes on my up through this industry, I peppered the experienced pilots with questions regarding what route they took, what regrets they have what job would be better etc etc.

I would say that for every pilot who told me that I should stick with the contract stuff, stay in the bush, go corporate, get into DHC-6 training and pick and choose your jobs etc etc, there was a guy telling me the airlines is the only way to go.

Ask questions, job shadow, talk to people in all areas you are interested in, and then make up a plan and go for it.

The one thing that stood out in my mind is someone I truly admired in this industry said this...

" you generally have to start early to enjoy the fruits of the airline life.... get the base you want, the machine you want etc.... BUT you can ALWAYS go back to the bush". I think he predicted correctly in saying that there will be a shortage of qualified, experienced drivers for some of the work horse machines around the world. And I will always have the 4000+hours of DHC-6 time in my book... if I ever want to go back.

There are guys I know in the airlines, that do their 13-16 days a month and fly other machines for fun and bonus $$. filling a void somewhere near them. And there are others that do 2 month summer contracts flying beavers etc.

There's a million routes to take, not all a straight line... enjoy yours.

[Dog]

Ten years in the bush. I'm in 705 now and I did it for lifestyle and safety. I still fly a Turbo Beaver now and then for a local company. I'm a baby at riding the autopilot but so far I'm enjoying it.

I think the guys at the old Macmillan Bloedel flight department had it best: Goose, Beech 350, Falcon and Sikzorsky 76c+. Now that would keep me interested for a long time. BC tell was floats and jets too. But I'd love to go to work and fly floats props jets and helos... maybe I'm asking for too much.

[sky's the limit]

Ten years in the bush. I'm in 705 now and I did it for lifestyle and safety. I still fly a Turbo Beaver now and then for a local company. I'm a baby at riding the autopilot but so far I'm enjoying it.

I think the guys at the old Macmillan Bloedel flight department had it best: Goose, Beech 350, Falcon and Sikzorsky 76c+. Now that would keep me interested for a long time. BC tell was floats and jets too. But I'd love to go to work and fly floats props jets and helos... maybe I'm asking for too much.

You say something about a Goose???






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