Need Advice

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:38 pm

Heres the options:

A King Air Captain for a mediocre company with no scheduled days off etc., however a fairly high salary.

B FO on a 1900 for a great company for half the salary however, scheduled days off, unionized and benefits.

I'm kindof at a loss and not too sure which way to go. What would you guys do?

islander · Post by **islander** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:50 pm

I'm in the same boat but with pistons.
Not sure myself.

jackrabbit · Post by **jackrabbit** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 12:59 am

Are you in debt spitfire? Obviously you have some PIC time and probably your A licence. I would probably take the 1900 job. If you can live off the salary and it is a good company than who cares if you have to sit right seat. I would say take the job where you think you will have the most fun. If it is a good company and you can see yourself there for awhile than go for it. My opinion anyways. Either way, it's nice to have that choice to make.

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 2:33 am

Don't forget, Spitfire, to also listen to your heart and your conscience. This is a tip received from a fellow pilot/friend a few years ago-- it has guided me well more than once.

Good luck.

... · Post by **...** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 7:45 am

Step back to leap forward.

another quart · Post by **another quart** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:02 am

King Air Capt good wage no days off.
My advice stay left seat you have crawled up to this position why would you want to backwords to riht seat and live in the big city, double expense etc.
Thats half the problem if you want airline your final step is multi turbine PIC not right seat. Then you get in a union just try to get out.
Dont be so short sighted if you want the big league a couple of years of sacrifice never hurts.
I know the chicks dont get prettier but you have to sacrifice that too, they all need lovin.
It will pay dividends FO is not the way.
Hang Tough

... · Post by **...** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:13 am

another quart wrote:I know the chicks dont get prettier but you have to sacrifice that too, they all need lovin.
Hang Tough

Besides look how lucky 'another squirt' got by making the move up north. He's living the dream....

Hang tough..!?! no kidding

chief · Post by **chief** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:31 am

Spitfire, check your PM's

Northern Flyer · Post by **Northern Flyer** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:35 am

another quart wrote:Thats half the problem if you want airline your final step is multi turbine PIC not right seat. Then you get in a union just try to get out.

It's not hard to get out of a union. You can leave a union job just as easy as you can leave a non-union job.

Go for the 1900, if they give you some sort of idea how long before you can move into the left seat. Money is great, but there is easier ways to get it, you have to find yourself a Sugar Muma.

another quart · Post by **another quart** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 8:52 am

Your crazy to take Northerns advice sounds like he cant make the big league.
Why would you want to drive a bus from the right seat when you are flying lots now and building good time. You see most pilots do this and flood the southern market but if we all play the same game the industry will improve. But as pilots we like to make ruthless decisions that kill the industry for everyone moving up the latter. There would be better progression without the short sightedness oh I have to fly this and that.
As for union whatever if you want to jump job to job thats your call. But a resume with 2-3 jobs within 2 years goes to the bottom of the pile. Thats a fact.

1st timer · Post by **1st timer** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:08 am

Look at it this way turbine PIC or 12500+ time.
Where do you want your career to take you. Trying to get 12500+ time when you have 3500 hrs is not as easy as some think. PIC is king unless the companies you want to work for need 12500+ time. After great pay and lots of captain time it will be hard to take that right seat time at real low pay just to get that 125000+ time.

Northern Flyer · Post by **Northern Flyer** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:14 am

another quart

Why pimp yourself out and work without days off? These are the best days of your life, you should be out phuking, fighting, fishing, hunting and partying. Do this while you can, someday it will be to late.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:34 am

12,500 time or not when you have the hours (and references)your going to the majors. Also you can't put a price on lifestyle. BUT...I wouldn't go right seat on a 1900 when your a king air captain without knowing the upgrade time. also if your still carrying a debt, i'd stay put and pay it off.

Another quart - I think your off the mark somewhat when it comes to resumes. If you have PPC and time on an AC they fly, reguardless of # of jobs you may have had, your going to the top of the pile...unless you pissed some one off. I t does show loyality, but if you had valid reasons as to why you left, you'll be able to explain why the # of jobs if asked.

whyme? · Post by **whyme?** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:39 am

Sounds like you might already know the answer.

You mentioned a mediocre company flying as a Captain. Sounds like the real question is PIC vs S/O?

Most important thing.......be happy. Spounds like the s/o will initially make you happier. From there a PIC position would open up. The left seat king air sounds appealing but the atmosphere suggests that you will log pic but not be happy.

logging PIC is great but enjoy what you do.

... · Post by **...** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:52 am

King Air Guy,

True all your reasons apply to narrowing a driver. However, I hate to admit it @*&^#*&@^%$ but Another Squirt is right. I also become suspect why buddyoverthere went through 3 jobs in 2 years and do want to find out why. 9 1/2 times outta 10 you are going to have issues with that person and end up having to find someone else because either buddy stiffed you or buddy ain't working out in a large way.

You can say all you want in cover letters...a resume (C/V) speaks volumes.

BTW on a side note for all you kids out there with regards to cover letters. Correct me if I am wrong or incomplete, but I like to see cover letters with 4 or 5 lines. That's is. If you have a solid reference or someone we may know in common...put it in in BOLD letters...!

"Hello Mr Birddog...I love you're company...I am great....give me a call or I will stalk you. Oh by the way...Another Squirt is my reference"

You see here's an example of a great cover letter...but a weak reference

....bottom of pile!!!

I have seen a 2 page cover letter and it was not even addressed to anyone.. Dear Sir/Madame/ Or to whom it may concern.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 9:52 am

I guess ultimately I'm trying to decide between 12500 time and turbine pic time. There are other factors that lean me towards the king air job (significant other) but at the same time the 1900 job would likely improve my overall hapiness. I might be getting ahead of myself anyway, I haven't heard from anyone in authority about the 1900 job only through the grapevine at this point.

another quart · Post by **another quart** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:06 am

Northern
Pimp yourself out, its all about work ethics at this point. I know medivac companies take it to the limit but they must meet the required days off, its just the quality of the days that is the problem. Your stuck in Sioux Lookout, dryden, or Timmins. I think that is more the issue.
I have to agree with Bird Breath that resumes that come across the desk with lots of jobs in a couple of years are set aside. There is no loyalty with Pilots why do you think we have training bonds. Its jump ship unless they can at least tie people down for a year or two. It all costs money and if I were an employer I wouldnt hire a guy that is prone to leave. Anyway Im sure it will never change its always better to go somewhere every time a job comes up.

Wheels · Post by **Wheels** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 1:00 pm

How do training bonds work anyways? Do you have to fork over the cash and they pay it back by-weekly over a period of time? Is it separate from pay or added to the pay cheque? How do you guys get the cash anyways? Are there banks that deal with this sort of thing? Im at the end of my rope here, I couldnt afford a PPC PCC at this point. Any tips?
I dread the thought of going back instructing this spring

another quart · Post by **another quart** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 1:11 pm

Wheels
Training bonds differ depending on the company but mostly you get hired sign a bond for x amount. They train and PPC you and it usually takes a year to work the bond off. You still get paid minus a pro rated cost of the bond. If you fail they give a second chance then if you fail again you owe. The company takes the bond from whatever bank and you pay it off on an insructors wage. So you pretty much have to pass to at least make enough to eat.
Good business to get into eh...

jimmyjazz · Post by **jimmyjazz** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 2:09 pm

I read an interview with the worlds youngest A340 capt started flying at 21 at 32 was an A340 capt when asked how he did it he said besides good timeing he never turned down a job in bigger metal no mater what the pay or location he would work it as best he could get to left seat and start aiming for right seat of something bigger. If you want the airlines this sounds like preety good advice you'll end up getting there with probably half pic and half cojoe but you'l most likely get there faster than the guy who gets to a multi turbine capt then sits and wait for something better.
Remember 2 steps forward 1 step back still puts you ahead.

Panama Jack · Post by **Panama Jack** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 2:59 pm

Only bad thing is, "jimmyjazz", no matter how much luck you have and sacrifices you make, it's pretty unlikely that you will make Airbus A-340 Captain here in Canada at age 32. Are you talking about the guy who appeared in a picture dressed in pilot uniform and combat boots at Canada 3000?

And "I am Birddog," please, no more fetish photos whip

another quart · Post by **another quart** » Sat Mar 13, 2004 3:16 pm

JJ its articles like that when read you dream about. That sure is not fact maybe 1 in 10000. Multi Turbine PIC rules over any right seat.
All these 727 guys that took jobs sideways that have under 1000 hours are thinking its right seat next in the 27. Just wait and see how many go to the right seat out of 10 guys. But its a jet right, its called career on hold until I go through the ranks on PIC and total time. The ones that are over the hurdle will have the chance but it will take forever. Its trend and trends are generally consistant especially in this business. No offence but hard work prevails