Which would you rather do?

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:17 pm

What would you rather do:

Fast tract to the airlines (right/Left seat 1900, straight to AC) - 5 years to regional level, 7 years to majors.

or

Have a fun, see the world, fly different types of planes and flying (pistons, turbo props, small jets) in different settings - reach majors in 10-12 years.

And Why?

Cheers.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:24 pm

Sorry is it 7 total to reach majors? Or scenario 2 with 10-12???

Yeah, sorry, I'll take the easy(euro) way out majors in 7 years...

Retire and do the "fun" stuff at the end if you so please.....

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Mon May 16, 2005 8:28 pm

Life is a journey not a destination. That's an overused saying, but I would take the long road. The only issue with taking the long road in aviation, is the instability of the industry itself. Now if someone said, you can travel all over this blue marble, fly plenty of different aircraft, while being pretty much guranteed employment...well that would be perfect. But aviation isn't stable, and probably never will be, so shooting for the quickest means for employment with an established carrier isn't a bad idea.

Ryan Coke · Post by **Ryan Coke** » Mon May 16, 2005 10:33 pm

My ambitious side sure would've been tempted if I had the chance to jump right into a major airline early in my career, but I really cherish the wide variety of jobs and aircraft I have had/flown. And I do believe that those diverse types of flying experience really help make a person a better pilot.

That's why I hate to see pilots (usually in the early stages of their career) trying to argue about one type of flying being so much better than another (bush vs instructor vs floats vs charter etc). No matter what kind of flying you start with, if that is all you have done then that really impairs your overall ability. Doing different types of flying, in different airplanes, really create a well rounded pilot with valuable experience. All IMO, of course.

x-wind · Post by **x-wind** » Mon May 16, 2005 11:29 pm

Well as a newbi I sure hope I have a desicion like that to make. I think I would take the long and intresting route...but I do want to move out of my parents house somtime this decade so I may scrape the plan of being a flight instuctor for somthing that pays alittle better.

ps: I'm just about done my CPL and I'm 20.

fougapilot · Post by **fougapilot** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:24 am

Option 3:

Have fun, see the world, meet life long friends, keep my first girlfriend, fly piston, turbo prop, medium jet, warbirds, aerobatics, find a good paying job that only make me push a metal tube for 200hrs per year, not loose my dignity on the way up, remember my roots and most importantly.... screw the majors.

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Tue May 17, 2005 5:32 am

You're the man.

DHQ · Post by **DHQ** » Tue May 17, 2005 6:52 am

Sounds like you've got a good deal fougapilot.

I'm currently on the long but fun plan and lovin it. Sometimes I wish I was making more money, but world wide travel and fantastic flying make up for it. I'm not even sure if I ever want to end up at a major airline. I'm a bit jealous of friends who have stable jobs, but at this stage I have no obligations and don't really require stability, so I figure I should have my fun while I still can.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue May 17, 2005 7:05 am

Fast-track. All of that prop flying up north may be enjoyable for some, but my goal is to fly heavy metal. And because this industry is so unstable I'm taking the first chance I get. Besides you can see more of the world with an airline than you can with a small bush carrier. All you see up there anyways, is trees, rocks and water. The world is much bigger than Canada.

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Tue May 17, 2005 7:36 am

I would fast-track to retirement and join a band!!

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:13 am

I started flying in 1974 at age 18. Started Instructing in 1978.

Started Bush flying in 1980: C185, C206, C207 Wheels, Ski, Floats. Waterbombing in Canso's. Bird Dogged for AirSpray. Corporate in C414. Charter in C402, C421. Regional Airline J31, EMB120, SHorts 360, DH8, F28.

Finally made it to Air Canada in 2000 after 25 years and 14,000 hours.

I had an interesting 25 years but I think I would rather have fastracked it.
The money and lifestyle more than make up for the "interesting" times.

But now I'm laid off and "Lost In Saigon"

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:40 am

Lost in Saigon
If rumours are true you should be enjoying those stable pay checks soon enough. Any idea when you'll get the call back?

As for me, I’m glad I’ve had a chance to stop and smell the Roses. I am truly thankful I didn't get on with regional 4 years ago, layoffs aside; I would have missed out of some pretty cool experiences, I’m glad I got to take a detour.

Cheers.

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:55 am

I already by-passed the recall. Soon I'll ask for a leave of absence to finish my contract here in Vietnam. I am having way too much fun and making way too much money to go back now........

ZLIN 142C · Post by **ZLIN 142C** » Tue May 17, 2005 9:02 am

Life is too short to limit yourself to one kind of flying. Variety is the spice of life, unless of course you are fixated on one goal to the exclusion of all else. If you can't be happy where you are in your journey, then it is all pointless. I want to experience many different aircraft and missions in my career, and eventually settle without any regrets for opportunities lost or dreams unrealized. The majors may be an ultimate destination for some, and I too want that experience, but I don't know if the airlines will prove to be the pinnacle of my career, or a stepping stone in my journey. Time will tell.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:07 am

Ah yes, a friend from AC also went to Vietnam, good money there but lots of flying. How many times are you allowed to bypass a recall once or twice?

rotateandfly · Post by **rotateandfly** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:34 am

Actually that's one of my biggest worries. Im opting for an airline ab-initio training that, if I succeed, will get me in the right seat of an airliner in a matter of 2 years. However, I'd sooo much rather be an instructor for a while , actually experience aviation!

Cheers! Dave

fougapilot · Post by **fougapilot** » Tue May 17, 2005 6:42 pm

DHQ wrote:Sounds like you've got a good deal fougapilot.

I do and I sincerely hope it will last another 20years after which I plan on moving to some remote pacific island and fly a twotter. Would make flight planning easy, VFR or hurricane...

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Wed May 18, 2005 2:30 am

How many times are you allowed to bypass a recall once or twice?

You can by-pass as many times as you like providing there is someone junior to you to accept the recall.

They'll keep going until they reach the bottom and then work their way up the list. At that point I have 3 options:

1) accept the recall
2) apply for a leave of absence (to finish a contract)
3) quit Air Canada

ZLIN 142C · Post by **ZLIN 142C** » Wed May 18, 2005 5:36 pm

rotateandfly wrote:Actually that's one of my biggest worries. Im opting for an airline ab-initio training that, if I succeed, will get me in the right seat of an airliner in a matter of 2 years. However, I'd sooo much rather be an instructor for a while , actually experience aviation!

Just a suggestion:

If you have an opportunity to fly airliners, take it. You can become a flight instructor at any time if you so wish - just think how much more you can teach a new pilot when you have thirty thousand hours of experience and many different types of aircraft in your logbook. I consider flight instruction one of my ideal retirement jobs. And the best thing - your wide-eyed pupils will refer to you as "Wise Sage" or "Master" or something similar.

RVR12 · Post by **RVR12** » Sat May 21, 2005 9:49 pm

Long way... The reason I got into the industry is because I love flying and aviation, not to make an easy buck with the majors. I would KILL (well not really!) for some time on some vintage stuff or even like a DC-3... Stick and Rudder are the way it should be... I guess its a career in the bush for me!

AOW · Post by **AOW** » Sat May 21, 2005 10:12 pm

Stick and Rudder are the way it should be

I'm with you there! Who needs this yoke crap?!?!?!?!
sticks just make an airplane "better"

leftcoaster · Post by **leftcoaster** » Sat May 21, 2005 11:33 pm

Get that all important number as fast as you can and then take a leave later and fly the exciting contracts whilst maintaining your seniority at the airline.

Dockjock · Post by **Dockjock** » Sun May 22, 2005 6:58 am

Unromantically I voted for fasttrack. But what is fasttrack in Canada anyway? Compared to the rest of the world, even the fastest, most connected pilot here still has to work about 5 years to get there. None of this 200-hr right seat A320 crap that goes on in Europe (where that F/O is probably making only $30K for that job by the way, and paid for his own rating). That would be a shame, to be a bored, jaded automaton by the age of 25.
So if the fast track in Canada is considered 7 years or so, hook me up. Still had plenty of fun up to now, but its time to get in a position to make some real money.
C180 floats
DHC-2 floats
C172 banners/traffic
C208B cargo
C208 amphib
C206 amphib
B1900D skeds
Never flew in the arctic though, or bird dogged. Maybe on my next layoff. Cheers

Cool Rythms! · Post by **Cool Rythms!** » Sun May 22, 2005 9:30 pm

I guess one thing that factors in here, is your age. If you're 23 years old and you already have some half decent experience (say a couple thousand hours or so), then one might consider the long road to the majors. On the other hand, the other type of flying certainly will afford you more diverse experience. I'm sure that flying for the majors has it's perks. But flying as a contract pilot, in different parts of the world, would be pretty exciting as well.

Oh yeah, I did'nt answer the question! I'm probably the type, to travel around the world, flying different types of planes and experiencing different cultures. Sure, I'd like to fly the big iron, but there's opportunities for that as well overseas. A pilot, who has had the opportunity to fly multiple aircraft types and experience new and exciting places around the world, will have more interesting stories for his/her grandchildren.

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Sun May 22, 2005 9:56 pm

There would not be aviation if the aircraft were not fun to fly.

hazatude - 2005

Which would you rather do?

If you had the choice how would you plan your career path?

Which would you rather do?