Biggest decision of my life

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:09 am

Within 24 hours,I have to make......as the title says.
I have posted before saying that the last time I flew was 14 months ago as a medivac pilot (first officer) in a King Air A100. I was laid off and found a job with one of our fine Canadian Railways as a conductor. They pay me $60,000 yr to work 2x a week and the job is fairly easy,although switching out cars in cold weather is not real fun. With lots of time off I was quit happy with a solid income and benefits,especially with a kid on the way.Then, the other day,one of Canada's top cargo carriers did something I never thought that they would do.They called me up and offered me an interview for a second officer position on a 727. Not taking it to seriously I went to the interview and...............was offered the job on the spot. I have been torn apart with this desicion for the last 24 hours. The security of the teamsters and the railway vs my dream job(at half the pay in making now). I know I wont find any answers on this board,but I don't mind any comments if you are so inclined.

twinpratts · Post by **twinpratts** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:11 am

What do you want to ne doing in 5, 10, 15 years from now?
Good luck.

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:14 am

twinpratts wrote:What do you want to ne doing in 5, 10, 15 years from now?
Good luck.

I want to be flying. I should mention however that I am turning 40 next month and this cargo company has no pention plan.

IFR Pilot · Post by **IFR Pilot** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:31 am

That is a tough decision... I'm not sure if this would require you moving the family, but if so be careful... What I've learned over the years is family and life style are number 1...
This 727 spot could be stable, it might not be but it will get old after a while... My 2 cents... Good Luck!

Babel Fish · Post by **Babel Fish** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:35 am

my 2 cents...stick w/ being a conductor (good income, pesion, security, etc.) and get your instructor rating so you can fly (and earn a bit more cash) on your days off. Just a thought.

Yoyoma · Post by **Yoyoma** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:49 am

I'm going to be selfish and say, stick with the Railway! The 727 sounds soooo tempting but you have to look at the other factors that have motivated you to stay away for 14 months.

Unless your wife and kid are willing to ride the rollercoaster with ya, be careful, you don't need to end up in a 30K flying job paying your wife monthly diaper and baby money!

I had to turn down an A320 job in 2003, 24 months after I quit flying, It was hard and for months, I was on airliners.net looking at cockpit photos of the machine...I feel much better about my decision right now! I've come to know throughout the years that aviation decisions are always clouded and emotional, often due to the aircraft involved!

Good Luck!
Yoyoma

punk · Post by **punk** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:00 am

Well...isn't life funny sometimes! Congrats on your job offer. The company that you got offered the job with is a decent Canadian company. The pilot's are a great group of people & management is very good. However, it is night freight...it's brutal on the body & mind...at any age. Some adjust better than others but it does take years off of your life and being gone 15-20+ days a month..you'll feel like crap most of the time. With a child on the way...being GONE for so long will be very hard for you & your wife. It will break your heart to see your child scream when you come down in your uniform to leave for an 8 day pairing. Also, chances are you will be in the back seat for at least 2 years...can you afford that financially? And of course no pension....however you must follow your heart and I'm sure your wife would prefer you happy & gone instead of home & miserable...but you have to ask yourself...IS IT WORTH IT? Can you just keep flying on the side for fun? Best of both worlds or do you want to fly a jet before you die? All the best and let us know what you decide.

CAL · Post by **CAL** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:16 am

is your other half supportive?

I am glad to see it isnt just me that is stuck with this decision...its a hard one.

frog · Post by **frog** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:23 am

Beiing away from home with a baby at home is hell, you have no idea!

Canus Chinookus · Post by **Canus Chinookus** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:24 am

oh man, this is NOT a tough decision! (JMO) If the position they offered was FO, not SO, THEN I'd say tough choice there. You'd fly more if you stuck to your engineer position, IMHO. And it isn't so bad either, 1/2 my family are/were railroaders.

SO's don't fly, they sit in the back seat. Early in my career, still out of work I was offered an SO seat with KFC but I politely turned them down. I eventually found a job banging around in a 180 on floats in NWO. Glad I did that. Seems that float time, then single pilot IFR in a light twin helped my resume far more than back seat in a jet.

something else to think about,

cheers.

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:29 am

Thanks to all that added comments.

To fill the picture in a little more: I have no children,just one due in June.
My fiance is a little stressed out,to say the least,at this decision. Neither of us slept very well last night. On the other hand,the cargo job will bring here closes to her very large family (8 siblings). She worries about the very tight budget and the fact that the houses we've been looking at would be out of the question for a few more years. I've been told that this cargo company is pushing to have all the crews work 15 days a month instead of the now 18-20 days, but there will be alot of away time. In the years ahead as I get a better position with the railway(main board of conductors and engineers) I will also be away about half the days of the month,24 hours at a time. The 36k at the cargo company will greatly increase when I move to the right seat in 1-1.5yrs. I believe the right seat pulls in 55-60k.

Brint · Post by **Brint** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:29 am

Sounds like a pretty good gig with the railway. Secure, good pay and allows you to be at home. The novelty of flying the 727 will wear off quick I think. Considering all the factors, I think I would stay put. There are too many pilots stuck in jobs they tolerate, only because that is the only thing they are qualified to do. Here you have a great alternative.

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:34 am

Canus Chinookus wrote:oh man, this is NOT a tough decision! (JMO) If the position they offered was FO, not SO, THEN I'd say tough choice there. You'd fly more if you stuck to your engineer position, IMHO. And it isn't so bad either, 1/2 my family are/were railroaders.

SO's don't fly, they sit in the back seat. Early in my career, still out of work I was offered an SO seat with KFC but I politely turned them down. I eventually found a job banging around in a 180 on floats in NWO. Glad I did that. Seems that float time, then single pilot IFR in a light twin helped my resume far more than back seat in a jet.

something else to think about,

cheers.

I don't believe I will ever get offered a F.O.'s position with my time unless I take a little backseat time first. I have 2600 total,1000multi,500 multi turbine.........but NO turbine PIC.

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:50 pm

WOW....what happened to all the posts.......anyway thanks guys/girls. You have all been very helpful,no matter what your opinion.

THE ANSWER: When I'm clipping along the tracks,I often think, one day my son or daughter will become a pilot of a large jet and tell me what it's all about..........................today,with your help, I decided that I'd tell them.

Hello Aviation................I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

abc xyz · Post by **abc xyz** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:53 pm

Hey Max - All the best with you new endeavours have fun and fly safe

Congrats

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:57 pm

abc xyz wrote:Hey Max - All the best with you new endeavours have fun and fly safe Congrats

Thanks ABC. You may be the smart one to stay with the tracks. I just had this image of myself when I'm 65, looking back and wondering....what if. It scared the hell out of me.

Good luck to you.

LostinRotation · Post by **LostinRotation** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:27 pm

LOL !
I had no idea about any of this...hell ya, glad your back old man !

There are a few places in my area that are pretty nice and about 20 mins from the airport.
Call me tomorrow

-=0=LIR=0=-

d-to · Post by **d-to** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:58 pm

If it were Air Canada the choice would be easy. But an operator flying old B727's, as well as starting as a second officer (FE) on 30000CAD should make the decision somewhat easier. Especially that with Your present income You probably could affort obtaining an instructor rating.This would allow You to fly during Your days off. Do not forget that a lot of men consider being a train-conductor a dream job.
Put Your wife and child first.
I wish You the best of luck.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:12 pm

I have a choice of my own... I think I'll go with blue.. What you think? And if you want to trade, I'll take either of your jobs, and give you ALL the ties... OR you can take What's in the box?

"What's in the Box?"

squawk 7600 · Post by **squawk 7600** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:03 am

MaxSausage,

The fact that you are even asking yourself what to do, says right there what you should do. Don't let money pave your way....follow your dreams and take the flying job. The money will come some day soon.

And for a little bit of security....look into taking a leave of absence at the Railway job.

SierraPoppa · Post by **SierraPoppa** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:16 am

squawk 7600 wrote:MaxSausage,

The fact that you are even asking yourself what to do, says right there what you should do. Don't let money pave your way....follow your dreams and take the flying job. The money will come some day soon.

And for a little bit of security....look into taking a leave of absence at the Railway job.

It's not just a matter of money though is it? There is job security and a pension to be considered. Important factors in todays world.

If it's possible to go with the leave of absence that is an avenue well worth considering.

Is it not true that a lot of conductors move up to be engineers at some point in their careers at an even higher rate of pay? Something else that perhaps requires some thought?

abc xyz · Post by **abc xyz** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:45 am

at CP its mandatory to take the engineers course for everyone i believe hired after 1998 - not everyone gets through it for a variety of reasons (skill, choice etc.) but soon as your number comes up its off to Calgary for sim and book work then on the job training for up to a year doing a variety of work. they want everybody in the running trades to be able to do either job. in toronto now its people with about 10 yrs in going through. and yes engineers get more $ for the same job

MaximumSausage · Post by **MaximumSausage** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:56 am

Yesterday I accepted the offer from the cargo company(he needed the answer from me yesterday)......today I get a letter in the mail from the railroad saying I've been laid off

Sometimes, you just seem to do everything right. I'm going out now to buy a lottary ticket.

abc xyz · Post by **abc xyz** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:00 pm

i had a dream the other night i won so the jackpot is already spoken for

flyinthebug · Post by **flyinthebug** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:35 pm

Good on ya Max.. It all sounds pretty incredible. In my senario that I posted a reply to and has somehow been removed? .. I said "what if" the lay off comes in 6 months. Luck IS your friend. Congrats.

Ok, but what happened to all the replies? I came back today and see many including mine had been removed? Anyone? Mod?

Fly safe and wb Max.