Regional Career

[moe]

Cringy is an understatement.
Embarrassing is better.

[Victory]

Just smile and nod. It's always fascinating to see the mental gymnastics of the regional pilot telling you why his job is better than AC.

[Outlaw58]

Just smile and nod. It's always fascinating to see the mental gymnastics of the regional pilot telling you why his job is better than AC.

Actually, I question the validity of the argument coming from anyone feeling the need to defend his or her career choices on a public forum.

58

[hithere]

Ok I’ve been watching this train wreck of a thread for a couple of weeks and it’s time to inject some reality. The OP(Captain Kirk) was PFO by AC which under the new PML(post March 2019) is quite the accomplishment(in a bad way) On an annualized basis 60% of AC new hires must come from Jazz. And 90% of all Jazz pilots interviewed must be hired. Captain Kirk was PFO under this agreement so AC really doesn’t want him. If he had not started his ridiculously self indulgent YouTube posts he may have been a candidate for a second chance interview but I think we can all agree that ain’t going to happen. So he has no choice but to promote the “regional career”. Dude the are a lot of reasons to enjoy a regional career but your stupid videos reek of sour grapes. Just enjoy the good contract and benefits that you have at Jazz and stop trying to be a Kardashian.

[altiplano]

I was told once by someone in the hiring side, that over the years, the average age of a new hire at Air Canada has been 35.5.

So I'm not sure where 35 as a cutoff comes from... esp. considering 60 was the retirement until recently, now 65 if you're so inclined... I reckon a 25 year career provides lots of opportunities... A 20 year career, or even less also...

[CaptainKirk]

Interesting points posted above. The other outright negative posts I’m ignoring. Wanna know why? Because I never act like my life is perfect. It took a lot of ups and downs to get to this point. If I have flaws and losses then you have them too. Super dickish’ of you guys to bring up a PFO and my life flaws etc. You’re not any perfect yourself bro!

As for the regional career. My original post was asking who else on here decided to stay and for what reasons. I’m opening a dialogue that was missing on this forum.

Anyways, I’m off in vacation.
Fly Safe and look out for each other.

CaptainKirk

[MortyBubba]

Just smile and nod. It's always fascinating to see the mental gymnastics of the regional pilot telling you why his job is better than AC.

Look at it the other way.

Always interest seeing why people keep saying that AC is the better job. The key word I hear form nearly everyone at AC is "eventually". Eventually the schedule gets better, eventually the pay gets better, eventually eventually eventually.

If AC is the right choice for you great. If the regional career is the right choice for you great.

Only the person making the decision knows.

I am making regional a career and can't be happier.

MortyBubba

[Hangry]

Interesting points posted above. The other outright negative posts I’m ignoring. Wanna know why? Because I never act like my life is perfect. It took a lot of ups and downs to get to this point. If I have flaws and losses then you have them too. Super dickish’ of you guys to bring up a PFO and my life flaws etc. You’re not any perfect yourself bro!

As for the regional career. My original post was asking who else on here decided to stay and for what reasons. I’m opening a dialogue that was missing on this forum.

Anyways, I’m off in vacation.
Fly Safe and look out for each other.

CaptainKirk

I agree. Super douche move blasting him about his PFO.

[DirtyDashDriver]

As for the regional career. My original post was asking who else on here decided to stay and for what reasons. I’m opening a dialogue that was missing on this forum.

I'll bite and explain why I'm likely staying at a regional.

For starters, I don't commute. I've done it and don't want to do it again. A move to either mainline carrier flying red or teal means a commute. I figure my son deserves more than to see his old man through FaceTime.

Second, my quality of life, even working 16 to 18 days, is pretty good. I'm not a line pilot anymore - I mostly run the sim for training and rides, do the odd bit in the office, and when I do fly it's a one or two-day pairing. I can't recall the last time I did a four-day pairing. That means I'm home, having dinner with the family for the better part of the month. Teaching is something I could do at a mainline carrier, but it again means a commute and by the time it happened, my son would be in high school. Those are days I can't get back.

Third, we're a single-income family who has worked very hard to have only 7 years left on the mortgage and no other debt. We're both coming up on 40 and we don't aspire to see our credit card and credit line maxed out again with the mortgage extending to 15 years. While financially we would likely be better off in the long run at a mainline carrier, that minimum of 4 years at FO wages put's us in a financial spot we don't want to go back to (we identified it would likely take around a decade to get back to where we are today).

Maybe my decisions would be different if my wife was working or the economy was trending up from a recession and not towards one. If I was even five years younger, my decision would definitely be different. But I've never chased metal and I've only ever needed enough money to be comfortable. I can't take it with me into the ground, and my son will already have a pretty little sum when I shuffle off the mortal coil, so I may as well give him a couple of good memories along the way. Air Canada and WestJet cannot do that for me; at least, not right now. That's why I'm likely sticking it out.

If I'm wrong, oh well. It won't matter in 30 to 40 years!

[altiplano]

I agree. Super douche move blasting him about his PFO.

Especially when it would be so much easier - and deserving - to blast him about those YouTube videos... that's some painful shit.

You at least need to be a hot European girl or something if you're doing to that kind of thing.

The psych eval seems to work apparently.

[CaptainKirk]

As for the regional career. My original post was asking who else on here decided to stay and for what reasons. I’m opening a dialogue that was missing on this forum.

I'll bite and explain why I'm likely staying at a regional.

For starters, I don't commute. I've done it and don't want to do it again. A move to either mainline carrier flying red or teal means a commute. I figure my son deserves more than to see his old man through FaceTime.

Second, my quality of life, even working 16 to 18 days, is pretty good. I'm not a line pilot anymore - I mostly run the sim for training and rides, do the odd bit in the office, and when I do fly it's a one or two-day pairing. I can't recall the last time I did a four-day pairing. That means I'm home, having dinner with the family for the better part of the month. Teaching is something I could do at a mainline carrier, but it again means a commute and by the time it happened, my son would be in high school. Those are days I can't get back.

Third, we're a single-income family who has worked very hard to have only 7 years left on the mortgage and no other debt. We're both coming up on 40 and we don't aspire to see our credit card and credit line maxed out again with the mortgage extending to 15 years. While financially we would likely be better off in the long run at a mainline carrier, that minimum of 4 years at FO wages put's us in a financial spot we don't want to go back to (we identified it would likely take around a decade to get back to where we are today).

Maybe my decisions would be different if my wife was working or the economy was trending up from a recession and not towards one. If I was even five years younger, my decision would definitely be different. But I've never chased metal and I've only ever needed enough money to be comfortable. I can't take it with me into the ground, and my son will already have a pretty little sum when I shuffle off the mortal coil, so I may as well give him a couple of good memories along the way. Air Canada and WestJet cannot do that for me; at least, not right now. That's why I'm likely sticking it out.

If I'm wrong, oh well. It won't matter in 30 to 40 years!

Kudos to taking care of your family and making wise financial decisions. It’s not easy but it’s worth it.

[CaptainKirk]

I agree. Super douche move blasting him about his PFO.

Especially when it would be so much easier - and deserving - to blast him about those YouTube videos... that's some painful shit.

You at least need to be a hot European girl or something if you're doing to that kind of thing.

The psych eval seems to work apparently.

My video need work I agree haha. I’m a natural introvert and immigrated to Canada in grade 10 with little knowledge of speaking English. YouTube is a way for me to express my love for aviation while working on my speaking ability. You try recording yourself and play it back,not even to post online, just for yourself. You tell me how it sounds and how well you can articulate bro!

[FL-280]

Yo Captain Kirk, speaking ability aside. Which I do believe you do fine at... i would have never guessed you came here in grade 10.
Maybe people wouldnt give you such a hard time if it wasnt for the silly salary video. Come on bro, a year 1 or 2 captain isnt making that much cash with just a little overtime.

[hithere]

I’m not blasting him about the PFO. Heck I got PFO by AC a couple of years ago and was super bummed out about it at the time. But I sure as hell didn’t start posting YouTube videos about how awesome my “choice” was.

[TT1900]

The other outright negative posts I’m ignoring.

.....but you didn't.

Wanna know why?

Not really. See above.

Because I never act like my life is perfect. It took a lot of ups and downs to get to this point.

Alright, you get points here for using a pun.

If I have flaws and losses then you have them too.

Flawed logic on this one. I, and others, may have flaws but they have nothing to do with you.

Super dickish’ of you guys to bring up a PFO and my life flaws etc.

Yes, I agree that bringing up your PFO wasn't required but I want to explore this one a bit. Why do you think being PFO'd is a life flaw? Is a career at AC, or lack thereof, a significant metric in your life and legacy? Perhaps certain character flaws contributed to the PFO, you aren't the first and won't be the last, but instead of treating it like a slap in the face and reflection of your life why not just treat it as a learning experience, grow from it, and move on or try again later? I admit to having zero experience in commercial aviation, I'm a military guy. I've seen several dozen people removed from Air Force pilot training and normally they're pretty crushed by the ordeal, but most move on in a positive direction. Several are now working at Jazz, Encore, and a few have even made it to AC proper. Point is at the end of the day it's just a job, not your life.

You’re not any perfect yourself bro!

You sure?

[CPT.HarshColdReality]

I don't know why people have the balls to attack CaptainKirk hiding behing ghost accounts. This man enjoys doing youtube videos and happens to start a thread on AVCanada to feel the beat of the industry. I am deeply shocked and saddned by some of the responses that I have seen here. CaptainKirk keep it up man, don't let idiots troll you down.

Im a regional guy that is also having this profound debate of regional vs mainline. I am between 30 and 35, married with kids. I sit mid-list FO and working on my ATPL. Do I apply at AC or remain regional? My main concern is seniority. How will it play out staying put or going mainline. Either or are good jobs a provide an honest way to put food on the table. Amen!

[altiplano]

mid-list FO and only just WORKING on an ATPL.. that's astonishing...

what a business we're in these days... there was a time, not that long ago, that most would have killed to get a job and have a career at Jazz... make 6 figures, good contract, good training, good equipment, benefits, home a lot...

I had 5000+ hours command and an ATPL I would have done anything to be an FO on the -8 at Jazz and never could get a call from them.

Pretty good job by most standards... not everyone can go Mainline...

[Eric Janson]

@CaptainKirk

You're still not getting it imho.

I guess you can take the man out of South Asia but you can't take South Asia out of the man!

You're not the only one that has faced hard times - that's called LIFE.

Here's some free advice (which you previously said you didn't value....).

When an Airline looks for a candidate they are looking for a certain type of person and looking for certain traits.

One of them is Maturity.

Another is the ability to handle criticism.

From your posts I would suggest these are areas you may want to work on.

As for your Social Media presence - you may want to re-think that as well.

If I was recruiting the first thing I would do is enter your name, e-mail and phone number into a search engine and see what shows up.

How do you think you come across? (I haven't watched any of your videos )

A lot of companies do this now - Millennials want to put their entire lives online - makes it easy to eliminate people.

Some companies value discretion and are very sensitive about their public perception and reputation (sometimes overly so).

I'm familiar with cases where a complaint from a client has resulted in one entire cabin crew being fired and another where a Captain was removed from a contract after a complaint from the client.

Finally - I've failed my share of interviews over the years - I know it's never nice. If it happens - learn from it and move on.

[goingnowherefast]

The issue is with your attitude towards the PFO. You clearly wanted a job at AC. Now that AC sent you that PFO, you changed your story to say regional is better anyway. It's the hypocrisy that people are giving you a hard time for.

[CPT.HarshColdReality]

mid-list FO and only just WORKING on an ATPL.. that's astonishing...

care to elaborate on this? not sure what you mean. cheers