You pays your money and takes your choice............. and what a load of money it is too! If only the rewards seemed as extreme as the outlay.
After 6000 hours rotary and 4500 hours airline you've gotta wonder if the green grass syndrome ever goes away. Kind of ironic, but it seems the "higher" up the ladder you get the easier it all becomes. Compared to rotary, airline life is a doss, with someone else laying it all on for you. Rarely does a difficult decision have to be taken. Rarely does a lateral thought have to be processed. Just walk on board, strap in and head off in a straight line for the next 8-14 hours. Eat the food, chat to the girls and look out the window. Winge about the mangement, the ever eroding terms and conditions and the crappy layovers that are too short now to recover from the flight before. Don't fall for the big shiny 200 million dollar megajet carrying 400 people bollox, it's all just the same. A command is a command, five human lives in the back just as important.
Getting the picture? Rotary life was hard, challenging, not well paid enough, but it sure was real flying with great professional satisfaction. It was hands on in a life of excess automation and even the longest sectors were'nt that long. And you know what, on the whole the people were better. Broad statement I know, but just personal experience.
Often I'm asked what is the perfect flying job? Anyone who's been in the industry more than ten minutes and 1000 hours knows it doesn't exist.... it's a fallacy to think otherwise. But if I could ever design it for me it would involve a healthy mix of rotary and fixed wing flying, provide a huge salary and pension, with at least 14 days off a month, six weeks leave a year, and a friendly understanding management. Like I said, it doesn't exist.
If anyone can prove otherwise, my CV's in the post.
And the other thing we often forget, is that it means different things to different folks. Where you are in your career and life can alter the answers and outlook you have. As a young F/O starting his or her career, almost any sacrifice seems acceptable. But the progress of time brings other needs. Listen to all the info and advice you can, don't be too harsh in judgement of others, and take decisions that seem right for you. Be prepared to make mistakes, for it's okay to do so. Be prepared to learn from those mistakes, for not doing so is less okay.......
Good luck to one and all.
You pays your money and takes your choice........