ddto - I came into Flt Ops from a military background and my advice to you is to stay in/rejoin the mob!!
Having worked in Flt Ops for a regional airline for some time now,I can tell you from the heart that it is c--p!
Basically (depending of course on the Company you work for) it is constant high pressure and stress for piss-poor money.
My company has cut down the Ops staffing levels to 1 on days, working 12 hour shifts (days and nights) with no breaks and no shift pay. We get 20 days annual and 8PH - the latest plan is for us to have to take 1.5 days leave to get 1 shift off, whilst a PH will only be given as a lieu day if we work it(basically, if a PH falls on a rostered day off you're off anyway, so you don't need a PH!!!!!).
On top of this, we have a management that thinks (and has said to our faces) that Ops is the "toilet of any airline, where everbody dumps their **** ". I'm racking my brains trying to think of something positive to say about the job, but the only high note I can think of is that I may have found a new position away from it!!
I am, of course, only speaking from the limited experience of one Company, but would advise you to choose your employer carefully and don't get conned like I did- you'll get a lot of good gen from very experienced Ops guys on this page and they will advise you on Companies to approach/avoid. GOOD LUCK!!
[This message has been edited by roger out (edited 18 November 2000).]