About a year ago a collegue, Turboprop Check Captain, 25+ years experience, left to pursue a Jet job with that LCC. You know, the one Senator Nick is looking at.
This is what he did to chase the dream.
- Paid $30K+ for the endorsement.
- Was without an income for 3 months untill checked to line!
- Commuted back and forth to Darwin untill a Sydney base became available. Uprooting the family was not an option.
- Due to his low seniority, will probably never hold a command (he is now 50 years old) because of a deal done by the union WRT an MOU with the parent company.
- He is actually earning less (albeit marginally) than his previous position when his former C&T allowances are taken into account!
- Being absolutely flogged, up to 1000 hours per year. Although that's not unusual these days?
How do I know all this? Ran into him the other day. The grass is definitely not always greener. Whilst these things are more often than not about timing, if experienced, supposedly astute, middle aged people leap into these deals and then have regrets, what hope is there for the profession.
Pilots are definitely their own worst enemies!