Low Paid Flying Job vs SSTR

[portsharbourflyer]

Even with the current market, lets just say contacts from my previous time as a full time instructor are seeing one or two opportunities coming out of the wood work. In this market you would think I would be mad not to pursue these.

Returned to contract Engineering after getting laid off from the turboprop job in 08, revalidated the Instructors ratings last summer and haven't been able to find any part time instructors work since.

Now as said a few leads have been put my way (of course by no means guarenteed), however the drawback is these are are seasonal jobs, 1) One a JAR 23 aircraft operated multi crew and one the opportunity to run a registered facility ( Additional single engine hours really are not that useful except for the fact it is currency and back in the flying industry). However both will involve living 5 hours from home, taking a 30,000 pay cut and needing to borrow an additional 8-10 thousand pounds to subsidise living expenses for the season. Plus the added strain of living away for from the family for five days of the week. So in real terms the cost of this seasonal work is 38000 to me.

If I stay contracting I will clear all my debts in 6-9 months, and in a further 6-12 months raise the cash for a SSTR (eg: Ryanair or some such similar scheme).
Not saying I agree with SSTR but see the figures above.


So just wondered in that situation would you pursue the seasonal opportunities or stay put with the contracting to raise cash for a SSTR.

[ScamArtist]

Seems like a really big sacrifice, if I were in your position i.e with family, then I'd stay put and pay your debts off so your ready for the future.

[Piltdown Man]

Cash is King! Forget flying until it pays. Also, if you are going to make a make this a career, it probably a good idea to get paid for it. So don't pay for a SSTR, this is a cost for your employer to meet. Just because cretins out there are paying for a rating doesn't mean that you have to. The next step by these grotty airlines, believe me, will be F/O's being forced to work for a few years for nothing, just to get 1,000 hours on type - "to be employable." How can you support a family on nothing?

When we start recruiting (who knows when), the newbies will be paid from day one, their type rating will be paid for and they won't be bonded. Within two years they'll be above the national average and they'll retire on a proper income. The hotels will be good and the (provided) crew meals edible. You'll have proper day's off and not be hounded about fuel. And many of the seats being sold will be at rates comparable with loco's. How? A strong union who knows how to negotiate.

So may I suggest that you join now? It won't cost a penny until you are employed and when you do earn, it is tax deductible. So is it "pay to fly" or "fly for pay"?

PM