Career advice

[560_Flyer]

Hello everyone!

I really would appreciate the opinion of you bizjet colleagues about a career choice I have to make.

I am currently flying as a F/O on a very popular medium/light bizjet, performing mostly charter flights in Europe.
The company I am working for is growing very quickly, and adding new planes on a regular basis.
I have been given the possibility to upgrade in just a few months on the same type I have been flying the last 6 years, which is of course great news.

The thing is that I also have the chance, at the very same time, to move as a F/O on a superior type (2000 Classic), with a similar roster, but limited possibilities to move to the left seat in the close future, if at all.

Money wise the cpt position is paying roughly 30% more than the Falcon copilot job.

Considering I have just entered my thirties, what would be your considerations?

[galwaypilot]

If it's not broken don't fix it. Plus it's more cash with the command and you'll for the 1st time set the tone for the day being the captain. However a change is nice... Only you can answer it. Go by your gut instinct. Personally I'd go with the command. But that's me... In different ways it's a win win.

[Flying Mechanic]

Take the command , get the left seat time.

[MungoP]

Go for the left seat.. It will raise your status and thus give you more bargaining power and more opportunities in the future...(IMHO).

[CL300]

Command..no brainer..

[stilton]

Left seat is best, not just for your future career prospects, it's a far more enjoyable job :ok:

[JonDyer]

It's not about status - it's about quality of life.

Work for an employer that respects you. Life is too short to waste on tossers.

Which company contains the fewest bellends? Work for that one.

[First.officer]

JD - sometimes I wish PPRuNe had a "like" button :ok:

[vodka_gorbachev]

I think you will be able always to jump on right seat, left seat and PIC hours that what you are looking, especially after 6 years of being FO. Have a safe flights!

[Booglebox]

Jon, wish I had read your post about ~6 years ago... :*

[560_Flyer]

Thanks to all of you for your opinion!

I realize that the choice should be simple, but given that the operators are very similar (I know them very well, having worked for both, and I can live with either), the main question is...
Is a better type giving better career opportunities in the long term? Or a command on a smaller type still the best option?

What I tend to notice is that the most difficult part for us bizjet drivers is to end up in that class of planes, Falcons, Challengers, etc.
I know many captains with many times my experience "stuck" on the light to midsize kind of planes for years, if not decades.
The type of operations on the bigger plane would be totally new to me, which is appealing, versus the usual routes I have been always flying.

On the flip side I keep hearing the same advice from many people I hugely respect: never turn down an upgrade offer.

Oh well, it is still right what you say, it is a win win situation, but still paradoxically sometimes you would like NOT to have the choice.

[Propellerpilot]

An experienced aviator once told me the following: The type of aircraft you choose, also determines your lifestyle. What is the longterm lifestyle you want? That is always a question to consider as well.

[CaptainProp]

Take the command.

Besides, 2000 classic is a dying type in Europe (as is the 900 classic) and if you lose your job you will be left with only SIC experience and a useless typerating.

CP

Edit: JonDyer's advice is also a very good one to keep in mind, but PIC time is always PIC time.

[560_Flyer]

I wanted to thank again all of you for the various opinions given.

Just to keep you in the loop, I ended up taking the command.
I should be released on line after the completion of the upgrade course in a matter of days.

What can I say... I will try to make the best use of all the great tips given these years to me by some of the Captains I had the honor and the pleasure to fly with.

Hopefully one day I will be half as good as they are, that would be already something. :O

[Tray Surfer]

Great news… Best of luck and happy landing… :ok:

[redsnail]

Well done and congrats :D