Challenge and Adventure? Where's the mojo gone?

[Charlie Chaos]

After 10 years of commercial flying and three years instructing, I can honestly say I'm getting bored with cruise flying, airport standbys, meaningless home standbys and the routine nature of airline flying.

I joined because I loved flying ( which includes the great view, manipulating the controls (!), the challenge of not hitting the ground at the wrong point and dare I say ...fun?

Now I never expected 'airline flying' to be "fun fun fun" but I'm finding it increasingly boring as the Cruise sectors get longer and longer. I've even considered changing careers and letting someone keen, young and thrusting take my seat but I still want to fly!

Somewhere out there are some interesting and challenging flying jobs, but where are they to be found? If anybody has any suggestions please either PM me or post below so we can all benefit.

Thanks

FYI 5000hrs TT, 2500 B737, 1200TP

[ksjc]

Not sure my experience (USA) is relevant to you but I am on year 26 as an always very happy charter/corporate guy. Like everyone else will soon tell you things will be a challenge to jump from your airline job. A GOOD private/charter jet job is hard to find, particularly if you only have the airline background. There is much more to "small jet" flying than the flying. There are a lot of crap jobs out there waiting for you however.

When we all meet that fork in the road ...the one where we decide between airline or private..many have made a bad choice. Some the wise. You decide.

[INNflight]

Why not reduce your work pensum to 90 or 80 percent instead of full time if that's an option in your carrier? Then join a flying club and bounce around in a Cessna / Piper here and there for some fun flying. Or another - maybe less expensive option - may be flying gliders if you can do that somewhere near your base. Honestly I have to say flying gliders was the most fun and challenge I've had on a regular basis. It was a blast.

I'm just saying be careful what you wish for - the airline world is not the most exciting, but it's reasonably stable at least. Most corporate jobs won't be, and as the previous poster wrote good jobs are hard to come by. Chances are you'll be earning less, sitting in a hotel room somewhere far from home, not flying much and getting miserable.

Don't get me wrong, but a job's gonna be a job.

[RAFAT]

I echo the wise words above from INNflight, I've worked in both sectors, and when corporate works, it works well and is rewarding, but stability is sadly lacking, especially here in Europe, so I would strongly advise sticking to the stability of airline flying for the moment.

Keep your ear to the ground and consider anything that might come your way, but be very very careful of the choice you make.