Leaving a flag carrier for a charter in the sake of immediate capt. upgrade?
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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Leaving a flag carrier for a charter in the sake of immediate capt. upgrade?
hello guys,
i need your opinion and advice with something,
i/ve been flying B737-800 for 6 years now at Egyptair with 4000 hours
expecting my captain upgrade not before 5 more years from now,
i've an offer at a charter company ( FlyEgypt ) which has 6 B737-800's and its really fast growing, the offer is an immediate captain upgrade after 300 hours with 2.5X my current salary .
shall i take it or not and stay in Egyptair with the stability, flexibility, and that sort of pride of flying for my Country's flag carrier .
appreciate all your opinions as i've lost my mind thinking .
Happy Landings .
i need your opinion and advice with something,
i/ve been flying B737-800 for 6 years now at Egyptair with 4000 hours
expecting my captain upgrade not before 5 more years from now,
i've an offer at a charter company ( FlyEgypt ) which has 6 B737-800's and its really fast growing, the offer is an immediate captain upgrade after 300 hours with 2.5X my current salary .
shall i take it or not and stay in Egyptair with the stability, flexibility, and that sort of pride of flying for my Country's flag carrier .
appreciate all your opinions as i've lost my mind thinking .
Happy Landings .
THUNDERTAILED
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Five years is a long time in aviation, and in Egypt. Anything could happen, no guarantees. Ask yourself how long you could fly Egypt Air routes without getting bored - 5 years, 10? I would say if you were leaving Egypt, it may be a tougher decision, but if you can stay at home and get a quicker command,not only will you be much further ahead financially, but you will have a lot more options in 5 years time with a few thousand B737 command hours. Also, a smaller company gives you a better chance to get more involved in management if that interests you.
I would take the job.
Ps.
A good way to break a decision deadlock is to imagine the two options on a balance scale.
With indecision, the scales are balanced.
The question is, what would you have to add to one side or take away from the other to tip the scales?
If you remove pride from the Egypt Air side? If you add variety to the new job side? If you add or subtract job security from the Egypt Air side? Ask yourself a few questions like that.
Good luck with your decision.
I would take the job.
Ps.
A good way to break a decision deadlock is to imagine the two options on a balance scale.
With indecision, the scales are balanced.
The question is, what would you have to add to one side or take away from the other to tip the scales?
If you remove pride from the Egypt Air side? If you add variety to the new job side? If you add or subtract job security from the Egypt Air side? Ask yourself a few questions like that.
Good luck with your decision.
Longtimelurker
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What is the stability of the charter company you would be joining and the Egyptian charter company’s in general. Egypt Air has been around a long time..
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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What chance that Egypt Air will, at sometime in the future, take over the charter company or, (and not unheard of worldwide), use their power as a national carrier to put FlyEgypt out of business?
Join Date: Apr 2011
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7oodaz ,
It is not an easy decision BUT take your time and see what is more important for you.
I have had the opportunity after 7 years of flying to get my upgrade in a regional carrier while I was a first officer in a major airline...
I decided not to take it and stay in the major where I had then the opportunity to fly long haul for a few years while some of my good friends took the upgrade.
I first thought I made a mistake but I quicly realised that it was not the case , Nothing can replace the experience I got flying intercontinental flights and the quality of life that I had with it.
It's only 7 more years later that I upgraded with no regret at all as I was well prepared and ready for it.
The upgrade process has been really easy ( due to my extra experience ) and I would never had the chance to fly long haul if I didn't do it at that time ( at least in my country )
It's your choice so make sure you make the right decision FOR YOU
It is not an easy decision BUT take your time and see what is more important for you.
I have had the opportunity after 7 years of flying to get my upgrade in a regional carrier while I was a first officer in a major airline...
I decided not to take it and stay in the major where I had then the opportunity to fly long haul for a few years while some of my good friends took the upgrade.
I first thought I made a mistake but I quicly realised that it was not the case , Nothing can replace the experience I got flying intercontinental flights and the quality of life that I had with it.
It's only 7 more years later that I upgraded with no regret at all as I was well prepared and ready for it.
The upgrade process has been really easy ( due to my extra experience ) and I would never had the chance to fly long haul if I didn't do it at that time ( at least in my country )
It's your choice so make sure you make the right decision FOR YOU
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In Egypt Air you will have the possibility to fly different types of aircraft and also long haul routes.
If you take the upgrade you will probably fly the same type on the same routes for the rest of your live.
On the other hand 2.5 times higher salary is a huge point.
Look at the rosters and the bidding system. Especially the bidding system has an enormous impact on your family life.
Tough decision. But what ever you decide: Make peace with your decision and do not look back
If you take the upgrade you will probably fly the same type on the same routes for the rest of your live.
On the other hand 2.5 times higher salary is a huge point.
Look at the rosters and the bidding system. Especially the bidding system has an enormous impact on your family life.
Tough decision. But what ever you decide: Make peace with your decision and do not look back
look at the total package on offer, salary, conditions, management/union support, days off, vacation, stability. Be careful jumping just to get a command and then in 10 years regretting the fact you work for a worse contract. On the other hand, command time is gold. Tough choice
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birdy340,
I would be careful with your statement , I can give you several examples of captains that are now first officer at that's in different companies;
I can even tell you that I have seen direct entry captain applicants being offered only a first officer at the end of their training here due to poor performance...
So " Once Captain always Captain " is NOT true at all
I would be careful with your statement , I can give you several examples of captains that are now first officer at that's in different companies;
I can even tell you that I have seen direct entry captain applicants being offered only a first officer at the end of their training here due to poor performance...
So " Once Captain always Captain " is NOT true at all
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Guys i seriously appreciate all your opinions and advices, it helped me alot, but i didnt take a firm decision yet, being in an airline is something big, getting the upgrade at my age ( 27 years ) is something bigger, yes its a tough decision, also the charter company is really fast growing, 5 aircrafts in 2 years is something never happened in Egypt, a charter investing in zero hour pilots never happened too, so ya it looks stable and fast growing, as for the roasters, so far from what ive seen its really nice ! With possibility of 5 on 5 off, 3 on 2 off ! And like that.
The only thing thats holding me back from going is being in the flag carrier airline of my country ! , and ya if i go fly 2000 pic hours i will have many options abroad . but nothing is guaranteed !
No risk No gain .
The decision just needs some balls 😄
The only thing thats holding me back from going is being in the flag carrier airline of my country ! , and ya if i go fly 2000 pic hours i will have many options abroad . but nothing is guaranteed !
No risk No gain .
The decision just needs some balls 😄
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Without knowing your circumstances I can only give you some general thoughts.
-Aviation is a cyclical business with boom-to-bust cycles.
-There is no such thing as a stable job in this business - no matter who you work for. A career at one Airline is an increasingly rare thing imho.
With the above in mind the important thing is to ensure your qualifications match what the market is looking for. A quick search will show a lot more options for Captains.
I would echo the other posters - Command experience is the way to go.
-Aviation is a cyclical business with boom-to-bust cycles.
-There is no such thing as a stable job in this business - no matter who you work for. A career at one Airline is an increasingly rare thing imho.
With the above in mind the important thing is to ensure your qualifications match what the market is looking for. A quick search will show a lot more options for Captains.
I would echo the other posters - Command experience is the way to go.
