Am I stuck?

[Icanseeclearly]

Here's a question for you all.

I am currently a turboprop Captain and thoroughly enjoying my job, however.......

I have always had itchy feet and after 16 years flying in the military (shade under 4000 hrs) and just over five years in my current job (3000 hrs) I am considering looking elsewhere.

At 44 I refuse to pay for a type rating, require a full time job, dont want to go to the sandpit (last time I was there we werent really welcomed if you know what i mean) and don't want to take a huge pay cut just to fly jets so my question is am I stuck where I am and should I enjoy what I have or is there something out there for the likes of me.

[captplaystation]

At 44 I refuse to pay for a type rating,


I would hazard . . Yes.

[CEJM]

There are a few companies around in the UK where you don't pay for a type-rating. However without knowing your current salary, I can't tell you how big the drop in salary is.

[TypeIV]

If you make ok money, a base that you like and an employer who doesn't take a dump on you for the sake of showing who's got the power. Stay where you are because you are very lucky

[Hangar6]

Chance to change

Well

I know one airline about to paint 4 planes in red ,seeking volunteers to wear a different uniform for 3 years from their current crews who are stuck for pilots based in LHR ....worth a punt if you pardon the pun,

[bacp]

'I am currently a turboprop Captain and thoroughly enjoying my job, however.......'

I could have made the same comment 13 years ago, I moved and I can honestly say I am slightly less happy now than then! Ultimately, it is lifestyle (much of which is driven by your t&cs) which creates contentment. Flying a shiny jet on 120k a year, if the lifestyle doesn't suit, is a recipe for misery. Just look at the Orange thread running on here.

Happy Christmas

[zeddb]

Stay put.
Apart from anything else a move will mean you giving up your command and going back in the RHS. You may then find that at 44, you never get a move back before retirement.

Be very careful what you wish for.

[MCDU2]

Chance to change
Well

I know one airline about to paint 4 planes in red ,seeking volunteers to wear a different uniform for 3 years from their current crews who are stuck for pilots based in LHR ....worth a punt if you pardon the pun,

Don't hold your breath the company won't be stuck at all. There is a global seniority system in place. The company just asked for bids for a new LHR base. My guess it will go very senior as people want to get out of the oppressive ROI tax system. Will be quite a few captains with ties to blighty that will be interested plus there are about 30 more LHS checked in the mix as well. In the RHS there are guys commuting to Dublin who will be interested. Any gaps that need filling will probably be back in Dublin and come from the hold pool.

[turbine100]

Hi

I am in the hold pool for a turboprop operator and it would be my first multi crew position, although flown public transport single pilot else where.

I was thinking along similar lines as to whether I would be stuck on turboprops and perhaps not able to progress to an airline with jets. Also have to pay a small amount towards the rating but need to take the job to get the experience.

Another thought I had was with EASA rules of type ratings and IR's. I was going to keep my MEP/IR going and perhaps with the 3 year rules around type ratings, some people with experience may let lapse old type ratings that require the entire type rating course to be repeated. In turn causing a pilot shortage of those with ratings that can be easily renewed in the years coming and harder access to finance.

[Guttn]

If the big shiny jet fancies you so much, then go for it. You'll be itching forevermore If you don't. But, be awards of the price to be paid through SSTRs, P2Fs and a lot of unemployed pilots willing to grab the shadiest contracts with the worse pay just to keep flying.
If the TP is an option for a career, then look at what this will bring you as well.
At the end of the day it bolig down to what's in it for you. Where will you be least unhappy (because you won't be happy)? What is most importert for you (pay, consecutive days off, travel benefits, nights at home etc).
Personally I fly TPs and am satisfied with it. I know what I have, but not what I could get (most likely lose) of T&Cs if I were to seek my fortunes elsewhere.

[Best foot forward]

Your not stuck but your options will become less and less as time goes on. I moved from a commuter airline several years ago having spent 20 plus years flying turboprops. Took a big hit on the salary and moved back to the right seat for the first time in many years. Its not impossible to do so long as you have the right attitude, it is enlightening and a learning experience, and eventually you make the salary back with a good deal of change. If you are going to make the move do it sooner rather than later and be prepared for a change in lifestyle. If it is the flying you are after then bigger is better sometimes. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take two steps forward.

[bacp]

IMHO If he/she takes the plunge, it would have to be to a long haul operator. The reason being SH TProp and SH Jet are too similar, the shine will wear off much too quickly. The thrill of LH will also wear off eventually for all the well known reasons, but at least there will be many memorable experiences had along the way to balance it all out.

[Icanseeclearly]

Cheers for the replies folks,

I am very happy with my job, still turn up with a smile on my face (can't say that happened at the end of my military time that's for sure) dont think the actual flying elsewhere would be as enjoyable or challenging as where I am now.

Like I said I do get itchy feet, and one always wonders what its like elsewhere and I enjoy a new challenge, maybe I need to wait for the kids to grow up and then go fly bush.

The talk in the crewrooms where I am, especially between the young guys and girls is that they feel they are "typecast" as turboprop operators and that is some ways it is a disadvantage and that they have missed the boat.

Thanks again folks.

[captplaystation]

If you are enjoying what you do, and it looks likely to continue. . well, difficult to justify making the move. The only caveat to that being, if your current gig stopped, what could you find that was A - enjoyable & B -paying reasonably well on the same type ? The Jet will give you a bigger choice worldwide, even if the 1st job you land isn't too great.

Up in Norway, numerous of my colleagues have already/or intend to. . leave shiny red-nosed Boeings behind to fly De Havilland Canadas finest.
That particular job is however acknowledged as one of (if not) the best jobs in Scandiland , if you actually want to live somewhere that is very cold & dark for half of the year. Again, the only catch here would be if SAS sell it off to (say) Flybe ,& it becomes "just another job". At this stage, I guess, they would regret the move, but 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing ,& we all have to live by our choices.

[cavortingcheetah]

If you're very happy and the kids still have to do some growing then stay where you are. Very happiness is extremely hard to find, something to which the Department of Eternal Regrets (DER) will attest.

[Superpilot]

Paying for TRs is the new norm and has been for some time. If you're looking for utopia you're highly unlikely to find it with the first jet operator you end up in. So then, how would it feel if you had to pay back your BOND if you left after year one?

Paying for type ratings.....a subject poorly understood.

[bacp]

Is that strictly true? Most of the big full service airlines will only bond experienced pilots for the training costs, some don't even bother to do that. Unless you are a PTF in a LoCo. then you get raped (financially speaking).
ok are VS MON TCX Ek Qatar SQ Cathay..etc......not BA though!