ATR at home base or A320 abroad...

[Banana Joe]

Not everybody, luckily, has a huge debt + type rating bond to repay. I am one of the lucky ones and this is why I shared that article. I would probably look at things from a different perspective if I had a loan to pay back.

[EMB-145LR]

Originally Posted by Nurse2Pilot

Could you really "prioritise life outside work" with a huge debt + type rating bond hanging over your head?

Yes! And had I been given the opportunity to do so earlier then I would’ve taken it. I self funded my own training, no help from parents etc. I left with about £40k in debt. I went modular because I knew I’d overstretch myself financially by going integrated. I went where the first job was, and did the same again for the second and third. I set out on my career to being a pilot knowing how much it would cost and how much debt I’d be in and what it would cost me to pay it back. I would’ve still moved home much earlier in my career if I could and would’ve taken a pay cut to do so because I’d done my research and not overstretched myself financially. It’s would be unwise both fiscally and mentally to set yourself up in such a manner that you can only take a jet job. What if that job never materialises? What if you have to end up flight instructing, or flying a piston or a turboprop? (Incidentally, many turboprop operators pay perfectly acceptable salaries). If a cadet is so myopic in their desire to get onto a shiny jet at any cost, then so be it, but I think they’ll come to regret it further down the line.

The original poster says that his ATR rating would be paid for and the money would be good when he gets his command in 18 months time. Reading between the lines he wants to be home and he doesn’t suggest that finances are the main driver in his decision making process. So I don’t see where MY financial situation comes into it at all. If he doesn’t have the financial constraint (which he doesn’t seem to from his original post) then I merely suggested that he’d be happier with the option that takes him home.

May I ask what stage of your career you’re at Nurse2Pilot, and what your aspirations are? The reason I said you appear bitter is that you come across as rather angry that someone might suggest that the luxury of putting a home life first over flying even exists?

[Nurse2Pilot]

Thanks for the excellent responses guys! @EMB, I'll give you a reply later on, not very good at typing on the phone but currently my career is Nurse 10, Pilot 0 No idea how anything I've said can be taken as me being bitter or angry, you must be reading into something that I assure you isn't there.

[hugmie]

Thank you so much for your replies, everyone has provided quality insight. I feel I would have the chance to make it back to my home base on an A320 in the future, and if not perhaps on another type. So I am leaning towards the A320 now, purely because it feels like the wiser career move.
They are both great options, but I guess the rabbit is still tempting!

Thanks again for your posts!!

[Clandestino]

Originally Posted by hugmie

I've burned a couple of years flying at low hour corporate gigs and feel like my career progression will be further stunted by taking an ATR job when I have a jet one right in front of me.

Originally Posted by hugmie

My worry is I may regret this a few years down the line if things start to slow down, I could get stuck in the turbo prop league.

Yes, your career progress will be stunted and very likely you will get stuck in the TP league, if you choose ATR.

It's not necessarily a bad thing; as a tyro ATR F/O I've come across quite a few skippers that were happy to spend 10-15-20 years they had left before retirement in the ATR's LHS and harboured no desire to go flying shinyjets. Maybe what worked for them can work for you.

Originally Posted by hugmie

On the other hand, I would love to fly the ATR first and foremost, I feel like it would be a really fun aircraft and more challenging than the bus.

Having flown both I really can't single out either as being more challenging or more fun. Yes, they have different peculiarities and go different places in the different manner, but for life of me, I can't say I had more fun or more problems on one or another, though my life was easier, better air-conditioned and less vibrating on the Bus.

Originally Posted by EMB-145LR

A flight deck is just a flight deck, and the shiny jet feeling wears off after a month or so.

True, yet my predicament is greatly alleviated by the fact that my shiny jet flying pays me double rate compared to what I had as Q400 skipper and gives me three times longer vacation to spend the extra cash on.

[The Range]

It's a no brainer
Single, no kids, early 30's: the A320
You'll have more choices in the future. And you can always come back home and to the ATR.

[hugmie]

Thanks to everyone for their input! I haven't got this many notifications since I used to display my birthday on facebook lol! But seriously it has been an invaluable tool to bounce my ideas off so thanks to everyone!

I think it's pretty clear what the right choice is, for me anyway.. Will advise when I've decided!

Hug

[clumsypilot]

first of all good luck with your decision.

I would like to say 320 is a very user friendly aircraft. even if you fly the max duty, if they dont have many night flights or layovers you will be fine. Plus it s a very common type rating and there will be jobs available all the time. so maybe you wont wait for 5 yrs and come back to home town or somewhere close within couple years.

again.. good luck.

[dirk85]

I fly for a much better airline now, but I am telling you, the years I spent in Wizzair were the best and most fun of my life, and I was in the same situation as you are now, same age and relationship status. I am now based at home for a company where I plan to spend a long time, if not all my career, but thinking about my pink years still brings me great memories.

[hugmie]

Originally Posted by EMB-145LR

I’m very happy with my lot and not at all bitter, thanks. A major factor in that was my personal choice to try and prioritise life outside of work. I love what I do for a living, but blindly prioritising it above all else didn’t make me happy. Thus, if I found myself in the original poster’s position I would take the ATR job, but that’s very much personal preference.

I take exception to the assumptions you made in your post. Having worked extremely hard in the early part of my career has led me to where I am today, and affords me the life experience to share what I learnt. Doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone, but I certainly don’t sit in a gold plated castle offering my opinions to the ‘little people’ at the beginning of their careers.

To the OP; my turboprop flying was by far and away the most fun and rewarding in my career. The Airbus is a pleasant working environment, but the ‘fun’ factor isn’t the same. You’re a pilot on one and an operator on the other. If you can afford to, and you want to, I’d take the ATR job and enjoy life with those you love.

Thanks for your posts EMB145, very interesting to hear your opinion having flown both types!

[Capt Pit Bull]

A big factor no one else has mentioned (I think) is do you want to get into training?

Might be far quicker on the ATR and then you are well set.

[Calmcavok]

My $0.02: line your ducks up the way you want them looking another 10+ years down the track. If you want to stay at home and get seniority, ATR. If you want the net job and return home to a bigger/more stable carrier, 320. Not easy though.

[clumsypilot]

I also have a similar situation.. Would like to hear opinions..

I have been flying A320 for 6 years and logged 5000hrs. That is my first after flight school. Company is offering me a commander upgrade on B737. Which I find a bit frightening since I have zero experience with boeing. Plus recently they remove the procedure of flying 300 hrs on the right seat before getting the command. So it will be CBT, ground course, simulator from left seat and lifus for 40 sectors.

Normally I am a curious person and like to discover new aircrafts. Plus these are the most common airliners in the world so could be nice to know both. But on the other hand.. I feel like I will be throwing away my experience on Airbus if I move to 737. Also 737 fleet has very ugly roster compared to 320. Both are narrow body and suffer from lots of legs and night flights, 737 suffering a lot short layovers and Africa flights.

If I decide to wait.. It is "expected" to get a command in 320 not earlier thn 7 months. 320 fleet will also grow, they have confirmed orders(if everything goes as planned). So I will suffer 30 pct pay rise. Also not sure if company can find enough pilots for 737 otherwise they can always force me to move 737. cause of the mentioned reasons, they lose people everyday.

Thx in advance for your opinions..!

[Count of Monte Bisto]

I would have to differ with a lot of the advice here. I am an ex-turboprop pilot who now flies the A320. If you want to be a pilot, you need a Boeing or an Airbus on your licence to be safe. The 320 or 737 is a job for the foreseeable future. Turboprop hours are not seen the same as jet hours and you are perceived as less of a pilot without those jet hours. Do not all shout at me for saying this - I am just stating the hard facts of the airline industry. ATRs typically have very limited route structures and ATR Captains usually get paid the same as A320 and B737 FOs. It is not fair, but it is the harsh reality. Twenty years from how when you are looking at your wife and 3 kids and flying is just something you do, you will look at your less talented mates who took the jet route and realise that they are earning twice (or more) the salary you do for basically the same job. My strong advice if you want to be a pilot is get a respected jet on your licence - it is such a protection against the future. No one is arguing whether you will be a good pilot or not - what matters is what is on your licence and how many jet hours you have flown.

[rudestuff]

Get on a jet sooner rather than later, you never know what's round the corner. After a year, re-evaluate. If you find something closer to home, jump ship early.

[Nurse2Pilot]

Sorry for the late reply, got busier than I anticipated!

Originally Posted by EMB-145LR

I would’ve still moved home much earlier in my career if I could and would’ve taken a pay cut to do so because I’d done my research and not overstretched myself financially. It’s would be unwise both fiscally and mentally to set yourself up in such a manner that you can only take a jet job.

It's not just money but career options for the future as well. As others have cited, having a jet rating is "safer" and the OP is having to choose between TP@home or jet elsewhere. If it was jets in both instances with slightly less pay at home, then I see your point and would agree as he is only being stunted pay-wise but still has a good rating that is in demand in many places. I get the feeling that TP isn't as sought-after as jet

If a cadet is so myopic in their desire to get onto a shiny jet at any cost, then so be it, but I think they’ll come to regret it further down the line.

I could make the same point regarding getting home at any cost..... and regretting it further down the line.

The original poster says that his ATR rating would be paid for and the money would be good when he gets his command in 18 months time. Reading between the lines he wants to be home and he doesn’t suggest that finances are the main driver in his decision making process.

True, but as stated, it's not only finances but future career progression as well!

So I don’t see where MY financial situation comes into it at all. If he doesn’t have the financial constraint (which he doesn’t seem to from his original post) then I merely suggested that he’d be happier with the option that takes him home.

I was just saying that being in a better financial situation (you) may afford you options that is not necessarily available or attractive to others (OP or other pilots with low flight hours). 12 years in the biz, your own command, and a healthy bank balance shifts priorities. Newly-minted FO, no command, and a good-sized debt (or bond, as is the OP) would be looking at different priorities. Even if no debt, future career prospects alone would shift priorities compared to someone such as yourself who has probably already ticked most boxes.

May I ask what stage of your career you’re at Nurse2Pilot, and what your aspirations are? The reason I said you appear bitter is that you come across as rather angry that someone might suggest that the luxury of putting a home life first over flying even exists?

As mentioned, I've not even started flight training yet! So how can I be bitter or angry at something that I don't even have anything invested in? You're reading into something that isn't there, so maybe review your own thought processes as to how you can "see" bitterness or anger even when you've been told it isn't there.

FYI - I am fully aware of putting other priorities first, hence my first post in this thread. I've been on part time hours at work for 3 years now simply because the NHS is going bonkers and I refuse to go down that road with it.

[Nurse2Pilot]

Originally Posted by hugmie

So I am leaning towards the A320 now, purely because it feels like the wiser career move.

That would be my thoughts as well and would go that way if I were in your shoes. Do tell us what you decide on in the end and good luck!!

[FlightDetent]

Originally Posted by Count of Monte Bisto

... My strong advice if you want to be a pilot is get a respected jet on your licence - it is such a protection against the future. No one is arguing whether you will be a good pilot or not - what matters is what is on your licence and how many jet hours you have flown.

I agree with all of the post, quoted just the highlight. Any advice to stay on the ATR is of elusive honor, in my opinion.

Even if I am wrong, it is far better to go expat early in the career! Because once you come back home, you'd be happy there. as opposed to looking at the ME3 job adverts and feeling moody with 3 kids screaming at the back.

[EMB-145LR]

My last post on this because we’re splitting hairs, but I don’t have a command, never have. The airline that I finally joined at home three years ago generally has a time to command of 8 to 12 years on short haul and over 20 on long haul. I’m at my fourth airline and it’s the first one that actually pays me well enough to even have some savings. I’ve just bought my first house after years of working overseas to get to this position. I only paid off the last of my training debt a few years ago. Anyway, this isn’t about me, but you’ve made a number of assumptions that are very far from the truth. Once you’re in the industry and you’ve lived it a little, you may well appreciate the views of those that have actual experience of it. Nevertheless, all the very best with your endeavours and future training, and thanks for your service to the NHS.

To the OP, the very best of luck with whatever you decide. Enjoy the journey!

[Nurse2Pilot]

Was I wrong about your finances despite not seeing your bank balance? How can you not be financially stable after paying off your training debt and putting a downpayment on a new home? How was my comment baseless?

What other assumptions have I made that are far from the truth? Does any of them change the message of "With a healthy bank balance and significant hours of experience opening up good employment options, I guess priorities can then shift to quality of life"??

Funny how you pick on the things I got wrong (command) but still reinforce my point by mentioning you've paid of your training debt and purchased a house.... clearly finances are in order or very well on it's way to getting there, something someone with 1500hrs is very, very far from getting no matter how you look at it. I can't imagine how you'd take offense at my first post yet move forward proving my point above.

I don't have to see your bank statement but for someone who has paid off a debt and just bought a house, I don't think I'm far off the mark regarding your financial stability, yet you responded as if you were still swimming in debt and living paycheck to paycheck. I don't have to be in your specific industry to know this concept. You think this does not happen in the NHS or other areas of employment? As before, I encourage you to stop projecting or at least examine your thought processes that lead you into calling people bitter or angry, perhaps the truth is that flying has lost it's appeal to you and is now "just a job"?

Regardless of the above, thank you very much for sharing your story. Good day!