The SHOW: Airlines still a "good gig"??

[scoolbubba]

While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.

Most guys right now are getting the call a few months prior to their availability. I had a contract ISR job lined up at 4 months out from availability. It paid about 800/day in your shithole of choice for 2 on 2 off. I also applied at Endeavor, Envoy, and Skywest. The first two were insurance policies for their flows, Skywest just because they had so many bases out west where I wanted to live and I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back flying king airs in shitholes again...not really a long term sustainable option. I applied at Omni and Kalitta and had calls pretty much as soon as I hit submit. The time away from home with those is a downside (16-17 day trips), but if you want 121 training and a type in a big airplane and no one else calls, they ain't a bad option. A couple of guys I know fly for those guys and it suits them.

The wife and I prepped and put money away to be able to afford two years making shit at a regional. Even at a major, first year is a significant pay cut from O-4 pay. We sold our first house for a little bit of profit but mostly for the flexibility not having a house gives you, I drive a paid off 12 year old truck, no credit cards and we worked our asses off to get rid of the last of our school debt. The only monthly bill we have is one year left on one car payment.

Current major called at 2 and a half months. Other major called while I was waiting on the decision board from interview number one at about a month prior to availability. I slow rolled my interview with major number 2 until I had a seat in class at the first one, which was my airline of choice due to where I wanted to live. Pretty happy thus far.

I'm basically an overpaid, underworked flight student. They gave me my wings and a brand new iPad Pro on day 1. All I got on my first day in the navy was a PRT.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.

You need to make an informed decision. Look at where guys with comparable backgrounds are going. If you’re open to moving anywhere then go to the first major that hires you. If you have a city in mind then take the first best job you get then keep trying. It’s wide open right now, especially for fighter guys.

 

[zippy]

You need to make an informed decision. Look at where guys with comparable backgrounds are going. If you’re open to moving anywhere then go to the first major that hires you. If you have a city in mind then take the first best job you get then keep trying. It’s wide open right now, especially for fighter guys.

^This is good advice.

Don’t be that dude who waits until 3 months before terminal leave starts with one LOR at a top tier company to publish to your app only to your first choice while holding off publishing to your second and third choice (or anyone else for that matter) because you’re expecting to get picked up right away because you’re a fighter guy.

Play the game and start having your stuff ready to go 12 months out, and shotgun the apps to anyone you’re willing to work for... you can start getting picky after you have multiple CJOs in hand.

 

[Randy Daytona]

While there are stories of guys applying and getting snapped up right away, I'm seeing a few guys I know end up waiting in limbo what seems to be a long time. I'm curious: how do guys who have transitioned from military handled the "timing" piece to avoid a lapse in employment when the airline(s) wait a few months (or longer?) to call.

For anyone leaving active duty, consider joining a flying reserve unit. Funding dependent, there will be 12 to 29 days of AT, your regular drills, up to 72 AFTP's (normally done 2 per day) and the possibility of N7 school funding for short courses or ADT if you are needed at the squadron for an extended period. Also by being a SelRes, you will qualify for SelRes medical for you and your family which is a good deal. That should buy you some time - and you can add to your reserve retirement while you wait.

 

[scoolbubba]

For anyone leaving active duty, consider joining a flying reserve unit. Funding dependent, there will be 12 to 29 days of AT, your regular drills, up to 72 AFTP's (normally done 2 per day) and the possibility of N7 school funding for short courses or ADT if you are needed at the squadron for an extended period. Also by being a SelRes, you will qualify for SelRes medical for you and your family which is a good deal. That should buy you some time - and you can add to your reserve retirement while you wait.

If you can get into one. It's not automatic with so many dudes bailing right now. The reserves have their pick of the litter.

 

[heynowlookout]

If you can get into one. It's not automatic with so many dudes bailing right now. The reserves have their pick of the litter.

It also doesn't help that half of Navy VR(C-130's) is broke dick and not hiring. Unless that's changed that I haven't heard about, with no planes to fly I don't go in to drill that often.

 

[Gatordev]

I have a feeling @sevenhelmet will only be eligible for Fleet Reserve when he's thinking of applying to the airlines.

 

[Gatordev]

Got a couple of questions that aren't specific to the airlines, but those that commute here will know the answer faster than me Googling.

Question 1:

If I live and work in State X (no state income tax) but the company I work for is in State Y (state income tax), do I pay tax? I'm thinking no, but confirming.

Question 2:

If I live in State X (no income tax), work in State Y (WITH state income tax), and the company I work for is in State Z (let's say no income tax), do I have to pay State Y income tax?

 

[webmaster]

If said state is California they will come after you for their pound of flesh if you fly there as your domicile out of there.

 

[HAL Pilot]

There is a federal law that covers airline employees. California always loses when they fight this. They go after you on the hopes you’ll just pay.

Unless you are flying totally within the state’ borders (such as Hawaiians InterIsland operation) because airlines fly from point A to point B, you do not earn money in any one state. The federal law says you can choose your state of residence and pay taxes to that state.

Common sense applies. If you have a wife and kids, especially if the wife works and kids go to school, whichever state they work in/learn in is obviously your state of residence.

I’ve been domiciles in Honolulu my entire Hawaiian career. My state of residence is Nevada. Except for my 9 months flying InterIsland I have never paid Hawaii any state income tax. When I was InterIsland I file a non-resident return with Hawaii on only the income I earned from Hawaiian.

 

[webmaster]

Good info @HAL Pilot!

I’ve flown with a couple LAX Captains that must not have gotten good legal advice and ran afoul of California and state taxes. Specifically they mentioned that California went so far as to track their time working out of LAX to attempt to dictate that they were residents.

Note: never seek financial advice from pilots. ?

 

[HAL Pilot]

This might help. It talks about the airline thing. Paragraph IV.



Edit: I forgot to say this.....Fuck California. The San Andreas fault needs a fucking huge earthquake that causes this especially stupid state to break off from the rest of the U. S. and sink to the deepest part of the ocean. No one except other asshole Californians will miss California if it just disappeared.

 

[Gatordev]

Thanks, gents. CA is its own special animal. They came after me while on Active Duty as a FL resident, so completely understand the predatory nature of that state.

In my examples, I'd be a FL resident and would expect to either stay in FL (Question 1) or move about across state lines (Question 2: SC/GA...maybe NC, but doubt it).

Sounds like my domicile and certainly my wife's would be FL and I'd be solid on the current, non-state tax budget plan.

 

[AFUAW]

In my examples, I'd be a FL resident and would expect to either stay in FL (Question 1) or move about across state lines (Question 2: SC/GA...maybe NC, but doubt it).

Sounds like my domicile and certainly my wife's would be FL and I'd be solid on the current, non-state tax budget plan.

Those answers were specific to airlines as federal law has special provisions for transportation workers. I don’t know your situation but if you’re working a regular job living in Florida but working in another state, you will pay state taxes in the other state and will have to file a nonresident return in the state you work.

 

[Gatordev]

I guess the question is what defines a transportation worker? If one is moving people inter and intra-state lines, but per Part 135, does that count?