There's something to be said for doing what you love - this sounds like a question of varying degrees of how much you would love flying a 747 vs. the MD-11. You're not *sure* what level of satisfaction the 747 will bring you - could be worse, even or better. - but you do love *flying*, and that counts for quite a bit, no? Also, it's not just the job that you enjoy, but the perks you get from it - traveling the world, seeing new places, meeting new people and getting to sit in at jazz clubs, well, just about everywhere. Will these perks end or be very different based on the plane you fly? You say the schedules are awful for the 747 - how awful and in what way? how permanent is that?
I know you haven't been as happy flying the DC-10 - the question is - do you pass up the opportunity for free training on a new plane, expanding your experience and market-ability in the event that you need to look for a new job, or do you return to something you know you enjoy and hope that you can do that until you retire? What is better for you, and your family, in the long run as opposed to immediate gratification? I want you happy, that's the most important thing - but how happy would you be in the future based on options and possible long-term outcomes?
Lastly, if, say, you do go for the 747 and decide you are more miserable than a sludge cleaner in the sewers of New York, would you have the option to transfer back to the MD-11?
Yes, flying is good. It's not as though I've absolutely hated the DC-10. In fact, my hunch is that I'd like the actual flying part of the 747 better than the DC-10 overall. It's the small fleet and lack of good flying that I'm not real thrilled about.
as for the other perks, yes, that's a big part of what would be better on the MD-11. Obviously things on the 747 *could* change. One airplane doing great flying would fix me right up. But so far there hasn't been anything stable that impresses me. We just signed a 1-year contract with Asiana flying from Seoul to Los Angeles. Neither destination thrills me. Looks like the other airplane will be doing military cargo for at least a little while. Unless we get more airplanes, I'd expect it to be not very good for a long time.
And I'm not sure it's an "until I retire" kinda thing. If things go (very) poorly, I'll be looking for a new job eventually. If they go very well, I'll be back in the left seat before too long. Who knows how that'll go. And as for going back, that's a possibility but if I bid it, then I go into a freeze again. That could cause me to miss an upgrade and I'm not sure I want to do that. That said, I think it's revealing that several of the early people to bid the 747 have now bid off it....
I know you haven't been as happy flying the DC-10 - the question is - do you pass up the opportunity for free training on a new plane, expanding your experience and market-ability in the event that you need to look for a new job, or do you return to something you know you enjoy and hope that you can do that until you retire? What is better for you, and your family, in the long run as opposed to immediate gratification? I want you happy, that's the most important thing - but how happy would you be in the future based on options and possible long-term outcomes?
Lastly, if, say, you do go for the 747 and decide you are more miserable than a sludge cleaner in the sewers of New York, would you have the option to transfer back to the MD-11?
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as for the other perks, yes, that's a big part of what would be better on the MD-11. Obviously things on the 747 *could* change. One airplane doing great flying would fix me right up. But so far there hasn't been anything stable that impresses me. We just signed a 1-year contract with Asiana flying from Seoul to Los Angeles. Neither destination thrills me. Looks like the other airplane will be doing military cargo for at least a little while. Unless we get more airplanes, I'd expect it to be not very good for a long time.
And I'm not sure it's an "until I retire" kinda thing. If things go (very) poorly, I'll be looking for a new job eventually. If they go very well, I'll be back in the left seat before too long. Who knows how that'll go. And as for going back, that's a possibility but if I bid it, then I go into a freeze again. That could cause me to miss an upgrade and I'm not sure I want to do that. That said, I think it's revealing that several of the early people to bid the 747 have now bid off it....
V-
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