So I know that everyone is going to have different opinions, and all are definitely welcome. A good discussion is what I am looking for.
First, my current situation. I am flying a Legacy 600 in Beirut, Lebanon. The company is not doing well at all due to the situation in the Middle East, and they have notified us that they will not pay for recurrent this year (my last PC was FSI in HOU Dec 2011), and also that I will be taking a pay cut after November, which will bring my pay to almost half of what I am making (which was still slightly below average for the 2011 survey). I am 31 with just a CPL, 1400 hours on the E135/145, 3000TT.
So... I really like living abroad, and I enjoy the international flying. I really need my ATP though, and was expecting to get it at this next recurrent. I used to fly for ExpressJet, and so I had the mentality that the ATP would just come whenever I upgraded... which is not quite the way charter/corporate see it. They see me with 3000TT and wonder why I don't have an ATP. But at any rate, it is affecting my ability to get a new job (I feel that way anyway).
So my options are to pay my recurrent and upgrade to ATP/PIC Type, and come back here at half my pay... or to just find a new job in the US and let whoever I work for pay for whatever training I require, or I was thinking since I want my ATP anyway to help with international job opportunities, would it be worth spending a little more and getting a 737 or A320 type rating, and just looking for an international gig that may require a type, but no time in type?
Advice and questions welcome!
First, my current situation. I am flying a Legacy 600 in Beirut, Lebanon. The company is not doing well at all due to the situation in the Middle East, and they have notified us that they will not pay for recurrent this year (my last PC was FSI in HOU Dec 2011), and also that I will be taking a pay cut after November, which will bring my pay to almost half of what I am making (which was still slightly below average for the 2011 survey). I am 31 with just a CPL, 1400 hours on the E135/145, 3000TT.
So... I really like living abroad, and I enjoy the international flying. I really need my ATP though, and was expecting to get it at this next recurrent. I used to fly for ExpressJet, and so I had the mentality that the ATP would just come whenever I upgraded... which is not quite the way charter/corporate see it. They see me with 3000TT and wonder why I don't have an ATP. But at any rate, it is affecting my ability to get a new job (I feel that way anyway).
So my options are to pay my recurrent and upgrade to ATP/PIC Type, and come back here at half my pay... or to just find a new job in the US and let whoever I work for pay for whatever training I require, or I was thinking since I want my ATP anyway to help with international job opportunities, would it be worth spending a little more and getting a 737 or A320 type rating, and just looking for an international gig that may require a type, but no time in type?
Advice and questions welcome!