Why I Quit My $300k/yr 787 First Officer Job at American Airlines

Summary

C.W. Lemoine explains why he left American Airlines after flying the 787 as a first officer and earning more than $300 an hour. Despite strong seniority prospects, airline flying was never his main goal. He resigned because the work and lifestyle no longer felt worthwhile.

How He Entered Aviation and the Airlines

Lemoine initially wanted to be a single-seat fighter pilot. He served in the Air Force Reserve and later flew Navy Hornets. After earning his ATP certificate, he applied to airlines partly because a dispute over his medical and deployment status had disrupted his military plans. He turned down an offer from Republic Airways before accepting a job with American Airlines.

His Early Airline Experience

He was assigned to fly the 737 out of LaGuardia, an inconvenient base for someone living in New Orleans. He initially enjoyed training and used non-revenue travel benefits to visit other cities. But commuting, missed connections, and demanding trips soon made the job feel less glamorous.

What Wore Him Down

Lemoine disliked the 737, time away from home and his dogs, and the fatigue caused by commuting and irregular schedules. He also felt poorly treated by management and was disappointed in his union representation. Returning to T-38 flying reminded him how much more fulfilling military aviation felt to him.

A Long Break, Then the 787

During COVID, Lemoine took leave and remained away from airline flying for several years. When he returned in 2024, he hoped the 787’s longer routes and fewer legs would suit him better. He enjoyed the training but struggled with red-eyes, time-zone changes, sleeping on planes and in hotels, and feeling exhausted after trips.

Health and Training Pressures

Lemoine had previously been diagnosed with autosomal polycystic kidney disease. A kidney stone later led to treatment, including lithotripsy, and long-term disability leave. After receiving a medical special issuance, he had to return to training sooner than expected and faced renewed pressure to complete the required flight-hour consolidation.

Why He Resigned

His schedule and assigned trips made consolidation feel increasingly unmanageable. He also realized he did not need the income: he says his home and possessions were paid off, and he had no debt or dependents besides his dog, Luna. Rather than keep a draining job as a financial “insurance policy,” he resigned.

His Reflections

Lemoine acknowledges that leaving may cost him a potentially exceptional seniority position and that he might feel differently in the future. Still, he says life is too short to remain in unfulfilling work. He believes that moving to a different base or changing aircraft probably would not have solved the underlying fatigue and lifestyle issues. He now finds more fulfillment in helicopter and law-enforcement flying.

Key Takeaways

• Consider whether a high-paying job is worth the time, fatigue, and lifestyle it requires.
• Don’t stay in a career solely for financial security if your circumstances mean you no longer need it.
• Be realistic about commuting, sleep disruption, time away from home, and recovery days when deciding whether a job is a good fit.
• Lemoine frames leaving as a personal decision, not a judgment that airline work is wrong for everyone.

Notable Locations, Aircraft, and Speaker

• Locations: New Orleans, Dallas/Fort Worth, LaGuardia and New York, Miami, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Barcelona, and Argentina. He also mentions Washington, D.C., and Stennis.
• Aircraft and organizations: American Airlines; Republic Airways; the 737, 787, 777, F-16, Navy Hornet, and T-38.
• Product: AIR ONE: Origin, a fictional book he says draws on his airline experiences and frustrations.
• Speaker: C.W. Lemoine.