BTpilot

Sorry, but you're only going off of pay scale.... Pretty sure trevtt600 and I work for the same place and yes we do make more than some airways FOs. Contract strength means more than pay scale.

Just the facts..

JetBlast77

lol....I'll take my six figure salary while being home EVERY NIGHT all the way to the bank. I couldn't care less what I fly. I come in, fly my 4 legs a day, and roll back into the driveway just in time for dinner. I tuck my kids in every night and am present in my families life. Pilots continue to amaze me. They'll throw their whole lives away just to fly something a little bigger and make a little bit more. I guess everyone has their own definition of whats important. You enjoy those 4 days on the airbus bro!

GAPILOT36

Sucks to be jealous! Especially a guy who works for a regional that may not be in business in another 10 years. I don't wish Ill will on any pilot, but I wouldnt get so comfortable at any regional. Ask Colgan, Pinnacle, ComAir, etc..

flybywire44

I think what GAPILOT36 pilot is trying to say is that at some point we have to leave our comfort zone if we're going to risk being a better version of ourselves.

The rewards of moving beyond the regional industry are worth considering. 9,500 pilots will be needed at the majors between now and the end of 2020—there are only 9,500 regional airline pilots at this moment. Delta in insourcing. Will United and merged American follow suit? Will the 9500 pilot requirement of 2020 grow to a 1200 pilot requirement? What is the risk of not leaving the regional industry when all of the first officers in your right seat resign? How will contract strength protect regional pilots from a regional industry that will demand maximum utilization? How will the 76 seat aircraft at handle the inflationary sky rocketing fuel prices of the next 15 years? After losing the first decade of their careers at regional airlines, will once regional pilots turned legacy pilots tolerate further outsourcing of their carriers? What will it be like watching green card holding pilots become legacy pilots ahead regional pilots who are US citizens? Will the major airlines cannibalize regional operations to before starting ab intio programs and green card sponsorships? What are the other market and labor trends that will dictate the direction of the airline industry?

We are watching the airline industry approach the dynamics of being re-regulated. UAL, DAL and potentially merged AMR will control the majority of market share and once again be able to bring value to all stake holders.

I strongly encourage all of us to consider the possibilities of tomorrow and do the math.

Yes, GAPILOT36 did not express himself well... but he is encouraging all of us to reach beyond ourselves.

Cheers.

DashDriverYV

Really? This simple question turned into a ****ing match? I did apply when the most recent window opened but have not heard anything. I hope I'm at least a little competitive compared the the 2,000 applicants last round.
If you don't want to work there or it is too big of a drop in pay or qol, please don't apply.

ShyGuy

XJT Pilot, that's a lotta smack talk coming from a guy whose original airline (XJT) has nothing but 50 seaters that are uneconomical in today's market. You work for an outsourced/ contract feed, and remember, someone (GoJets/Compass/Silver) can do it cheaper than you.

cactusmike

Ask the 20 year Comair guys how that worked out for them....

Every major has low first year pay. Most make it back within a couple of years. Risks mean rewards. Someone that got on at SWA 20 years ago versus staying at Air Wisconsin? How about Mesa? Worlds biggest regional a few years ago.

You may be happy living in Bumfk, AR making good coin but when your flying gets outsourced to the next guy who outbid you then your lifestyle will be gone.
Airlines are not for everyone and a lot of corporate guys are happy where they are. But if you are in the airline business then it doesn't make sense to not try to play with the big jets. That's where the money is. The majors control the flying the regionals get. That is the nature of the beast. As a regional you are flying the small routes that are incremental revenue. Gas goes up, small jets get cut because those flights don't make money.

Enjoy your lifestyle at XJT. But don't be surprised when your F/O you are flying with now calls you 5 years from now with his layover stories in Rio or London and he's making more than you are. I have seen it over and over the past 30 years.

Bucking Bar

USAPA really needs to get its stuff together and get a industry standard contract.

In the top 25% of my regional the only places I could have gone and made more career earnings were FedEx, UPS, SWA and Delta. US Air or NWA were going to cost me money (Circa 2006-7 contracts) and I did not include any time value assumptions in the spreadsheet.

An applicant has to think eventually US Air pilots will "organize." I sure hope that comes together ... it is in everyone's mutual best interest.

Of course, to the regional pilot ... you always run a risk when your employers name is not the name on the side of the jet. At ExpressJet Jerry Atkin will transfer flying right out from under you to aid SkyWest and that's if GoJets doesn't undercut you first. You'd have to be pretty darn senior to avoid any pain from the restructuring of the 50 seat fleet that's coming up.

cactusmike

USAPA will not get an industry standard contract. That will be done by another union after whatever merger comes down the road. After talking to guys at the USAPA Board meeting this week in CLT about the little political games by the east reps we see them having no vision of anything outside their little orbits. They are firmly convinced that no merger will take place without their express permission and insight. They have myopia on the scale of Mr Magoo.

Eventually USAPA will run its course and wages and benefits will rise. Just like for every other major, except it will be longer for us.

flybywire44

I'm under the impression that without the MOU APA will represent US Airways pilots sooner rather than later.

I've had two people tell me that this MOU gives USAPA a seat at the table—in some ways it seems good to not let USAPA have a seat at the table.