Cape Air
03-25-2011, 06:24 AM
#624
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
Pros:
Rent where I am is $175/mo, no lease, not including utilities
Real world flying experience
It's fun
There's a lot of great people here (and a few not so great)
Cons:
I get paid $9/hr
I have no senority
The health benefits aren't great and are expensive...especially on FO pay
I'm not in the union
No upgrade for me for another year and a half (and then it's only more prop time)
My last day is next week. I was offered a job elsewhere. Yes I like it here, and it will be bittersweet. Definitely a great fall-back option, but at my age, I want to get paid more and get on a senority list with a jet (for career reasons).
Rent where I am is $175/mo, no lease, not including utilities
Real world flying experience
It's fun
There's a lot of great people here (and a few not so great)
Cons:
I get paid $9/hr
I have no senority
The health benefits aren't great and are expensive...especially on FO pay
I'm not in the union
No upgrade for me for another year and a half (and then it's only more prop time)
My last day is next week. I was offered a job elsewhere. Yes I like it here, and it will be bittersweet. Definitely a great fall-back option, but at my age, I want to get paid more and get on a senority list with a jet (for career reasons).
03-25-2011, 09:43 AM
#625
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Floatin' down the river in a old tube smilin'
Posts: 111
Originally Posted by Crism
I get paid $9/hr
I have no senority
The health benefits aren't great and are expensive...especially on FO pay
I'm not in the union
No upgrade for me for another year and a half (and then it's only more prop time)
My last day is next week. I was offered a job elsewhere. Yes I like it here, and it will be bittersweet. Definitely a great fall-back option, but at my age, I want to get paid more and get on a senority list with a jet (for career reasons).
I have no senority
The health benefits aren't great and are expensive...especially on FO pay
I'm not in the union
No upgrade for me for another year and a half (and then it's only more prop time)
My last day is next week. I was offered a job elsewhere. Yes I like it here, and it will be bittersweet. Definitely a great fall-back option, but at my age, I want to get paid more and get on a senority list with a jet (for career reasons).
Cape Air would retain pilots better if they paid a livable wage. Even as a Captain in the North your base is only 27,300 dollars a year in the North ($15 x 35 hr wk guarantee = 525 week. 525 x 52= 27300 yr) . Yes, there are ways to make more money, and some lines pay better, but that is the base. Pay some rent, medical insurance, student loans etc and there is no way your putting away for retirement or saving to purchase a house and start a family on that wage, which is truely the important stuff in life. You might even find yourself in the negative. You would be hard pressed to find another "regional" that pays Captains that low of a guarantee. This needs to be addressed, otherwise I think that 9K will find it hard to staff during the upcoming pilot hiring boom, and a mass exodus is already well under way. I want to see the company suceed, and in order to suceed you need to be able to retain pilots.
With that said, there are many many many pros to flying for Cape Air: Good, friendly management that works with you typically, not against you, unquestioned PIC authority for safety decisions, some fun destinations, the 402 is fun to fly, they put forth a good effort to try to stay on top an aging fleet, great training, Cape Air looks great on the resume, just to name a few. Unfortunately for many people though, they can't afford to stay there. Management knows this, and as long as you did your job there well, and give notice when it is time to leave, they are likely to pat you on the back and say good luck to you on your way out. And if you ever need to come back, they are likely to have you back, which can be great when the pilot markey turns south, like it often does, and you find yourself needing a job.
03-25-2011, 09:51 AM
#626
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Floatin' down the river in a old tube smilin'
Posts: 111
Originally Posted by FlyingChipmunk
I smell sarcasm.... 
03-25-2011, 05:45 PM
#627
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Position: CE-560XL Left Seat
Posts: 27
Originally Posted by Way2Broke
Can't say I blame you. There has been lots of grumbling about people quitting without giving much notice lately, but when your making 16,380 dollars a year, I wouldn't expect much from someone when a better opportunity comes up. I would still give notice if you can, but I wouldn't bypass or delay a good one either because you can not give 2 weeks notice. Giving two weeks notice is the professional and right thing to do, when possible, it sounds like you were able too, well done.
Cape Air would retain pilots better if they paid a livable wage. Even as a Captain in the North your base is only 27,300 dollars a year in the North ($15 x 35 hr wk guarantee = 525 week. 525 x 52= 27300 yr) . Yes, there are ways to make more money, and some lines pay better, but that is the base. Pay some rent, medical insurance, student loans etc and there is no way your putting away for retirement or saving to purchase a house and start a family on that wage, which is truely the important stuff in life. You might even find yourself in the negative. You would be hard pressed to find another "regional" that pays Captains that low of a guarantee. This needs to be addressed, otherwise I think that 9K will find it hard to staff during the upcoming pilot hiring boom, and a mass exodus is already well under way. I want to see the company suceed, and in order to suceed you need to be able to retain pilots.
With that said, there are many many many pros to flying for Cape Air: Good, friendly management that works with you typically, not against you, unquestioned PIC authority for safety decisions, some fun destinations, the 402 is fun to fly, they put forth a good effort to try to stay on top an aging fleet, great training, Cape Air looks great on the resume, just to name a few. Unfortunately for many people though, they can't afford to stay there. Management knows this, and as long as you did your job there well, and give notice when it is time to leave, they are likely to pat you on the back and say good luck to you on your way out. And if you ever need to come back, they are likely to have you back, which can be great when the pilot markey turns south, like it often does, and you find yourself needing a job.
Cape Air would retain pilots better if they paid a livable wage. Even as a Captain in the North your base is only 27,300 dollars a year in the North ($15 x 35 hr wk guarantee = 525 week. 525 x 52= 27300 yr) . Yes, there are ways to make more money, and some lines pay better, but that is the base. Pay some rent, medical insurance, student loans etc and there is no way your putting away for retirement or saving to purchase a house and start a family on that wage, which is truely the important stuff in life. You might even find yourself in the negative. You would be hard pressed to find another "regional" that pays Captains that low of a guarantee. This needs to be addressed, otherwise I think that 9K will find it hard to staff during the upcoming pilot hiring boom, and a mass exodus is already well under way. I want to see the company suceed, and in order to suceed you need to be able to retain pilots.
With that said, there are many many many pros to flying for Cape Air: Good, friendly management that works with you typically, not against you, unquestioned PIC authority for safety decisions, some fun destinations, the 402 is fun to fly, they put forth a good effort to try to stay on top an aging fleet, great training, Cape Air looks great on the resume, just to name a few. Unfortunately for many people though, they can't afford to stay there. Management knows this, and as long as you did your job there well, and give notice when it is time to leave, they are likely to pat you on the back and say good luck to you on your way out. And if you ever need to come back, they are likely to have you back, which can be great when the pilot markey turns south, like it often does, and you find yourself needing a job.
03-26-2011, 04:39 AM
#628
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: 9K CA
Posts: 124
Originally Posted by Way2Broke
Cape Air would retain pilots better if they paid a livable wage. Even as a Captain in the North your base is only 27,300 dollars a year in the North ($15 x 35 hr wk guarantee = 525 week. 525 x 52= 27300 yr) .
That being said, I do wonder how they will attract enough pilots to fill the spaces that are going to be opening. With the regionals' mins plummeting, why would a recent grad with $100,000 of debt choose 16,500/yr for SIC piston time? Especially when interns are getting a better deal than full-time FOs...
I think Cape Air is an excellent stepping stone, and I am enjoying working here (minus the locale). But it will be interesting what happens when the pilots run out.
03-26-2011, 11:15 AM
#629
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Floatin' down the river in a old tube smilin'
Posts: 111
Originally Posted by vtbvtdk
To be quite honest, I don't exactly think Cape Air is too concerned about whether or not changing pay would retain pilots. ........ But it will be interesting what happens when the pilots run out.
03-31-2011, 07:59 AM
#630
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Posts: 116
Just wanted to let you all know that the interns out here are making more than first year Captains.
Base FO pay = $9/duty hour
Interns get: Paid hotel, Paid rental car, AND $35 per diem per DAY.
7 days a week x $35 = $245.
$245 / 40 hours (average) per week of duty = $6.13/hr
$9/hr + $6.13/hr = $15.13/hr + car + hotel. I'm not sure but they probably get gas reimbursed too.
Ain't that interesting.
Base FO pay = $9/duty hour
Interns get: Paid hotel, Paid rental car, AND $35 per diem per DAY.
7 days a week x $35 = $245.
$245 / 40 hours (average) per week of duty = $6.13/hr
$9/hr + $6.13/hr = $15.13/hr + car + hotel. I'm not sure but they probably get gas reimbursed too.
Ain't that interesting.
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