Originally Posted by SkyHigh

I find it interesting that my opposition is narrowing down to just a handful of dedicated hardliners.
Skyhigh

Originally Posted by SkyHigh

It seems to me that people are compensated in the order of magnitude for what they can do for the outside world and for what they will do. A doctor for example must hold the mental acumen and determination to make it through 8 years of higher education plus years of internship. Most people can’t do that for many reasons. As a result Doctors are scarce and tend to earn more than those who have not made the same sacrifices. At the other end of the spectrum I suppose is the plumber. Few people would crawl under a rat and spider infested house to cut open a plugged sewer pipe that they know is full of repulsive waste. As a result they too are in relative demand for minimal career investment.

At one time aviation had barriers to entry. An applicant needed to fit inside of a height and weight bracket, have 20/20 uncorrected vision, be under the age of 30, college educated, have no nepotism conflicts and be from a specific social economic class. The result was that the pool of applicants was greatly restricted. Airlines had to compete for applicants. Pilots held the upper hand in negotiations. Only a few could do the job and there were even less that would do the job. Wages were much higher. Pilots were respected.

Changes in the hiring practices have blown the doors open at the airlines. Now a pilot can be fat, skinny, short or tall. New hires can be 22 or 62. Wear coke bottle glasses and be from a mail order college. These developments have been great for the airlines and diversity but bad for the profession. Now a pilot is compensated more for what they will do over what they can do. Flying is considered to be fun so pilots will do a lot to stay in the saddle.

As a result pay is going to keep plummeting until we reach the breakeven point of an income that is so low that career entry is restricted because only few can afford to do it anymore. (We could be there already) At that point the airlines will switch to a European style of cadet program. Young people will go straight from college to the majors to be trained for a specific operation on a single type. They will be paid minimum wage until they have flown off most of a decade. As with other impassioned youthful crusades like the Peace Corps, social or missionary work most will quit to find a real job. The lasting legacy of their airline pilot years will be to produce hair raising stories of their impoverished and misguided youth at dinner parties.

Some will be encouraged others not so much. My generation had to pay our own way through college and flight school. We did not have access to student loans to perpetuate the illusion. I had to earn each dollar for my flight training. I am not ashamed to say that my primary aviation career interest was as a job. I need to make a living and to have a life as the product of my efforts.

Skyhigh

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR

Of course you see it that way Sky.
You love to point out your converts.
I'd say most have given up trying to find common ground with you because you are beyond rational comprehension.

Nope. I'll be around to point out your rants and grandiose exaggerations.
The middle ground needs representation too - not just your 'the sky is falling', 'black sunday', 'the world is ending', 'everyone in aviation hates their spouse and kid' type of attitude.

Notice how some of us don't keep posting the same over and over. we let it ride. You on the other hand will even start a NEW THREAD with the same garbage over and over.

USMCFLYR

Originally Posted by ClutchCargo

Even with all of those "dumbed down" requirements you couldn't get an interview?

Why couldn't you get a student loan? Weren't you attending an accredited school?

Why can't you just face the fact that you were never cut out to be a professional pilot? I could never be a doctor, lawyer, accountant, broker, etc.
My next door neighbor is a bond trader (partner in a firm). He makes about 6-7 million/yr. My interest in his job: zero. His interest in my job: zero. It's a beautiful world.

I'll be thinking of you when we rocket out of the overcast into that star-filled sky tonight, Sky.

Originally Posted by SkyHigh

USMCFLYR,

The topics here rarely change but the people do. As pilots we all are a little egocentric and tire of the same old debate but you have to realize that other people read this stuff too. I have to assume that most who venture here have outside lives and can not afford to read every single post over the last few years so we tend to go over the same stuff all the time. It is the same story all over this forum.

You and I are old friends and know each other well however it is to the others who read this stuff that I am really writing to. People who are like me who hold the same needs and expectations.

Skyhigh

Originally Posted by SkyHigh

I am cut out to be a pilot and was one for nearly 20 years. What I am not cut out for is being poor and a slave to a system that does not value my participation. If we all could get hired by the company of our dreams in our 20's thing would be different. The point that seems to be missed by you is that not everyone has a good job that fits into their personal lives.

You are lucky. Future generations will not have it as good.

Skyhigh

Originally Posted by cubbies4life

I haven't read the whole thread but why not make 80k, spend 20k a year renting a twin or caravan to meet the mins for your company and you'll still be taking home twice what you would as a regional FO and won't have the ****ty QOL