Honesty time- any regional lifers?
#21
There a guys out there called "hobbyists", I believe. Either the spouse makes a good secure income, they are retired with a good pension, or operate a second business. These guys will be what the regionals will have to rely on in the future.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: 320
Posts: 709
There are plenty of them here at endeavor. A lot of them have a wife with a good job or a side business. And of course you have those who are fine making $80-100k a year. They don’t over spend and live a modest but comfortable life. They are senior with 18 days off with all holidays and weekends off. They see their kids a lot more than those how move on to the majors. Not everyone has to fly the biggest or make the most money. They value their time off with family. Of course most of them put in most of their time when regionals were in the growth cycle and now only have to stick it out for a few more years. I think it is harder to be a lifer with how fast regionals are put through the ringer.
#26
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Position: CA
Posts: 56
Not sure what the future holds of course but it would seem to me that regional managements know exactly what they are doing and have known all along- exploit the cheap pilot labor supply in America by victimizing those who believe in the "get in and then get out" myth.
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: SFO Guppy CA
Posts: 1,112
I maintain that being the plug at a Major/Legacy is still better than being #1 at any Regional. It's always better to have the insignia on your paycheck be the same one on the tail of your airplane that you fly!!!
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: Yellow Bus
Posts: 355
Envoy has a flowthrough, so not many lifers there. The only airlines that have the most lifers are Asa/ExpressJet, and Skywest. I'm at Asa, and we have probably 300-400 lifers. Our airline is so top-heavy, that we are going to lose the regional race. We won't attract new pilots, all we can do is shrink down to the lifers eventually, then they'll be pushed back to reserve and 20 year captains going back to FO. There is no quick upgrade here, nor a high first year pay, nor any flow-through, nor any signing bonus or retention bonus. The only way to get topped out lifers gone is some form of early retirement bonus...or a flow-through program.
Of course every airline has those who realistically can't get hired anywhere else because....they are weirdos.
Of course every airline has those who realistically can't get hired anywhere else because....they are weirdos.
#29
Bracing for Fallacies
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: In favor of good things, not in favor of bad things
Posts: 3,543
Also, I think most of the active regional pilots of APC are looking to move on. So we are not going to hear from regional lifers much in the first place. Speaking for myself, APC is an easy *part* of keeping up with the news of the industry. When/if I find myself in a career destination, I will likely visit less. Then I'll probably be haranguing folks on some GA forum about flying my own (yet to be purchased) airplane; "My annual cost way too much, my wife won't let me fly, I replaced another cylinder, I think it would be cheaper renting!". Then finally, " Anyone wanna buy a '75 Skyhawk at a good price??"
Ahhh, dreams.
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: SFO Guppy CA
Posts: 1,112
For some people this is really not the case. Not everybody wants or needs to leave their regional.
Also, I think most of the active regional pilots of APC are looking to move on. So we are not going to hear from regional lifers much in the first place. Speaking for myself, APC is an easy *part* of keeping up with the news of the industry. When/if I find myself in a career destination, I will likely visit less. Then I'll probably be haranguing folks on some GA forum about flying my own (yet to be purchased) airplane; "My annual cost way too much, my wife won't let me fly, I replaced another cylinder, I think it would be cheaper renting!". Then finally, " Anyone wanna buy a '75 Skyhawk at a good price??"
Ahhh, dreams.
Also, I think most of the active regional pilots of APC are looking to move on. So we are not going to hear from regional lifers much in the first place. Speaking for myself, APC is an easy *part* of keeping up with the news of the industry. When/if I find myself in a career destination, I will likely visit less. Then I'll probably be haranguing folks on some GA forum about flying my own (yet to be purchased) airplane; "My annual cost way too much, my wife won't let me fly, I replaced another cylinder, I think it would be cheaper renting!". Then finally, " Anyone wanna buy a '75 Skyhawk at a good price??"
Ahhh, dreams.
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MrBigAir
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11-06-2008 08:00 AM