Originally Posted by acl65pilot

FtB:

Given this is not the First Rodeo for any aviator, I will submit that a FO on the lowest paying jet in yr three plus of longevity should be able to afford a typical middle class house; 250K, two newer cars with payments of about 400 each, schooling for their children, a college fund, able to put the max per year in their 401K and be able to do everything that a typical manager mid-upper level at a normal corporation should be able to do. That equates to 140-155K a year. It also should go up significantly from there.

Most pilots DAL has hired in the last five years have been doing the military for 10+ years and or the civilian world for 7-15 years. The bulk of pilots hired would be mid to upper level managers on a different career track at a min.

I continue to purport that to attract the best you have to pay em like you respect em.

The idea of a pilots in his mid 40's sitting reserve on the 7ER or 330 making 6K a month with kids going to college is preposterous. That pilot has been doing this job for 20+ years and should be paid in kind. Same goes for the 7ERA that sits reserve and makes 155K gross a year and is in his mid to late 50's.