Originally Posted by
Lab Rat
Do you really know why you do not make more than $35K/yr.? This is why:
1: Aviation universities who charge you a small mortgage while enticing you all through college with dreams of flying international widebodies - and people who willfully go into debt pursuing the "dream".
True, but NOT every pilot goes to one of those schools and saddles themselves with that kind of debt.
But just like the legacy pilot that
willfully lived beyond their means, as well as
willfully voted away scope pre 9/11 for a big fat paycheck.
It's fun for some to point their finger at the regional side and play the blame game, "Woe is us the mainline pilots, the ones that had our scope taken away by those RJ pilots"
For every 20 something regoinal pilot that's mad and trying to blame the older guys for age 65, you've got an older guy trying blame a regional pilot for his own career woes.
Originally Posted by
Lab Rat
2: People who willingly take jobs for minimum wage because of the "coolness factor".
See above. Just like pilots that
willingly voted away scope for the paycheck.
Originally Posted by
Lab Rat
3: Conflict of interest: major pilots who want to retain much of the flying while regional pilots want more of the flying so they can get the coveted "1000 hours PIC" and move onto a major all the while saying scope laws need to be improved at the majors so there will be more jobs but who willfully accept flying the mainline routes at their respective regionals. Oh yeah, one union that usually represents both mainline and regional pilots with a built-in conflict of interest.
True on some levels, a completely ignorant blanket statement on others. There are pilots at the legacy level that were allowed to get their time and get out of the regionals, all because of scope relaxation. When they get to the legacy, they want scope, as they should. However, had it not been for the relaxation, they NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
If ALPA truly wanted to eliminate the conflict of interest, scope would be taken back with a extreme prejudice. The effect would be two fold;
1) Keep the flying at mainline, preserving as well as creating jobs. This is first and foremost.
2) Returning the regional to what it once was. A place with a 2-4 year lifespan before moving on.
Originally Posted by
Lab Rat
4: Jobs that were once considered time-builders or stepping-stones to a major are now career destinations for many. (related to point #3)
True, some by choice, some not.
Originally Posted by
Lab Rat
Actually, you are also entitled to an extra 5 years if you want it too.
True. It would be hard to calculate what the ROI would be on getting hired at the legacy 5 years earlier though. Negating the "need" to work 5 years on the back end.
Originally Posted by
Lab Rat
Your choice. Nobody will force you to work past 60, nor will anyone feel sorry for you either. Good luck.
Again, true. Nobody forced legacies to give up scope pre 9/11.
And NOBODY should feel sorry for the over 60's that can't afford the third wife, the second set of kids, the houses, the cars, etc etc etc.
I'll say it again;
For every 20 something regoinal pilot that's mad and trying to blame the older guys for age 65, you've got an older guy trying blame a regional pilot for his own career woes.