Originally Posted by saturn

In an attempt to not sound like an egotistical pilot, you go too far and disgrace the profession. We aren't bus drivers, we are jet pilots, there is a difference. We both operate vehicles, but thats it. You sound like a retarded passenger that thinks we hit some takeoff and land button and never fly. And I dont see myself as being in the airplane to jockey an autopilot, I'm there to make a routine flight routine, and a non-routine flight from being the nations top story. A bus driver would think your crazy to compare him to us, especially if he jumpseated your every flight for a month. First year FO pay is too low. If a new FO averages 200-250 hr of TAFB a month, and makes 20k a year, that equates to $6.60-$8.30 an hour, well below min. wage. Every non-pilot in the world thinks that its too low. You really think it should be this way? As if pilots dont deserve better compensation the first year? Your right, they arent heros, they are just guys who have sacrifced a hell of a lot more than most people to get into their career.
What % of first year guys get a job after 90 days of flight training? 0%! Almost all spend years in training and/or flight instructing, flying freight, tours, etc, and for longer now with the ATP rule. Many like myself also did unpaid internships just to get a foot in the door. So why shouldn't flying 30-80 souls in a complex turbine aircraft deserve better compensation than 20k a year? Right of passage? The right of passage should be the tens of thousands of dollars spent, the years of training, stressing through checkrides, the low paying a demanding jobs before our 121 carrier, finishing college, etc. And I dare say for most of us it wasn't near as smooth as this just to get here with hiring freezes, furloughs, student loans, family issues, medical issues, etc. We all knew first year pay was low before we started, but it doesn't mean it SHOULD be this way, or that it should STAY this way. Bus drivers? Way to devalue my profession and passion.

Oh, and about that paint job. Uh I think the emblem and tail are snazzy, but 90% of the airplane is overly gray in my opinion, and about as exciting as the new United decals. Just my 2 cents.