Pilot Encouragement

From my letter to on a similar topic (AW&ST Feb. 11).

True, regional airline first officer (FO) pay is not now a living wage. Why not approach this period as a low-paid apprenticeship.

If you love to fly and are attracted to aircraft that fly higher, faster, further, this career may be for you.

Find a way to survive the low-paying regional FO years remembering that even regional captains, after five years, start at $70,000 per year.

There is still an incentive to get to the major carriers. My 35-year career value at the majors places the average career—pay, benefits and retirement—at nearly $11 million in 2013 dollars. Average FO starting pay is $50,000, increasing to $95,000 after five years. A starting captain after 10 years averages $125,000, and typical captains make $155,000. Top annual captain pay averages $200,000 and peaks at $280,000.

Average retirement is fully company paid at about 12% of annual compensation, and peaks at 16% (United Airlines). Plus, it is yours the moment it is paid and cannot be lost like in the past.

The most amazing part of the job is that you work mostly unsupervised. No time clock, just show up on time, do your job, and go home. Pretty amazing when you may be taking several hundred travelers and a crew of up to 15 to Europe in a $200 million aircraft.

These benefits are all based on seniority, so getting the job fast is paramount for long-term success. You go from no choices to lots of choices as your seniority increases. This is an up-and-down business that is never as bad as it looks at the bottom (like today).

So whether it is money, time off, fun or flexibility you seek, you might want to check the facts before you bail on this career right before the next hiring boom. The race to 1,500 flight hours is on.

Kit Darby
KitDarby.com Aviation Consulting, LLC
Peachtree City, Ga.