Originally Posted by
Moonwolf
You know what's funny about all this. I was talking to a Jazz pilot the other day, they were complaining because first year pay is 55K. Worldwide regional flying first year is roughly the same or better. I have a friend at Arik Air flying a dash8 as an F/O making 85k a year.
I get the impression that it would be a lot smarter to work outside the U.S...
I'm studying for my ATP written right now so that I can apply to a U.S. regional, but I have this nagging thought that goes like this: "Why would you work your ass off and commute for $20,000 a year? What if you are stuck commuting for reserve to a city you don't live in? Are you an idiot?!"
I also feel like it might be smart to wait until after July when more regionals are parking airplanes and they get desperate and have to raise first-year pay... Or are they not financially able to raise first year pay? Or would it cut into their bottom line deep enough that it would actually be most cost effective/profitable to park those planes instead of paying first-year guys more?
And I do understand the math that makes it so that flying airplanes with 50 or 70 seats instead of 150 seats makes it impossible for a regional to match 737 pay...
Can we go fly in Europe or West Africa (Arik Air) with an FAA Commercial certificate? I'm ready to go!
I'm just about to send my last student to checkride and I have 2120/480 multi.
I wouldn't hold your breath for first year pay to come up. Commut air I up to 30 first year and I think air Wisconsin is also one of the higher first year out there.
Good luck.