Originally Posted by
bedrock
I think we are getting off track here. No one said they would rather drive trucks than airplanes. Also, the level of cost, training, skill intelligence and responsibility of being a commercial airline pilot in 121 does not compare to driving a truck. You know what else is hard work? Farming and digging ditches. The point is not to compare the jobs, but to compare and contrast what the industries are doing to attract employees.
I've been working since I was 13 and I had another career before aviation. I STILL think the job of regional pilot is ridiculously underpaid for what it entails. I think the regional airlines are wasteful and badly run. I think the whole US airline industry is sclerotic and needs a massive colonic.
+1, Great post. However, if you are coming from a business point of view any place that can get employees to invest $60-100K of their own money in training, and then accept $14K year salary is a good damn model.