Originally Posted by
Sr. Barco
D5 Pilot-
I was in my early 20's at the time so low wages, disrespect, terrible schedules and daily abuse weren't a big deal. I couldn't do it again now in my forties. The stories you hear about the regionals are not exaggerations. You don't need to go to prison to see first hand that it sucks when everyone can tell you it does.
I left a job at Flightsafety in Feb that paid just south of six figures to go back to flying. After being out of the game for six years no one would hire me (even with 9300TT, 1400TPIC, 3 types, etc.). Had lots of corporate contacts but they all said they needed recency. I told myself I would never go back to the regionals (was at ACA/Independence when it went BK) but I had no choice if I wanted to fly. I couldn't see myself slogging it out at FSI the next 20 years (I'm 44). After 6 weeks on the line I've had it. Note also that I had an offer from another carrier (non regional but not legacy) contingent on recency. But that offer is dragging on and on without a firm class date. As a result I'm pulling all the corporate cards again. I just can't afford to linger at $500 bucks a week as a commuter with a regional more than another month (I pooled cash prior but going to a 26K a year lifestyle is tough to do when you were in the upper echelon of household incomes.) It was more suck than I anticipated.