Originally Posted by
WhiskyWhisky
2 1/2 years off the street, currently at a regional, accepted offer at a Legacy carrier. Times are amazing compared to 10 years ago, the 90's, and even the 80's. Wasn't long ago you had to put in 10 to 15 years and 5000 hours at a regional to move up to a Legacy. Now, seeing many of us with just 2 years in the industry, committing a year or two in at a regional, and moving up to the majors with job offers.
Anyone else seeing similar cockpit social-industry behavior lately such as: 7 to 15 year captains at regional with chip on their shoulder after being turned down by major and are "stuck". Some don't have 4-year degrees and a few have 'a record' or 'history', but got hired on with a regional in the late 90's, or early 2000's. 10 to 15 years (some 20+) at a regional, and are hoping for that break they've waited for all their life. But now, new-hire FO's in the right seat, with 4-year degrees, positive attitudes, are moving on to the majors.
It has to be bitter-sweet for the guys at the majors as well knowing what they sacrificed years ago to get to where they are. But now witnessing first-hand 2-year regional FO's flowing to the majors. Not long ago, when flying turboprops at Mesaba, Great Lakes, ASA, Comair, etc, for $15,000 a year. Pay-For-Training was rampant. I grossed $103,000 as a new hire regional FO last year. Amazing.
Is it just me? Or, anyone seeing similar socioeconomic behavior out in the field? Interesting Times, Bitterness, & Success.
Ironically, I know some regional dudes who’ve got the attitude of “the times are so good, I don’t have to hustle as hard as a pilot used to” to make the next step up. With that mindset they’re picking a regional for cozy QOL reasons and not career advancement opportunity reasons. Bypassing upgrade to wait until a CA vacancy becomes available in their base of choice. Refusing the option to lateral if times get bleak. And the dumbest I know: They’re “too busy” to volunteer or get involved in their community on their days off to spice up their applications.
It’s like they don’t realize this is still a sprint to the finish line. Especially now that seniority lists are being added to at their fastest pace in 20 years. Each month they fart around being “too busy” to hustle hard is potentially costing them 100 seniority numbers at each of the Big 3 (with more and more of those 100 pilots hired being younger than you)
That mindset of “times are good therefore don’t gotta hustle” among some regional pilots in 2019/2020 is something I’m observing lately.
