Originally Posted by fosters
I bow to thee, the king of embellishment.
$150k for training? Where did you train at? Was it in all turbine equipment? More like a baseline of $25k-$30k flying older aircraft to get the basic ratings and CFI's. If you want to spend more, then do it, but the most I could see people reasonably spending to get their ratings would be around $40k flying new equipment, under part 61 (250 hr req for commercial). If you flew in a 141 environment you could spend less or more depending on how much you studied and picked stuff up.
4-5 years of college? Huh? Try 3-4 years, and that's if you even go to college before getting that regional gig. I graduated with a 4-year in <3 years, while working AND flying to get my ratings (private-CFII). I've flown with some really young (24-25 years old) RJ captains who starting flying after highschool and then took online classes once they were hired at regionals - cost for them varied between $6,000-$15,000 for a 4-year.
A serious question - do you know how much teachers, cops, fire fighters, etc. make? Those people certainly don't do their jobs "for the money". If flying for a regional means I can't buy a brand new S-Class I could give a rat's ass - as long as the money enough to sustain myself I am happy. Second year pay is mid-30's at most regionals, not a LOT but not poverty level either.
I strongly disagree with all your statements. For starters the average college student in America takes 5 years to complete a four year degree at a state university. Especially if they are working flight training and a part time job into the middle of all that. Tuition plus housing at an average state university is approximately $20,000 per year. Add flight training on top of that and you are at 150K...
I was a firefighter in my 20's. I wish I had stayed. Current starting wages at metropolitan fire department is above 50K in the NW. Overtime can add an additional 10-20K per year and occasionally it is still possible to get hired without any training beyond EMT. Teachers average above 54K in the northwest and lets not forget that they have full medical, retirement, every holiday and the entire summer off.
Times will get tight again in the regionals. You are grabbing at a few rare instances that are not typical and probably will not remain in the future. Ask any ERU or UND graduate what they spent on training and a real education.
SkyHigh