Originally Posted by
sigep_nm
That is the exact same justification that people make for joining alter egos and crossing picket lines. I am not trying to say that not picking up open time will cure all the evils of this industry. If you have to put food on the table and it is such a dire situation, then you friend probably needs to consider a different occupation, regardless of how much he believes he loves flying. If there is so much open time available then it is a staffing issue and there doesnt need to be downgrades and furloughs. By picking up open time from a company that is actively participating in these practices all you are doing is encouraging it and showing them that they can operate on these reduced levels. Bottom line is companies that do this put pilots on the streets.
I agree with your statement and I am not going to defend this point any further. First point, as much as I would do anything to fly a 70 seat airplane I would never join an alter ego airline. If you know me I would be the first on a picket line would never cross one.
Secondly, I never said food on the table was a dire situation. And also I am not encouraging picking up open time, I am not supporting the company to rape us on a daily basis. All am saying many pilots will never listen to the advice no matter how much we stress it, and believe me it happens everyday.
I agree with your point and I respect your comments.
Originally Posted by
flyinaway411
I understand your thought process pilotpip. I got the upgrade and just got downgraded, but I did not spend money like I had it. Unfortunately, due to helping family/college bills etc, i had to average about 95 hours/month credit to live decently on FO pay. Now i go back to FO, never having gotten a Captains paycheck but having 2 months of minimum FO pay through training, lines are built to no more than 85 hours now, and it's looked badly upon if I pick up open time to survive. I feel for those that will get furloughed and those that are already furloughed, but unfortunately the bill collectors don't care why my payment is not being made. And if I have to pick up open time to make my payments...then so be it. The company should have been more proactive and not hired too many pilots. I don't like helping the company, if i had the option of doing the bare minimum, then I would. But not all of us can afford to do that, even if we didnt go buy a new house and car.
This is first hand experience of what I am trying to explain to everyone. I guess I should not be drinking Jack and Coke in the morning does not help. But guys the point I was trying to make is that many pilots at Transstates have been downgraded and possible furloughed, they will have financial difficulty and you do not have to have a home and car, but student loans that cost more than a new car or home and other responsibily will break you.
2007 yearly earning from 3 Regional FOs
Person A - $18,784
Person B - $19,125
Person C - $22,568 includes JR for time/half.
Guys fly the contract and keep your head up......