Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
It has always been one of my longest held beliefs that the break even point of an airline career at the majors is between 35 and 40 years of age. After that time one faces steeply accelerated depreciating returns.
It has always been one of my longest held beliefs that advice is best given by those with experience in the subject. In this instance, the poster has no experience in the majors.
"Break even point"? I have no idea what that means for the average aspiring airline pilot. Perhaps it means the point at which one's total salary accumulation equals the money spent on training costs. If so, this point would vary widely since new hires come from varied backgrounds with significant differences in money spent on acquiring the mins needed for employment.
"35 to 40 years of age"? At that age, the typical pilot has at least 50% of his career ahead of him, a significant amount of time in which to accumulate earnings.
"...steeply accelerated depreciating returns." This term usually means something like 'getting less and less for what is put in'. Since the passage of time in a typical career in the majors means increasing pay, this description seems in error. We don't make less over time, we make more. How much more is strictly a function of pay scales and seniority. No company that I am aware of pays its pilots less as they gain seniority.
Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
In my experience it commonly takes 10 to 15 years to upgrade at most majors (MD80,737) and a few years after that to reach a level of seniority to become comfortable with their choices of lines.
That's the problem. You don't have any experience in the majors.
Upgrade time has varied considerably over the years...anywhere from practically overnight to darn near a life time. Anyone trying to generalize about this is just blowing smoke.
Advancement in the airline business goes with the business cycles and is highly dependent on a particular company's market position. Adding to the complexity of this issue is the possibility of loss of seat or furloughs due to turndowns in the economy.
Anyone looking to forecast what lies ahead today based upon the past is foolhardy. Just remember the old saying..."you'll never know if you made the right choices until the day you retire".
Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
After the age of 40 the time left isn't enough to reach the promised land at most airlines and by 45 the party is over.
Is the 'promised land' the left seat? If so, this statement is in error for two reasons. One, it isn't true of the past...15 to 20 years was more than enough to acquire enough seniority to upgrade. Two, the poster doesn't have a crystal ball that will permit a look into the future. No one can accurately predict what lies ahead.
Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
In order to make it to super star pilot status (747-400, 777 Captain) one almost needs to be hired on at birth.
No...one just needed to be lucky enough to be hired at the right time and in the right place.
But let's be practical about this. The number of Captains flying that equipment is very small compared to the number of pilots on a seniority list. A new hire should have a pretty good idea from the gitgo where he stands...most companies can provide a projection of where one can expect to be at a given point in time...but it's all based on a 'best guess' scenario. Few companies are going to be top heavy in 74s or triple 7s...so do the math.
Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
In conclusion if you care at all about your financial future or about career and life goals a good idea is to have limits and standards in place and a solid exit strategy. Being a furloughed FO at 52 would not be much fun.
What the poster is wanting you to believe is that your career will be as unfortunate for you as it was for him.
Baloney!
His unsuccessful career was the result of his lousy career choices. He made his own nest...and now he wants you to lie down in it with him.
Don't fall victim to the 'misery loves company' mentality...and don't think life in the airline business is a 'get rich quick' deal either. It isn't.
Don't confuse occupation with preoccupation.
Occupation is what we all love to do...fly. Preoccupation is what too many folks fall victim to when all they see is dollar signs.