But at that time he didn't.

He had the same experience and skill as a guy graduating from Po Dunk County Directional Junior Technical Community College.

As a coffer-fetcher he made more than the most senior FO at any regional airline.

Next week he moves to California, to become a rocket scientist, and will make more than the most senior Captain at any regional airline. Before he ever does any actual work, he has earned that as starting pay.

And he has earned it.


But so have I.

I have a "skill that MOST PEOPLE cant/wont apply themselves to obtain." Only about 1 in 500 Americans are licensed pilots. Only about 10% of those are professional pilots. Sure, we know this stuff isn't rocket science. But its no walk in the park either. I fly to Nantucket in C402s, so my passengers get to watch what I do every minute. This week has been a typical one for the Cape and Islands, 4000 RVR was the easiest approach I did. And every flight, every day, they tell me that they're amazed that we find the airport in the soup, every time. But that's what we do.

We sell ourselves short every day. This job is not easy. Not everyone can do it. Those of us who are doing it deserve to be well compensated for our considerable skills.

Even the 300 hour wonder pilots, because they too are doing the job.