Originally Posted by
KC10 FATboy
Ugh ... you know there are plenty of people who live in these areas who make less than regional pilots. If you require high standards of living, then please, do not take these jobs. If people actually did this, they would be required to pay people what they should.
Yes, I do know that for a fact that people make less than regional pilots.
I wrote my response with the colgan F/O in mind. She did have to work a second job at a cafe, and was forced to commute from SEA to her domicile in New York Area. (large metropolitan cities usually go junior -just my observation)
I agree with you 100% that people should evaluate their current status and be smart about taking such a job. Your comment does not apply to me. As (for now) I am content living a modest lifestyle. Back to the topic, it's also evident that pilots have and will continue to pursue low paying flying jobs "in the mean time".
I also thought that a pay mandate would help with the retention of furloughed skilled/experienced pilots. I've met many furloughed or former pilots who work in other professions now (mostly self-employed entrepreneurs or police officers). I have tremendous respect for their decision to pursue other careers despite their passion for flying. I admire their integrity. I'm fortunate in the sense that if I ever get furloughed, I can go back on orders, look for an AGR slot somewhere, chance a "good" corporate flying gig, or fall back into law enforcement.
So, people actually do, and do not take these jobs. In the end, experience pilots leave, and the inexperienced fill the seat. It's always been the case at low paying, experience building jobs. It's good to have a balance of experience in the flight deck. It's alarming, that with the rapid expansion of main line branded regional flying, that we have an fatal accident that resulted from the blind leading the blind scenario.
If the troubled system is unable to be resolved by protest, preaching ideals, or new rules that skate around a critical issue, then what is truly being accomplished? could the BUF accident have been averted if a furloughed main line / experienced regional, or recently separated military pilot have been occupying either seat. The answer I'd like to think is yes! However, it's probable that we won't see them there if they net 1500 a month! Even priceline rate can't get you a hotel for less than a hundred/night in the apple.
Take care