Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
I could run through my resume but I will not. Lets say that I did my time. I had over 3800 hours before I was able to make it to my first regional.
The recession of the early 1990's sidelined my generation for about 5 years. I applied to every major for most of the last two decades and scrapped up every flying job I could. The problem is that it takes too much luck. If someone is comfortable with those odds then perhaps they should take the 150K in college and flight training loans and buy a pile of lottery tickets instead?
You left behind 11,600 pilot who possibly are still struggling at their regionals, had to give up or are furloughed. It comes off as incredibly insensitive, superior and unappreciative of the blessings you have to come onto these forums during a recession and suggest that the rest of us did not work hard enough. The truth is that it takes strong internal contacts or a massive amount of luck.
The current generation of new pilots are facing a situation that generations past can not comprehend. They have been handed the worst economic conditions since the great depression. On top of that the industry is in near ciaos. It is not fair, kind nor accurate to try and apply your experiences to their prospects.
Skyhigh
Sorry if I came across as insensitive or superior..... I was just trying to point out that the airline industry has always been cyclic. When times are good lots of hiring takes place and wages increase, in the bad the opposite is true. The guys that make it to the majors are normally the ones who put in the most effort to get hired. Normally they all have high time, lots of PIC experience, a 4 year degree, and in good health and well rounded. I am not saying you aren't/didn't try to get hired or that you don't meet the above parameters, I am just saying that I know what the guys in my class did to get hired and it was a lot more than just send in a resume.
As the economy improves airlines will once again expand and hire. Getting in at the beginning of any hiring hopefully will offer a seniority number that will protect one when the times get bad again.