Originally Posted by
Carl Spackler
OK. In this environment...not 30 years ago...but in today's environment... I would join the military. You serve the nation, gain invaluable experience in life as well as flying and it's a little better monetarily (not that it should make a difference). I say that because only focusing on the monetary aspect would lead one to pick drug dealing as the best career option. Anyway, that's what I would do today.
I know you don't see RJ pilots as playing any role. I get that. Victims only. You're wrong, but I understand you think you're blameless.
You're probably correct that now the burden is totally on the majors. Too many guys are willing to take the risk to be one of the few chosen for the ever diminishing major slots. And if they're wrong, they'll just stay as lifers or move on to another career. No concern at all as to what their actions played in diminishing the majors.
Carl
Military wasn't really an option for me- I was 6 weeks premature when I was born and ended up with 20/400 uncorrected distance vision. My senior year in college when I already had 1500 hours of flight time was when I found out that they were starting to accept PRK in the Air Force. I immediately jumped on it, but it was a 2 year wait before I could start pilot training after the surgery, then 2 years of pilot training and a 10 year commitment.
Hindsight 20/20, not getting surgery OTS was the best move I've ever made, as much as I always dreamed of flying for the USAF prior to going to the airlines. We'll see how it turns out when I'm 60. Otherwise, I agree that the military is the most viable option today except for the now ultra long commitment. Just about might as well stay in for a career now.
That being said, what is your suggestion for a civilian pilot in this environment? What is the ideal routing now without undercutting wages? I want to see your education on the subject.
I will always agree that we tend to sell ourselves out to try to get the moonshot... it is a self perpetuating cycle and you're placing your bet on a round of poker (I refuse to compare it to roullete as there is skill involved and not just chance). I don't agree that RJ pilots are blameless, and I have never said that.
I don't care to play the blame game... which I think is why we get into it so much. I DO care to fix the problem and the only way it will be fixed is for us(mainline) to reel it back in by having leadership that understands this. I'm glad you see that it rests solely on our shoulders to fix this problem, wherever you think the blame of origination lies.