Sky,

Sir that was an awesome article. I read all of it. I see the points of many when the hourly pay comes into the picture.

For example: $70 per hr to make it even..FO 2yr
Pilot is only paid when flying or dead heading...except when employed by a company that pays 79 hrs per month regardless....contract written.

$70 x 79 = $5530 gross per month x 12 = $66360 annual gross.
not bad, then I also understand there are the commutes (not paid) additional duties etc... I get it.

So unless you're behind the yoke, or dead heading you're not getting paid...for the other stuff...etc...got it.

Now put your self in my shoes...short of like a pro pilot except the following:

I'm enlisted, active duty, able to work up to 16hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a yr. Get shot at, mop floors and what ever else I'm directed to do, if I wanted to or I didn't... travel to areas where we're mortared, IED'd, bombed, the local temp exceeds 120F. Away from our loved ones 180 days at a time/ 6months or more some times. Come home for 60 days, get up and do it again. All for the big pay check of $22K a year. Ok, with benefits...but hey...it pays the bills...oh, did I mention, our contract is none negotiable? Nope, no union either...we don't vote for what we get...test for your pay raise against your peers. That's our check ride.

It's called maintainers...you guys are known as Operators...the grass is always greener somewhere...

But I didn't sign up for the money, I did it because I wanted to. Because of Osama needed that bullet in the face..

You guys have it nice, great A/C (aircond), and equipment that you don't have to fix yourself. You don't mop before you go home...I could go on and on...but hey..I just want to fly and make money at it...it don't have to be $200K a year...but I don't have the SJS either.

From all the griping I hear, it's a turn off to try to even fly an Airliner..you all deserve an EMMY, cause every time I've flown (many times, mind you) it's always been a pleasure and pleasant experience to speak with the pilots. As disgruntled as this forum is, you'd think you'd jump out of the window in mid flight. All it really takes is one person, it's like poison...it spreads like cancer.

I'm going to do what my heart tells me to do...if it don't work out, it's me that has to deal...but I do thank you for your opinion.

Please don't take my rant personal, it's my observation of being from the outside of the "business". Things are going to turn around, hell we just shot Osama, how bad could it be?

Aim High...