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Realistic 1st year pay

Old 09-06-2018, 06:00 PM
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Default Realistic 1st year pay

Hello all

55 years old and considering RTP. Haven’t seen much about pay so I’m asking what I can expect to make year one to include per diem. My kiddos are all grown so I don’t mind working holidays. Is it possible to get anywhere near 50K if I work my ass off? Thanks.

Also, when do we actually start getting paid? Hopefully from day 1 of training?
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Old 09-06-2018, 06:27 PM
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I made over 50k my first year here as an FO. But most of that was last year which was abnormal in terms of craziness of sacrificing what little QoL I had for pay.

Working holidays aren't a big driver of pay. You're working Christmas/New Years/Easter/4th of July/birthdays/Kwanzaa at normal pay (unless you can hold it off). It's picking up the 200% days and ekeing out every dollar from when the EWR ops go crazy that gets you the big money.

Day 1 of indoc is paid.

I would NOT come here in your situation. This is a bad place to make a career.

Only reason to come here in your situation would be to pick up a type rating, some 121 time to show you know what you are doing in the FW world, and then leave to another airline.

If you need the bonus money to get your FW time or ratings, CommutAir will own you for 2 years. Trust me when I say that it sounds like a great deal but about 9 months in you'll regret it and look at the pay elsewhere. But that bonus money will tie you here (I've seen it all too often)
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Old 09-06-2018, 08:23 PM
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Thanks Jedi. Good info for sure. Yeah, definitely not planning on making a career here. Get some 121 time and move to something better. Just want to make sure I can pay the bills for the next couple of years.

Also not counting on making the majors due to my age. Maybe slip into something for the last few years of my career. Who knows. I just want to take advantage of RTP. Tried at PSA but missed an interview and recruiting ghosted me big time. Big advantage here is I can pick my own flight school and I live 30 minutes from Sky Warrior in Pensacola.
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Old 09-06-2018, 08:25 PM
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And yes, unfortunately going to have to use bonus money for fixed wing training. 2 years goes by unbelievably fast at my age. Figure I can handle it. Thanks again.
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Old 05-01-2019, 10:32 PM
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Default Also interested in first year pay

I too am in my mid 50s. I was given a conditional letter of employment last week. I am torn to leave a $100G job I hate to get back to flying after an extended absence. What can a new hire expect to make his first 2 years at CA?
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Old 05-02-2019, 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted by GoNavy View Post
I too am in my mid 50s. I was given a conditional letter of employment last week. I am torn to leave a $100G job I hate to get back to flying after an extended absence. What can a new hire expect to make his first 2 years at CA?
I left a similar situation for 9E around two years ago. Totally worth the pay cut.
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Old 05-02-2019, 05:11 AM
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$33K is the standard pay ($37 * 75 * 12). Yes, it sucks. We are hoping for a better payscale in the contract negotiations expected to start later this summer. If you add in the portion of the bonus that you get to keep after 12 months following start of IOE that increases to $44K. However, if you leave prior to 12 months you have to give the entire bonus back.

The only reasons to come to C5 at the moment include the fact that we're pretty much the only carrier growing to any great extent, reserve is short (2-3 months FO, 4 mo CA), and you'll definitely fly, even on reserve. We are adding airplanes (one just arrived two days ago on schedule, two more are reportedly on schedule for May) and United is increasing our block hours, not only for the summer, but in general.

There is no 150%, to say nothing of 200%, for FOs anymore as we've hired a lot of FOs recently and have good coverage. I still see 200% for CAs but the $45K is bringing in lots of DECs so that will probably go away soon too. Right now the only way for FOs to make more money is to bid min credit (75 hours) and then add trips as they are made available in open time. The junior FO lines I've seen have had 15 days off, which means you could pick up a 3 day with maybe 12-15 hours credit and still have the min 12 days off.
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Old 05-08-2019, 11:51 AM
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Not to sound like a dim bulb but the average all combined before tax income an FO will make is more like 45G realistically? Most regional airlines leave the impression you will make between $60-65 or more. I know you need to pick up a few trips but 44 to 45 is quite a discrepancy.
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Old 05-08-2019, 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by GoNavy View Post
Not to sound like a dim bulb but the average all combined before tax income an FO will make is more like 45G realistically? Most regional airlines leave the impression you will make between $60-65 or more. I know you need to pick up a few trips but 44 to 45 is quite a discrepancy.
Most regional airlines include per diem, cost of benefits, and commuter hotels (if you get them) in their compensation numbers when recruiting. That skews the numbers quite a bit.
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Old 05-09-2019, 01:34 AM
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Originally Posted by ninerdriver View Post
Most regional airlines include per diem, cost of benefits, and commuter hotels (if you get them) in their compensation numbers when recruiting. That skews the numbers quite a bit.
This is true. But C5 is still $10K/yr below Republic and Endeavor first year and that's significant to most people. That said, Republic class dates are at least 6+ months out and in 6 months at C5 you would probably have 400+ hours and a lot of seniority (and hence QOL...such as it is at C5 with the current contract).

I'm taking a pay cut now to get to the left seat ASAP so I can start making reasonable money. My buddies at Republic will still be at FO pay for at least another 18 months after I upgrade at C5. Then in ~3 years from DOH I'll have 1000TPIC and be bailing to either United via the CPP or another carrier while they're still fishing for hours on reserve as a new CA.

Where you go in this business is all about wants, needs and priorities.
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