If YOU could reverse the clock... EXPAT's
#11
Are we there yet??!!
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,010
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 195
There were NO regionals circa 1978, at least on the scale there is today. There Piper Navajo's or Twin Otters as standalone commuters and a couple of Shorts linked up to US Air.
Back them if you had 3,000TT you were golden. National airlines bragged how their applicants had 2,000 hours of turbojet time.
I think we have different points of view.
#13
Sorry, just IMHO... Even a USair career is a lot better than commuting across the world to a bunker in the desert where they take your passport away.
Yes, you get to fly a 777 or 380 at 27 and live in the towers with a bunch of FA's. You will have some cool pictures to put on facebook, but it will get old soon and you will look back at it as waisted time.
Solid family (and life in the US) is where you will be happy..
Yes, you get to fly a 777 or 380 at 27 and live in the towers with a bunch of FA's. You will have some cool pictures to put on facebook, but it will get old soon and you will look back at it as waisted time.
Solid family (and life in the US) is where you will be happy..
Another concept that surprises me is that people really believe that if you choose (by circumstances in life and not by original design) to explore the expat opportunities somehow your family life will suffer, or it will be unfulfilling in any way that concept just boggles my mind, What makes you think expats don't have a solid family life? As a matter of fact, I know very few expats that are unhappy with what they are doing, I certainly enjoy it and I will look back on it as a great opportunity/ adventure and learning experience, not as waisted time. And of course I make more than double what my colleagues that didn't get furloughed or chose jobs that survived make. I'm not saying it works for everybody, but your theory that I'll be happier on reserve as an F/O at USAir, specially with the merger with AA looming (wait until they mix the APA boys to that east vs west feud, Oh boy, it is going to be interesting to watch) I think that is ludicrous.
#14
Don't say Guppy
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Position: Guppy driver
Posts: 1,926
I flew 13 years for a major in the US, and flew the last four years at two contract jobs. I enjoyed the contract jobs far more than I ever enjoyed my job in the US. I am going back to the US in Feb to my old job. Hopefully it will be better.
The airline industry has never been stable, but in the US it might be becoming stable for the first time, ever. At least I hope so. If not I will quite happily go back to contract flying.
Advice to newbies? I think in the future corporate will pay much better than the airlines. Why?
Who gets paid better, the city bus driver, or the CEO's limo driver? We are flying around with Ma and Pa Kettle in the back, and over time, our pay is going down to reflect the customers we are servicing. Sad but true.
I can't even imagine what a debacle an AMR/USair merger would be. Not just labor, but route networks. AMR would spend billions shrinking the combined entity 20-30%, and shutting half of USair's base's. It doesn't make any sense to me other than killing off a competitor by merging with it.
The airline industry has never been stable, but in the US it might be becoming stable for the first time, ever. At least I hope so. If not I will quite happily go back to contract flying.
Advice to newbies? I think in the future corporate will pay much better than the airlines. Why?
Who gets paid better, the city bus driver, or the CEO's limo driver? We are flying around with Ma and Pa Kettle in the back, and over time, our pay is going down to reflect the customers we are servicing. Sad but true.
I can't even imagine what a debacle an AMR/USair merger would be. Not just labor, but route networks. AMR would spend billions shrinking the combined entity 20-30%, and shutting half of USair's base's. It doesn't make any sense to me other than killing off a competitor by merging with it.
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,912
Advise for newbies??? Get a four year degree in area other than aviation, mass communication, arts. Get a degree that will get oneself a job in a solid career. Get a masters too if one can stick it out while getting their feet wet in aviation. Try for that corproate job.
#16
Advice to newbies? I think in the future corporate will pay much better than the airlines. Why?
Who gets paid better, the city bus driver, or the CEO's limo driver? We are flying around with Ma and Pa Kettle in the back, and over time, our pay is going down to reflect the customers we are servicing. Sad but true.
.
But your logic is flawed anyway. There are good and bad jobs in corporate as well as part 121. I personally enjoy my job, and wouldn't trade for even the best corporate job out there. I'm not sure who's flying Ma and Pa Kettle, but they're paying the cost of the ticket, just like anyone else.
Just out of curiosity, why are you returning to your old job, if you enjoy your ex-pat job more?
#17
Don't say Guppy
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Position: Guppy driver
Posts: 1,926
Jughead;
I am not sure I agree. Probably a "rental" limo driver doesn't make to much, but I bet Bill Gates's limo driver makes a bunch. In the mid 90's, at least once a week I had a celeb, sports figure, etc sitting in first class. By the mid 2000's, almost never. the major's salaries have been going down forever. DAL and UAL just signed contracts that approximately equal their bankruptcy contracts of 7-8 years ago when adjusted for inflation. It keeps getting worse.
Why come back?
I didn't come up through the civilian flying ranks, and don't have the same mindset as far as jobs. It turns out my "mindset" was wrong. I broke my leg 5 months ago, All of a sudden, having a secure job was very comforting.
My deal at my old airline is a voluntary furlough, for up to 10 years. But they have to be hiring for me to return. They have only hired about 2 years out of the last 10. It just looks like a good time to return. If the airline does well, I do well. If the economy tanks, again, I can go right back to the contract world. Either way I win. I will return to contract flying at the first opportunity. I had a great time.
I am not sure I agree. Probably a "rental" limo driver doesn't make to much, but I bet Bill Gates's limo driver makes a bunch. In the mid 90's, at least once a week I had a celeb, sports figure, etc sitting in first class. By the mid 2000's, almost never. the major's salaries have been going down forever. DAL and UAL just signed contracts that approximately equal their bankruptcy contracts of 7-8 years ago when adjusted for inflation. It keeps getting worse.
Why come back?
I didn't come up through the civilian flying ranks, and don't have the same mindset as far as jobs. It turns out my "mindset" was wrong. I broke my leg 5 months ago, All of a sudden, having a secure job was very comforting.
My deal at my old airline is a voluntary furlough, for up to 10 years. But they have to be hiring for me to return. They have only hired about 2 years out of the last 10. It just looks like a good time to return. If the airline does well, I do well. If the economy tanks, again, I can go right back to the contract world. Either way I win. I will return to contract flying at the first opportunity. I had a great time.
#18
Right on - to each his own. I like my job - but really wouldn't recommend the career to anyone. I'm thankful neither of my teenage sons has ever shown any interest in aviation.
Honestly, my company seems more on-track now than ever before. I'm thankful for my job, but never forget luck and timing were, and always will be, my best friends.
Good luck.
Honestly, my company seems more on-track now than ever before. I'm thankful for my job, but never forget luck and timing were, and always will be, my best friends.
Good luck.
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: tri current
Posts: 1,485
Sorry to hear about the leg. That said, it was always something I worried about when I had a contract job and one of the reasons why I'm not real hot on contract flying overseas as a career. The U.S. majors offer far better benefits for such circumstances. I.E. you won't lose your job if you break your leg and you won't lose much pay. Not so true in the expat world. I'm lucky in that with my job I could break my leg or have some other health problem and keep a full base salary for up to one year, but once that year is up the job goes away. Most contract jobs do not offer anything close to that.
I'm also not so sure about the corporate pilot world. I've watched dozen of pilots lose their job in the corporate world over the years. All too often it is very sudden. The "1%" are becoming targets for the 99% ( 47% ). Their theft of our pensions and continually pushing us down into servitude is not going to last much longer before their is a true uprising and change. When that happens many of those jobs flying the investment banker, mutual fund manager, hedge fund manager, etc will evaporate.
TP
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Position: Phoenix
Posts: 732
Sorry to hear about the leg. That said, it was always something I worried about when I had a contract job and one of the reasons why I'm not real hot on contract flying overseas as a career. The U.S. majors offer far better benefits for such circumstances. I.E. you won't lose your job if you break your leg and you won't lose much pay. Not so true in the expat world. I'm lucky in that with my job I could break my leg or have some other health problem and keep a full base salary for up to one year, but once that year is up the job goes away. Most contract jobs do not offer anything close to that.
I'm also not so sure about the corporate pilot world. I've watched dozen of pilots lose their job in the corporate world over the years. All too often it is very sudden. The "1%" are becoming targets for the 99% ( 47% ). Their theft of our pensions and continually pushing us down into servitude is not going to last much longer before their is a true uprising and change. When that happens many of those jobs flying the investment banker, mutual fund manager, hedge fund manager, etc will evaporate.
TP
I'm also not so sure about the corporate pilot world. I've watched dozen of pilots lose their job in the corporate world over the years. All too often it is very sudden. The "1%" are becoming targets for the 99% ( 47% ). Their theft of our pensions and continually pushing us down into servitude is not going to last much longer before their is a true uprising and change. When that happens many of those jobs flying the investment banker, mutual fund manager, hedge fund manager, etc will evaporate.
TP
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