Feel the Bern
05-11-2026 | 08:25 AM
#11
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 45,164
Likes: 803
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
"Billionaire" isn't a literal category... it's just catch-all for everyone who makes more than 51% of the voters.
The US income tax, when first implemented constitutionally over a century ago only applied to about the top 3%... how's that working out today?
The US income tax, when first implemented constitutionally over a century ago only applied to about the top 3%... how's that working out today?
05-11-2026 | 02:13 PM
#12
Line Holder
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 46
From: A320 CA
The 1% is anybody who makes more than $300k/year - they/we are treated as the enemies of society because we do our best to avoid giving a third of our income to Uncle Sam.
I do think that as pilot salaries sky rocket our place within the unionized world becomes more separated. The only reason we make 4-5x more than other skilled labor in the same industry is because of free market principles and some old fashioned crony capitalism.
Free markets and effective lobbying has made commercial pilots a far more lucrative career than I ever thought possible. You can build real wealth as an airline pilot.
05-11-2026 | 02:33 PM
#13
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 45,164
Likes: 803
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I do think that as pilot salaries sky rocket our place within the unionized world becomes more separated. The only reason we make 4-5x more than other skilled labor in the same industry is because of free market principles and some old fashioned crony capitalism.
Free markets and effective lobbying has made commercial pilots a far more lucrative career than I ever thought possible. You can build real wealth as an airline pilot.
Free markets and effective lobbying has made commercial pilots a far more lucrative career than I ever thought possible. You can build real wealth as an airline pilot.
When it's a buyers market for pilot labor, airlines will naturally want to pay less. When it's a seller's market, they pay and pay until they get the best talent available (as quantified and measured by themselves).
Where the unions really earn their keep is by contractually locking in the good times so we don't take pay cuts (or get replaced with cheaper labor) every time labor markets swing.
05-11-2026 | 03:16 PM
#14
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 46
From: A320 CA
We make 4-5x other pilots because the revenue supports it, and the liability exposure is so vast that it's worth it for the pax airlines especially to do anything they can to reduce risk, even by tiny amounts since over millions of flights that incremental risk would eventually translate to additional massive costs.
When it's a buyers market for pilot labor, airlines will naturally want to pay less. When it's a seller's market, they pay and pay until they get the best talent available (as quantified and measured by themselves).
Where the unions really earn their keep is by contractually locking in the good times so we don't take pay cuts (or get replaced with cheaper labor) every time labor markets swing.
When it's a buyers market for pilot labor, airlines will naturally want to pay less. When it's a seller's market, they pay and pay until they get the best talent available (as quantified and measured by themselves).
Where the unions really earn their keep is by contractually locking in the good times so we don't take pay cuts (or get replaced with cheaper labor) every time labor markets swing.
It’s not just 4-5x pilots at other airlines, it’s 4-5x skilled labor at our same company(s). Technicians are skilled labor and are integral to the safety of transporting pax and they make a fraction. Why? Because the market forces the bosses to pay us 4-5x more because of a limited supply of pilots.
look at our European counterparts. Excellent safety record and they make far less in wages with revenues that are similar if not exceeding with revenue per aircraft.
05-12-2026 | 12:27 PM
#15
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Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 435
Likes: 85
I don’t think anyone gives a shìt about European pilots. The same way we don’t give a **** about ME3 pilots, COPA airline pilots, South African Airways. Etc.
what next? Truck drivers, garbage men, and Chinese astronauts?
what next? Truck drivers, garbage men, and Chinese astronauts?
05-12-2026 | 02:22 PM
#16
Line Holder
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 46
From: A320 CA
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