Hey everyone, first post back in probably a year or so. I have come to the conclusion that pilots are too good for the airline industry, and until we are treated with the pay, benefits, and quality of life that we deserve they can suffer the consequences and see how long the public will tolerate cancelled flights due to lack of pilots.
I just started training as a dispatcher for the state police back at my home state. Instead of going back to the regionals and making 20k a year under a concessionary contract, I will be making just over $40,000 a year guaranteed during my 6 months of training then over $47,000 a year guaranteed after the first 6 months. With the amount of overtime available due to a massive shortage of dispatchers in the state, the vast majority of dispatchers here make their salary again in overtime. That means instead of flying at a regional who hates me and abuses me at every turn for $20,000 I'll be going home every night and sitting at a console that isn't moving around for closer to $90,000.
Will I miss flying and the lifestyle (and my pass bennies?) of course, but it's just not worth starting over at the bottom of the barrel for the FOURTH time. The airlines don't deserve me or my loyalty, and they don't deserve any of the other pilots who work hard every day under these intolerable conditions. Refuse all concessionary contracts. Bring the airlines to their knees. Secure a future for yourselves and for those who enter the industry after you. I'll keep an eye on the industry and check in from time to time. I hope you guys keep fighting the good fight and showing the airlines that they can't keep victimizing the flight crews. Stay strong and good luck.

 

Good luck to you. I'm applying with the Sheriff's Office later this month. After moving my family twice for 2 bankrupt carriers I've had enough too. I was offered the opportunity to start over at a regional, but couldn't bring myself to commute to ORD or JFK to sit reserve for 20k again.

Regarding your comment about the lifestyle and the flight benefits, since the legacies starting merging, there are less and less seats available to non rev's. The few empty seats that are there are quickly assigned to 2 or 3 of the 30+ hopefuls, most of which have a higher priority than regional guys.

If I'm accepted I certainly won't miss hotel life or attempting to commute either.

I hope it works out for you. Good luck.

 

Congrats Op on the new job. If you have the chance stay current and fly for fun. I still enjoy flying and flight training even though I no longer do it professionally. One day you will retire from working in LE and might want to fly professionally again.

 

Thanks guys... I can still fly with the Civil Air Patrol (I'm a squadron commander) and I'll use my extra money to build a realistic flight sim setup... I hate the industry but I still love flying...

 

Some of those home flight sims are amazing. Hadn't really thought about building one of those but that's a great idea.

737-800 home made cockpit take off from Innsbruck - YouTube