Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 166993)

In past posts I thought that you stated that you were a newly graduated UND guy.

As you know many here view the regional at similar to a LCC. Every RJ displaces a 737 at a major airline. You are fooling yourself if you think any different.

As for the LCC job, a big jet beats out an RJ on any day. There are thousands of active and flying regional captains. Stand in line at a job fair and you will see what I mean. If I were to have made it to the left seat of the 757 I would have been a made man. As a regional captain I had a one in three chance at best.



SkyHigh

Originally Posted by Lifeisgood (Post 167006)

I respect my profession too.

I study and review the books, flashcards, etc.

I also demand respect by showing respect to others, by ironing my shirt, dry cleaning my uniform once in a couple of months, shining my shoes every overnight, staying in shape.

Also, I have started a side business so I don't have to fly 95 or even 80 hours a month. Sadly a lot of people have to do that and consequently become haters of their profession.

Originally Posted by Eric Stratton (Post 167023)

I went to UND for a year and ran as fast as I could when I learned more about the industry and them.

I'm not fooling myself about anything. I never wanted to upgrade to the "RJ" because I knew all that ment is that I've been their too long or they just replaced a 737/dc9/320 on that route and hurt my future employment opprotunies.

When I talked to the recruiters at job fairs they all said that PIC (embraer or canadair) was better than right seat in a larger jet.

If this industry doesn't find a way to increase the pay and quality of life at the regional levels I don't think we'll be able to raise the rest of the industry. Too many pilots making poor wages willing to fly a 737/320 for subpar pay because it is better than the regionals. I think you and I agree on this.

Originally Posted by Eric Stratton (Post 167025)

so you had to start a side business to make ends meet. I hope you realise what a sad statement that really is...

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 166415)

Who has respect for experienced pilots anymore? Man I wish I knew.

SkyHigh

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 167039)

Eric Stratton,

So are you going to kill the suspence? If you are not at UND anymore then what are you doing?

Skyhigh

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 166745)

Maybe you are right. Perhaps this career is about unending sacrifice and hardship. Like I have previously said it seems like one is expected to give it all till there is nothing left of our lives but sleep and work. If you are comfortable with multiple furloughs, layoffs and shutdowns and still come back for more then my next question is that where does one draw the line? When do we start to respect ourselves? The industry sure will not. Not so long as they can kick someone to the curb for decades and they keep coming back.

Skyhigh:

Jeeeze...please point out a "career" that is free of hardship, fair and in recognition of skill, dedication and passion above all else and you'll be the pied piper of modern times. Of course I wasn't "comfortable" with furloughs and disappointments that had nothing to do with me...who is? I chose this career because it's all I ever really wanted to do. When income came up short, I picked up additional work (fortunately in aviation) until I got something better. I never burned bridges at jobs, never let my CFI expire and didn't treat those that some would consider "below me" below me, because beyond being a crappy way to live will deny you some good opportunities.

When puppies ask about starting out in this thing of ours I first ask why...really why they want to do it. If it's the "money", the "glamour" or flight attendant panties I strongly encourage them to go to business school and learn to sell junk bonds or raid airlines like Jet Blue. Because unless one lives the charmed life in this thing there WILL be setbacks that have little or nothing to do with you because anything less than a true love of flying for flying's sake will not carry you through those tough times, and in many cases innocent families may suffer so that somebody with the wrong motivation was playing airline pilot but didn't have the guts to see it through. By all measures, most would have quit if in my shoes 14 years ago, but since I didn't, combined with some good fortune (different than luck) I am in a great position and not inclined to apologize for it.

Nowhere in the brochure that I read did it say that my bosses would love me, I'd only work five days a month, make 500K a year and have all the women call me captain with adoring eyes. Maybe somebody should have given you the speech when you were a puppy and you could have gone to selling junk bonds, raiding Jet Blue and being called sir by employees who hate your guts but have families to feed. Some people just need to be cubicle monkeys I guess. Crap or get off the pot sport...somebody who wants it more is behind you.

Originally Posted by de727ups (Post 167131)

"Seems to me that you have missed out on much of what I write about"

So has everybody else I know. Your story is very much in the minority though you want people to believe the opposite. I honestly don't know anyone who has suffered your fate to the degree you seem to suffer it. Seem's like a guy who doesn't consider Southwest a worthy piloting career might have his sights set a tad high?

I've been furloughed, got a bad recommendation, left the career for a job in ATC, been on strike, and been unemployed or otherwise between jobs three or four times. All of that in no particular order.

You can think I was handed it all on a silver platter if it makes you happy. I could care less...