True, many of us tried to get that point across to him, but he's a little hard headed.

Yeah, you can. I have known plenty of guys that do it. Of course, there are a lot of variables. Commuting, living in base, etc. It's a bummer that US airlines can't be more like some of the European legacies in a few regards. And I'm sure that someone will throw up the EXACT numbers. But at KLM, and I believe LH and BA, you can elect to work a 50%, or 75% schedule. Of course, you take the pay hit, but also get the time off. If you are senior and at the top of the pay scale, not too bad of a deal.

It's not worth it. The guy didn't want to listen to anything we said. Why be in airline management when you could be a tax auditor and ruin everyone's lives - not just pilots.

I know a guy who is did managment first and they're sending him off to get hours to come back and fly and still be in managemnet.

are there any managers out there who you respect and are cool with? When I worked in the hub, we had a boss that was awesome, he had been a ramp agent before management, and had a grasp on reality. He is a great guy and if you took care of him by coming in on time and giving an effort night n, night out, he would take care of you. Perhaps these types of mangers are few and far between?

I've known two chiefs that were able to walk the line between keeping management happy and retaining the respect of the pilot group at the same time. It's not easy to do.

The sad part is, one of them got sacked for defending a pilot on something, his view didn't fall in line with the DO's.

HSLD is being too kind. A Chief Pilot in this day and age is nothing more than a "Hall Monitor". Why would anyone, who has the chance to be an airline pilot choose to wear a coat and tie, sit in an office five days a week, and spend hours and hours in mind numbing company meetings. The only people he has contact with are those who want a favor or are in trouble. If he becomes a real friend to the pilot group, the company will see that he "chooses to return to line flying". Get your MBA if that`s your bag, then see Sky High about a job.

The obvious answer is to become a pilot and then apply your business acumen to the Union. Seems like the union could benefit from someone with solid business credentials/acumen. If course, the degree and ensuing MBA will only give you credentials, not acumen...so you will need to develop that somewhere along the way. Congrats for asking the question and listening to the answers though.

No, thank YOU all FOR the answers! I thought I'd run the question around with people who are literally the ones driving (or flying) the airline, as I would like to.

Well, at this point, it seems like a career in management or middle management is largely despised and barely influential, but just out of curiosity: What kind of management? What size airline/type aircraft? Did he have other line flying experience first?

Thanks all