Completely agree. The problem is that there are people willing to go fly 757's for 85k a year from the left seat and then complain that the airlines want more TAFB and offer less in wages. Maybe if people didn't take those jobs they would be forced to pay more. It's a strange concept but if people continue to take those jobs, then that trend will continue.

 

I completely agree. Don't forget regional FO's for 18K or legacies that are running 18 years to upgrade. The industry is rife with conflicts. Pilots need to stop showing up for work.

Skyhigh

 

I hear this more and more, that "if people would just stop taking these jobs, then............" Fact is, there always have been and will always be people taking these types of jobs for these salaries and working conditions. It's simple human nature. If there's a fix for human nature, well then you just may have a cure.

 

Pilots don't need to stop showing up for work they just need to change the way they've done things. One of those things is that maybe they need to get together and fight rather than fight separately. Unfortunately pilots continue to do the same thing over and over and over expecting different results. Isn't that the definition of insanity?

 

There are fixes out there but people don't want to address them. One reason is that we might actually have to take some of the blame for what's happened rather than just blame management and others.

 

i blame jersey shore!

 

I bet YOUR a blast to fly with. I'm just pointing out the fact that it will be almost impossible for this kid to make it to a major with the time frame he has set for himself.

Im going to have to agree with SkyHigh on this thread....

 

You are right. Doing the same thing over and over again is insanity. However some pilots get out of aviation entirely to build a real life for themselves.

Correction: It should read, "Most pilots will eventually get out of aviation to build a real life for themselves". It is my belief that most attrition today is from pilots who are leaving the profession.

Skyhigh

 

You didn't mean "you're," the contraction of "you are" did you? Man, this attitude displayed is why furloughed guys have that "pilot" label wrapped around them with the negative connotation. Always willing to give an opinion without paying attention to the details.

The original poster can get where he wants to go in the time frame he wants if he works hard, networks relentlessly and enjoys a little luck. I was not hired at a regional until age 26, but had an opportunity to interview at a rapidly expanding LCC at age 28. Unfortunately I did not due to some conflicts. I then got comfortable for a few years, got on with a great company with 15 days off a month from the start, 2008 happened and my supposedly "fast upgrade" turned into a furlough. That was at age 35. I am now 38 and hired recently by a major that still has decent expansion plans. The point is I chose my path.

As an example, thousands of pilots have made good career moves in the last decade by choosing places like Jet Blue, Virgin America, AirTran, and Delta. It appears now that United and Continental may not have been bad moves. Anyone who went to NetJets before 2005 has made out like a bandit. As always, Southwest is a great company to work for even though their growth appears to be stagnating.

There is always opportunity somewhere in aviation. The main mistake pilots make is thinking that the airline with the best deal and working conditions will always be the best. History of the industry shows differently. While it is a gamble, getting hired by the airline with a decent wage scale and decent work rules and room to expand their market share will make for a richer and better QOL over the career of a pilot. He may make 15% less top out rate for equipment, but he got that 60% raise making left seat in half the time and reaped the seniority awards of better schedules to go with that money.

Always look for the clear spaces. It is a rare occasion the radar screen is red in all directions.

 

I bet you would have chosen to have been gainfully employed at a young age at the airline of your dreams. We all would have. Aviation is not about decisions but luck and circumstances.

In 1990 UPS and SWA were places that pilots went when they could not get hired by a real airline like UAL, AA, NWA and DAL. Now they are on top, but no one would have guessed that in 1990.

Who here can accurately guess which airlines will still be around ten years from now? Those who are on top today most likely will be the industries sad story tomorrow. The only choice a pilot can make is how much abuse are they willing to take waiting for the mysterious hand of aviation to make their dreams come true.


Skyhigh