Slice

Chick-fil-A, they're closed on Sunday. So at least you're guaranteed one day off. They seriously do have the friendliest employees of any fast food chain I've been to.

CVG767A

We at Delta have taken a huge hit in the retirement department, yet the vast majority of the guys I know are in okay shape for retirement ( and yes, I'm talking about F/Os, too). Granted, there will be no lavish expenditures (i.e. high dollar vacation homes or boats), but they will be able to maintain their present lifestyle with little difficulty. Even when we had a pension, most of us were maxing out our 401ks, and saving on top of that, too. ( I think that this trait is in a pilot's DNA.)

I've met very, very few guys who have suffered "years of low wage abuse", as skyhigh mentions. For the most part, the guys I know are prior military, so there weren't any years of famine prior to Delta. The prior civilian guys are often in even better shape financially; they came from good corporate flying jobs, where they were able to sock away money while they were still in their 20's.

Of all the pilots I've met since I started flying in 1981, NONE have spent anywhere near $150k on training. Also, NONE of the retired guys I know are working in low skill jobs. In contrast, they seem to be very much in demand for their problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Skyhigh, I think that your experience with this industry is either highly atypical or fabricated. Either way, sorry it didn't work out for you.

1bdun

Thats funny. When I saw the Frontline program and read the initial post I thought both were good food(s) for thought. I think Skyhigh's thoughts were just an extension of the program anyway. Cynical but true in many ways. But what do you expect from the media?
I have had a pretty good career so far. Oddly enough, I still didn't get bent out of shape over anything mentioned here or on the show.
Cheers!

Skywriting

Every one of his threads has the same theme. He's like a broken record. If ignored maybe, just maybe he will get a job at McD's and live happly ever after. Anyone who even remotely equates a Flying career with flipping burgers need serious help.

exxcalibur11

Every time I read a post by SkyHigh it flat out depresses me. apparently my first mistake is reading his posts.

He makes it sound like every person begging on the street must have been a former airline pilot. If thats the case, the former airline pilot head quarters must be Lower Wacker Drive, Chicago Illinois.

Fact is I've watched my parents, both teachers (one in an inner city school system) set up their retirement at the end of this school year at 55 and they havent come close to 100K/year. they live very comfortably and actually still have 1 more college tuition to go. If they can do it, I can too.

I'm 23, looking to get in with a regional in the next few months. my goal is to retire by the time im 50 (i've got a lot of living to do). Like ClutchCargo pointed out, my back up is my IRA which ive been puting into since i was 18 to go with other investments. Thats gonna look pretty darn good when it comes to term. I'm smart enough to not put all my eggs in one basket, especially in this industry.

I dont wanna work at McD's, I want my office window 5 miles high in the cockpit! and you can't crush my dreams skyhigh. I'll listen to guys like ClutchCargo

Widow's Son

Misery loves company.

Failure craves validation.

fdxbusdriver

If you missed the show, it can be viewed online at:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...tirement/view/

hatetobreakit2u

social security will take care of me












jk

LAfrequentflyer

Yes, they do have the friendliest people working there.

DaveP2

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!