I resigned my low-wage regional job to come to the ME over a year ago. My highest yearly salary at my previous employer was approx. 42K/yr as an FO. Now I make an avg 11.5K/mo (138K/yr). My living expenses are avg 3.5K/mo. That's a savings of 8K/mo. I'm on pace to upgrade to CA in a year an half, which will up my savings to 11.2K/mo. Of course, tax free :) (well at least a high percentage of it :(). I'm home most nights, with only two to three 2-day layovers a month. I've traveled to places such as Maldives, Seychelles, Europe, India, etc.

Being compensated exceptionally well, I must say, life is good! Only draw back...Its a money trap and its not home! I love it when you guys complain about about the industry back home, because it just makes me think twice about whether the grass will be greener back over the fence I jump over. So far, the grass is much greener on this side of the fence (i.e. Good pay, limited US taxation, lifestyle, career progression), but it does have a a few brown spots (life in the sand pit and Ramadan).

I see the legacy carriers are on a hiring trend. Delta, my #1 choice, announced they will be in hiring starting in the 4th qtr this year. I have my app in with Delta, but I'm not sure i will take it. If called, I do intend to attending the interview, just not sure what cross-road I will take if I'm offered a job. We'll have to see.

The future of our industry?

One word:

Cabotage.

I have no faith in our Senators and Congressmen, they will sell our industry to the highest bidders, and right now, that's Emirates, Qatar, Etihad and Air China. Our Senators would LOVE to sell them all unlimited access to the US Domestic market, they are already giving them too much access to our International markets, with more to come.

Don't take my word for it, ask anyone from Detroit who used to work for Saturn or Pontiac. Now look at that big Kia plant in Georgia, or at any of the other foreign car factories now in the USA. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, etc.

Where's the US Cruise ship industry these days?

That's where we are heading.

What company do you work for?

He might not say, they find out he's Interested in Delta they may stone him in the middle of the town square and arrest his wife just because :)



I keeeed I keeeed

I'll just say it's one of the big three. The pay at my airline is approx equal to those of the other two carriers (aside from the bonuses EK pilots receive).

I met a kid who flies for Sky Dubai about a year ago, in Dubai. He left Com Air (or ASA?) a couple years ago to fly 737's in Dubai. Said he loves it there and he's not coming back, even if DAL starts hiring. Said he didn't want to take a pay cut to sit bottom MD88 reserve, living in a crash pad in NYC. Can't say as I blame him.

Supply vs. Demand, we have a huge supply of qualified pilots living in the USA, willing to fly for cheap, here, but the other countries obviously don't, so they have to pay more to get them to move there.

Now, back to the topic of the US Airline Industry. Why do so many Americans drive Hondas and Toyotas?

Better product, lower price, sometimes both.

Do you think that will change if/when foreign carriers are allowed to fly within our domestic system? If they offer a better product, at the same or lower price, consumers will be all over it, just like with automobiles or anything else. It's already happening with our International flying.

America has the highest average standard of living in the world, but now, thanks to Free Trade, we have to compete in the "Global Economy". Well, when you are at the top of the Pay/Living standards pyramid, and now you have to compete with the middle and bottom of that pyramid, you only have one direction to go, pay/living standards wise, and it ain't up.

You wonder why American Manufacturing jobs are going overseas, and American Worker's wages have stagnated over the past 10-15 years? That's why.

Agree with most of what's already been said, but I'll throw in one more: age 67.

Great Pilot Shortage and the expected hiring boom will be mild compared to what most are expecting because, in short, the unions/workers have no power but the companies do. Companies, with the help of the gov, will pull various rabbits out of various hats (like age 67) to dampen any positive effects (for the work force) of a pilot shortage.

Hey, Corporations are People too! Just ask Mitt.

Why shouldn't they get to contribute billions to political candidates to make sure the labor laws favor...THEM?

Read this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czt0g5whffs

Cliff notes for you lazy bastages: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23RjIukVLUY

Timbos' two post are right on the mark.

Thanks, and here's some more good reading:

http://pilotpartisan.com/2013/07/09/...u-trade-talks/