That's one more good thing about Cape Air, lots of domiciles. April class info is out, 10 C-402 Captains I'm told.

 

It certainly is fantastic.

 

I smell sarcasm....

 

No actually it's the worst thing about Cape Air.

 

Must be new.. The mocha injection hasn't worn off yet

 

That will all depend upon where you live, and where they need you I would suspect.

 

Oh c'mon guys, haven't you always wanted to live in Ft. Leonard Wood?? I bet you can find a 4 month lease there for CHEAP.

 

Pros:

Rent where I am is $175/mo, no lease, not including utilities
Real world flying experience
It's fun
There's a lot of great people here (and a few not so great)

Cons:

I get paid $9/hr
I have no senority
The health benefits aren't great and are expensive...especially on FO pay
I'm not in the union
No upgrade for me for another year and a half (and then it's only more prop time)

My last day is next week. I was offered a job elsewhere. Yes I like it here, and it will be bittersweet. Definitely a great fall-back option, but at my age, I want to get paid more and get on a senority list with a jet (for career reasons).

 

Can't say I blame you. There has been lots of grumbling about people quitting without giving much notice lately, but when your making 16,380 dollars a year, I wouldn't expect much from someone when a better opportunity comes up. I would still give notice if you can, but I wouldn't bypass or delay a good one either because you can not give 2 weeks notice. Giving two weeks notice is the professional and right thing to do, when possible, it sounds like you were able too, well done.

Cape Air would retain pilots better if they paid a livable wage. Even as a Captain in the North your base is only 27,300 dollars a year in the North ($15 x 35 hr wk guarantee = 525 week. 525 x 52= 27300 yr) . Yes, there are ways to make more money, and some lines pay better, but that is the base. Pay some rent, medical insurance, student loans etc and there is no way your putting away for retirement or saving to purchase a house and start a family on that wage, which is truely the important stuff in life. You might even find yourself in the negative. You would be hard pressed to find another "regional" that pays Captains that low of a guarantee. This needs to be addressed, otherwise I think that 9K will find it hard to staff during the upcoming pilot hiring boom, and a mass exodus is already well under way. I want to see the company suceed, and in order to suceed you need to be able to retain pilots.

With that said, there are many many many pros to flying for Cape Air: Good, friendly management that works with you typically, not against you, unquestioned PIC authority for safety decisions, some fun destinations, the 402 is fun to fly, they put forth a good effort to try to stay on top an aging fleet, great training, Cape Air looks great on the resume, just to name a few. Unfortunately for many people though, they can't afford to stay there. Management knows this, and as long as you did your job there well, and give notice when it is time to leave, they are likely to pat you on the back and say good luck to you on your way out. And if you ever need to come back, they are likely to have you back, which can be great when the pilot markey turns south, like it often does, and you find yourself needing a job.

 

Is that what that smell is? I thought it was just me, I'm a stinky boy today, been working on the farm all day.