Those that returned to industry
 

Curious on those that have left the industry and then now have come back. Why did you leave in the first place? How long have you been gone? Why did you come back?


I have left 13 years ago but not a day goes by that I wonder and wish to be back in the sky. Hardest part for me is my 4 kids aged 10-4 and being away to come back but when I left it was about the pay and lack of movement at that time in my regional (Chicago Express/ATA). Didn't have a family then. Just being curious and curious how much has changed. Thanks.


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I was at XJT from '06-'10. Sleep rules (117) has been a nice change. iPads are way easier to update than paper charts. Our current schedules at PDT suck pretty bad in comparison to what we had at XJT. As far as family life, I was single back then, now I'm married with kids and being gone isn't as easy as it used to be. Pay has improved, I started at $21 now we start at $39. Plus the bonus was a nice change.

Still can't get over the low pay. That's really too bad. I own a construction company that is union and our guys can easily make over 100k after their apprenticeship school which is 3 years but they start out making 40k with full pension and health care. Crazy how that works in perspective.


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It's the same as before but now you make 40 to 60k first year. Those shiny looking RJs from 13 years ago are old and broken. Still the hotels by the runway and low appreciation by everyone for what you do. We do those first flights of the trip to get the addiction out of the way and then all we wonder is how we're going to make it to the go home leg. You're not missing much.

"Lost decade" pilot here. Was at a regional from 2000-2006. Then did corporate and charter. Left flying after 2008 as the economy took a dump and my corporate gig shrunk. Took a desk job making way more money. Nice break from living out of my suitcase. (NOT the answers I give during interviews on why I got out. ;) ) Friends in the industry bugged me to get back in. I did research and realized that meetings, answering emails and dealing with conflicting personalities in the office was not my passion. My wife backed my decision which was a huge factor. Got back in last year flying a PC-12. Recently started as a 121 street captain where we are home every night. Wife and kids are happy. Apps have been out. Waiting for a bite.... It may never happen, but you can't win if you don't play.

I am going to make the effort to come back after I complete 20 AFS military. Took a 10 year hiatus from the airlines (TSA, ACA, Citation Shares, Continental mainline). I will be content with a regional out of ATL if someone will have me.

70k first year at Piedmont and Mainline travel bennies and better healthcare than mainline. 1 year upgrades. Some Hiltons and Marriott properties away from the airport. It's a lot different than starting at 20k and 7 year upgrades like It was years ago.

I got out of the military and had only one job offer (the recruiters didn't understand what I would be allowed to do, so I didn't take it). Did 2 different careers over 10 years. A military guy suggested I look into getting back. I did a number of things to prepare, and got hired and a regional. I am glad I came back.

I just read about a guy here that was out for 20 years. He was snapped up by a regional, and did nothing to prepare: Just showed up for new-hire INDOC. No problems for him.

The regionals are much better than they were, and there are more options that the regionals, also.

Namaste...

I finished training at Continental Express on September 3, 2001.
I was at home waiting for aircraft training, and watched the September 11th attacks live on the Today show. Very surreal, and horrible.

I was laid off there, and then 2 more times at ALG. I had enough. I was broke, and all of the pilot groups were enemies of each other.

At age 55 they'll be physically broken. Most 55 y/o pilots will be looking at ten more years of $250K+ with 15-18 days off/month. So pilots are willing to put up with it.

I've always thought it would be nice if the aviation field was leveled a bit, ie a little more compensation in the beginning, but a little less later on. Is what it is.

I completely agree. The problem is the obsurdly high pay at the top of the pay scale (300k +) encourages people to put up with the obsurdly low pay at the bottom of the pay scale (40-60k).

As a major airline pilot, I would gladly see our pay top out near 250k if it meant more reasonable wages at the regionals (everyone starting at 60-70k)

Absurdly, you mean. $300k a year is not that high of an income if you live in places like NYC, SFO, LAX, etc.. Normal ranch style homes 1600 sq ft on a 50' by 100' lot run north of a million. A 30 year old anesthesiologist pulls in that much and so do many lawyers at that age. Making $300k as a pilot? More like age 55-65 nearing retirement assuming one was hired in their 20's or early 30's by the major airline. I'm assuming you live in Texas so that seems like a lot of money to you and in Texas it certainly is but in large hubs like NYC, it's middle class..

I live in SoCal and own one of those 1500sq ft homes that cost $1 million. Even that is just a $4k a month payment, of which $1500 is paid to myself as principal, and the other $2500 tax deductible at 43% (33% federal rate and 9.3% CA rate). Everything else costs about the same as it did in Texas. California has higher income tax, but Texas had a crazy property tax and toll roads.

All I'm saying is I would much rather have regional pilots make more even if it meant major airline pilots topping out less. United pilots once went on strike to help future pilots not even on the property avoid B scale wages. I wish more major airline pilots would vote against the C scale wages allowed to happen at the regionals. I would gladly have my pay capped at 250k to do that. But I'm sure there are plenty who disagree with me.

Well I have been contemplating coming back and leaving my business. I make more than 200k a year but everyday I miss being in the sky. The stress my job gives me is sometimes not worth the pay but at the same time life style and away from my family and kids is not worth being paid under 100k for my own personal happiness.


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200k? Fly for fun my friend...

What he said... Go buy your own airplane and fly where you want, on your schedule, and with your favorite captain..

I'm all for higher wages at the regionals but I'm not fine with a 250k salary cap at a major. Right now the most senior widebody captains earn 300k a year. I think that's a fair salary for the position but it takes ages to get there and not all pilots make it to that level. Many will hang their hats up at the regionals while others at LCC/ ACMI carriers. Obviously pay at the latter is nowhere near 250-300k. So when we mention numbers like 250 or 300k, we are speaking of the top end of the entire airline industry. Thats not a lot for those few coveted widebody left seats at the legacies. Just my 2 cents..

Add about 100k to that and you're in the right ballpark, unless they're bidding reserve.

Seriously. You are trying to say that southern California cost of living is the same as Texas. A bit ridiculous.

Was going to reply the same. Texas is dirt cheap compared to CA.

However, nobody moves to Texas for the weather. Unless, one likes 100 degrees heat with 98% humidity. :eek:

I went to UPT in Big Spring. What is this "humidity" thing of which you speak? :D

Yes you may be correct but those guys pulling in close to $400k are definately not reserve widebody captains and they are super senior. Yes, those numbers do exist.

It is known that some legacy widebody dudes are in the $600k-$700K range right now. Work all the time and work the system hard, but in that context $300K+ is not at all an unreasonable ballpark for a major airline CA.