So you want to be a Regional Airline Pilot
 

I guess this had to have been posted by now but I didn't find it with a simple search. If this is old, my apologies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RayMaswju1A

Yeah that about explains it!

Its old...Who's the guy at the end?

man you all forgot what we fly for. its not all about the money its about flying. i am not yet in you guys shoes but i am getting there. and i wont forget why i fly. i understand you all have bills and have woman who want the world but i always want to fly from the day i first saw a airplane at age 5 and i will never forget that i fly because i love it. and not all about money. and to fly my island flag ship for all the world to see.


-LAFF

dork :D :D :D

I agree with you it is not all about the money, however, with all the money people spend on training you would think that you would be compensated a little bit better for all of the sacrafices you have made. By the way the guy at the end is J.O. of Mesa

...I did a poor job quoting the person who responded to the video on youtube...

If you enjoy what you do and do it well you'll be rewarded.

-LAFF

What annoys me is that it says Horizon 1 yr FO’s make 27K+ BUT those numbers are based on 12 bid periods per year & 30/31 day months. Horizon does 35 day bid periods with works out to be 10.4 bid periods per year. So, the numbers are still higher than everyone else but not as much as it makes it out to be. Add to it 2-3 years of reserve at Horizon and I guarantee you'll make more at XJT, SKW, E9 or RAH. Especially seeing that you can hold a line which gives you about 10-20 more hours (per month) of pay and a better QOL within your first year; as well as being able to upgrade in about 2-3 years. At Horizon they’ll be close to coming off reserve when I upgrade and I’ll be applying and probably flying for a Major by the time they upgrade to CA in yr 6 or 7. Yes, a 35 day bid period means more days off for the same pay; BUT look at the big picture, FO reserve for 2-3 years, CA upgrade in 6+ and then sit CA reserve for 3+? Not worth it!

Wanting to live in the NW and not having a crappy commute - priceless.

I seriously doubt anybody would make more as an FO at Pinnacle than at Horizon.

I'm more than sure that over a 10 year period you will. After sitting reserve for 2-3+ years, first as FO then as CA, while only making guarantee? Upgrade? Your FO years MIGHT be close but no contest when it comes to the bigger picture.

Horizon Air
1 yr - $22620-R
2 - $30420-R
3 - $35360
4 - $36244
5 -$ 37128
6 - $46020-R/Upgrade
7 - $46800-R
8 - $48360-R
9 - $56576
10 - $58344

3rd yr FO TOTAL: $88,400
10 yr TOTAL: $417,872? WOW without Per Diem

* Q400 FO 5 years, Q2/3 CA first upgrade
* R – Reserve paid at 75 hrs/mnth x 10.4 bid periods/yr
* Numbers based upon a former Horizon friends of mine
* Yrs not on reserve are calculated at 85 hours per month seeing this is a regional industry average for line holders
* BEST case scenario for reserve and upgrade!
* Unsure of when a JR CA can hold Q400 or CR7 for higher pay.

SkyWest
1 yr - $17325-R
2 - $35700
3 - $36720
4 - $54000-R
5 - $55800-R
6 - $67320
7 - $69360
8 - $71400
9 - $73400
10 - $76575

3rd yr FO TOTAL: $89,745
10 yr TOTAL: $509,000 without Per Diem and Bonuses

* Only takes into account 200 flying
* R – Reserve paid at 75 hrs/mnth X 12 bid periods
* Not counting Quarterly Bonuses after yr 2, CA about 4-5K+/yr
* WORST case scenario for reserve & upgrade!
* Yrs not on reserve at calculated at 85 hours per month seeing this is a regional industry average for line holders



* If any Horizon pilots (& ONLY HORIZON PILOTS) feel that I'm wrong about horizon’s #’s, I APOLOGIZE, please correct and explain correction.

Thank You, just trying to prove a point. My point is that your PAY isn't what people make it out to be.