АЕРОФЛОТ 214

I would like to apologies to the board if I had offended anybody with my opinion of the current state of the airline industry.

Since 1989 when I entered the industry and experienced the fare wars of the 90s and witnessed many lay offs at the major airlines. The airline that I was working for at the time where a started out at $16,600 a year then after a short time being there I received an 18% pay cut. I was single at the time and did not have that many expenses, no big deal. So time went on made captain now I was up to 33,300 a year wow I am making money this is awesome. Then down sized went from # 15 captain out 32 lines at my base to 15 lines sitting on reserve. 10 days off a month maybe I can deal with for a while so I did.
Then the company went into Bankruptcy left in fear of chapter 7 proceedings. So 1999 off to Colgan Air 28,000/ Yr street captain. In my tenure at this company changed bases 6 times in a 2 year period. One base I drove 100 miles each way and another 78 each way trashed one car. Believe me I loved flying very much I had always hoped to get on with a major carrier; however that goal as the years went on just seemed less and less attainable. In 2006 I decided to leave the industry because the needs of my family outweighed the passion for flying. I felt that I stayed to long as a turboprop captain and that I did not progress to something bigger like a DC 9 for some obscure freight company and that would be another strike against me in this pursuit of the ultimate airline job. I know a lot of people get lucky and find that job easily but statistics show that the chances are pretty slim that you will attain that goal of major airline pilot. Of coarse Kit Darby Stats are in the favor of being attainable goal. However there is a saying liars can figure but figures don’t lie. Presently I am a truck driver starting at 19.00 / hr time and a half after eight 2000 dollar sign on bonus. Trucking is not the best paying job and is not easy but at least I can work out my schedule to meet my educational objectives. I already do have a degree in Business administration but to long in the **** pit made that pretty much worthless these days.

All I want to try to point out is don’t let your life pass you buy. I unfortunately ran out of time to peruse this long life dream of being a major airline pilot Mostly to the outside factors culminated from the 9/11 attacks on America Also I stayed to long at Colgan.
With that said don’t look at the fast upgrade at Colgan look at what kind pay you will be making 15 year down the road if you must remain a regional pilot. I think a lot of the regional operating jet aircraft would be a better choice in the long run. Although Colgan is getting some new equipment and expanding once again and looks like it has a secure future. I think I would been better off if I went to Comair or something in the long run
Personnel I think Colgan sold out because they just did not have access to funds to support their future endeavors.

Good luck with your careers in this field but don’t let your passion obscure the career dissipation light.

JoeyMeatballs

Yeah your mistake was COLGAN, I told you guys COLGAN is a terrible terrible place, if you get stuck there, like many many do you make close to what jet FO's make at XJT, AWAC etc.............. And what did a quick upgarde do for this guy???????????????hes a Truck driver

bobloblaw

Saab, I came from the trucking industry where I made $35,000 in the first 6 months hauling gasoline. I drove trucks for 10 years and I was home every night. I am now halfway through IOE at a regional as a EMB 145/135 FO and I will be lucky to make $21,000 my first year. I am 37 years old and I have my eyes set on the fractionals and a goal to be there by the time I am 40. Long story short, it will be a long time until I reach the $70,000 per year I would have made driving trucks. And will most likely never be home every night again.

JoeyMeatballs

Yeah but still a truck driver, dont take this the wrong way, but a truck driver is a truck driver. ( What I mean by this is the job, not the type of person, although I am sure like me you have seen some of the Hillbillys that do it)

SlingAir

I once flew with a retired ryanAir Captain at a 135 air ambulance operation. I was leaving for the airlines (SkyWest), and he made it a point to say "Don't spend your whole life chasing the brass ring, before you know it you'll be 60 years old and realize your life has passed you by." This captain was truly wise.

I ended up leaving for the airlines anyway, I have to try, and if I am led to another career then so be it. When I am on my death bed reflecting what I did with my life there will be no regrets.

My hat is off to АЕРОФЛОТ 214, he tried and ended up sacrificing his passion to provide for his family. That is amazing and selfless.

--Tempus omnia sed memorias privat

bobloblaw

Saab, I am not picking on you, but I am a hillbilly. Although I have all of my teeth and dress presentably I am still a hillbilly and proud too. Would you rather be a truck driver and make $70,000 per year, or a pilot making $21,000 per year. Trucking has been good too me and has been the resource that enabled me to pay for flight training. It took a long time sacraficing, but I am now 100% paid for. I chose aviation as a career path because I know that by making good choices I will end up at a fractional making a good salary. I just have to sacrafice once again at a regional with low pay for about two years.

Airsupport

another sad thread started by skyhighs brother.

desertdog71

There are more truck drivers around than you realize.

Go ahead and hit the road and drive truck for a while. Tell me what you think after a couple years of that. You wanna talk about QOL issues? Try being away from home 300 days a year. Sleep in a truck, get woken up by nasty truck stop *****s all night. Wait in line to take a shower. Not too mention the joys of truck stop bathrooms when you have to take that morning crap. Freezing your sack off in Wyoming in January. Chaining up on Donner Pass when its snowing in feet. Shall I go on?

I made good money doing it, but guess what? It SUCKED!!!!!! I also had to "Pay my dues" doing that job also. I can pretty much get top pay at any trucking company in America. It still doesn't change the fact that it SUCKS!!!!

I'll take the temporary pay cut and much improved QOL Thanks.

SkyHigh

you have traded a truck for a bus. In time they will become one.

Skyhigh

CL65driver

Sometimes, at the end of the day- we're all just glorified truck drivers in this industry, SAAB. Same $hit- less pay, higher speed.