Regionals Suck
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 692
Of course there are always people worse off than pilots. But most of them usually did or did not do something to get themselves in that spot. The key factor here is that people are coming into the industry with unrealistic expectations about how far they will go. The flight schools tell everyone how easy it will be to get to mainline. They don’t want to tell people the truth because then most of them would not get flight training. You need to do abundant research and find out if the airline industry is truly for you. There are other very rewarding careers out there.
#22
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2017
Posts: 56
You can instantly tell if someone has ever had a real job or not when they display their lack of perspective on this subject. You know what sucks? Climbing drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, 24/7, rain or shine,152 miles from the bank, that sucks. The only thing that sucks about this job is the chicken sh1t paychecks and the costume. It’s all about perspective.
Last edited by redbone; 10-20-2018 at 11:01 AM.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Posts: 151
I went to college shortly after 9/11, hated instructing, hated the industry so I left. After 10 years in a soul sucking corporate mid management job I came back to aviation and decided I would have a new perspective on instructing. Looking at it through a different lense and enjoying it for what it is I'm loving it. I took a 50% pay cut to go back to aviation and there isn't one second of the day I regret it. Going to the regionals in about 2 months and going to enjoy it for what it is. Don't know why everyone thinks you should go straight to 777 captain with 17 days off a month right off the bat? That's not how it works.
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 692
You know a lot of these other jobs that are being mentioned while they are definitely tough they don’t require six figures of investment to enter. Pilots have different expectations because of how much money has been spent to qualify for the job. There just expecting a return on investment that may not be there. I think that’s where a lot of these malcontents that complain every day are coming from.
#25
Being a regional pilot is the best job I’ve had and I’m making more than I ever have.
I’ve been a CFI, worked fast food and retail and worked two dead end jobs at the same time to make ends meet. Don’t tell me what sucks.
Lose your medical and you surely won’t think regionals suck. Trust me, don’t take what you have for granted.
I’ve been a CFI, worked fast food and retail and worked two dead end jobs at the same time to make ends meet. Don’t tell me what sucks.
Lose your medical and you surely won’t think regionals suck. Trust me, don’t take what you have for granted.
Suck it up ya millennials!
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: Part 135
Posts: 184
With regionals, sometimes the job sucks, sometimes it doesn't.
What is guaranteed to suck, 95% of the time, is the regional career.
Worst case, you get COMAIRed about the time your kids start college, with no professional skills, no degree, and too old to start over anywhere but walmart or another regional.
Best case, you luck into a sweet deal where you can live where you want and they never close your base. And you get to watch your peers who made it to the bigs pull down three times your pay for easier work and more days off.
What is guaranteed to suck, 95% of the time, is the regional career.
Worst case, you get COMAIRed about the time your kids start college, with no professional skills, no degree, and too old to start over anywhere but walmart or another regional.
Best case, you luck into a sweet deal where you can live where you want and they never close your base. And you get to watch your peers who made it to the bigs pull down three times your pay for easier work and more days off.
#29
What can a regional captain top out at today? I didn't think the pay discrepancy was THAT big unless you're specifically talking widebody captain. On that note, how old is too old to expect a shot at widebody captain at a major for someone just starting at the regionals?
Legacy NB CA is easily $400k ish. Majors tend to have 12-year scales.
I would estimate for someone hired in the next few years at a legacy, WB CA might be around 20 years. Normally it's longer but there are a lot of retirements coming up.
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2017
Posts: 620
Being junior as a WB CA is the last thing that sounds appealing to me in my early 60's, but to each his own!
Give me the cushyyyy life of a 5% seniority NB FO in my golden years where I can cherry pick pretty much everything on my schedule!
Give me the cushyyyy life of a 5% seniority NB FO in my golden years where I can cherry pick pretty much everything on my schedule!
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