12# 15oz on a 2 ounce crocodile spoon

*****

Lest anyone think otherwise my railings are not against pilots (who are just pawns for airline managements) only the deceptive practices of airline management.

But lets face it most new hires have no idea of the job they are applying for.

 

I agree entirely that it is management who is screwing over airline employees.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I think I have a pretty good idea of what I'm getting myself into. Perhaps I've done a bit more research into the regional job market than the average applicant - I'm not sure - but I know work rules, wages, and about everything else is going to suck. I like to think there are a good number of people who understand the job they're applying for. If you really are interested in being a pilot, why wouldn't you find out as much as you can before you get a job? I see a lot of guys on this forum alone doing their best to find out which regionals are the best so they don't have to work for the bottom of the crap barrel (like Mesa et. al.).

I didn't intend for this to be a personal rebuke, but I just wanted to point out that there are a good number of us who do want to learn about our options before we apply.

 

I think a lot of these pilot factories are filling these kids with delusions about how much money they will be making and how fast. How is the enrollment at UND and Embry-Riddle these days?

I remember when I was in High School, I went to a seminar for Riddle and they darn near had my father and I convinced if I didn't go to Riddle I'd never become an airline pilot. Thank god I woke up from that so called fact.

 

Yes, a short upgrade time is nice. I don't think too many out there feel entitled to that seat and the responsibilities that come with it without first gaining the required experience.



In today's environment I wouldn't even consider working for an airline that expected me to pay for training. Perhaps 5 years ago I would have given it some thought, since it was the only way to get into the industry, and since experience is everything in the airline industry I am planning on getting in as early as possible.



I'm sure I will be pinching myself at least once a flight when I start working for a regional - whether I'm flying tuboprops or jets. He!!, I still pinch myself every time I hop in the Twin Comanche I rent every now and again. If I had the chance to hop in a Cub and take it for a trip around the patch, I'd be pinching myself. The cooler/bigger/faster the airplane is the more excited I am. Maybe I'm just not jaded yet, or maybe it's because flying about anything besides a C-172 from the right seat is an upgrade, but I still get pretty excited when I fly something new.



What's wrong with being polite to someone? Not to mention, getting to know a scheduler well can't hurt since they might take it into consideration when you need an extra few hours, so you can pay for a birthday present that month, or some similar bill. Just because someone hasn't paid out the a$$ for training/college like I have doesn't mean I should be a jerk to them.



I like to hope most guys don't just trust the company to keep them out of trouble. I'm not sure what the consensus is, but I can say that as long as you're working somewhere that has a union can only help - even if unions are not perfect they do offer a decent amount of protection.



Is there really a high incidence of pilots getting fired or busted at regionals? I know there are some regionals who encourage pilots to push the boundaries of the regs, but pilots grow up around regs. We know how to read them and understand them to a degree that we know what is legal and what isn't. Again this is another reason it's beneficial to work for airlines where pilots are represented by a union. I doubt that most who make it out of the "regional grinding mill" are not lucky but instead skilled and capable pilots.

 

I can't speak for any of the pilot factories. I'm the product of a good old fashioned liberal arts education. I'm a proponent of doing your own research and finding out as much as possible before making a big decision - like choosing a college or a job. It surely is unfortunate if the "pilot factories" are putting out a lot of skewed information about hiring/salary/work rules and the like. Information like this certainly makes decision-making more difficult, especially because these "aviation universities" are so reputable.

 

Good for you. Remember that these schools are businesses too, and they need customers. (What does a Riddle education go for these days?) $100,000 - $150,000??? How about UND?

Here is what gets you an airline job.

Flight time experience, wisdom, a well rounded education, great personality, persistence, good decision making skills, psychological stability, and a little humility. And you can do this without knowing anyone at an airline.

 

You'll get that airline job whether you go to ERAU or UND or whatever school of your choice. I believe that you should go to the best school and challenge yourself with a degree you want to study. Biology, Econ, or English; it doesn't matter. Fly on the side. I'm having fun now because while being a pilot is going to be fun it still is a job.

 

Screw ERAU or UND. I agree, go challenge yourself, go learn to read and write. I happen to be a BIG TEN graduate, as I am sure Illini is. Believe me, it has opened more doors than a ERAU degree would have ever for me.

Just look at where upper management of ALL the airlines got their degrees, and you'll soon see what Illini and I are talking about.

 

I haven't been a member here for very long, but that does sound very SkyHigh like, lol.

 

LOL Ellen I take it you are a Riddle Hater too... well slow your role.. I am a Riddle Grad and didnt go tru pilot training there,, the school offers more than just Flight Training, we are an ABET school we have several MBA programs. Civil Eng program and so much more... so before you go Bashing My School just know that not every one who goes to Riddle is intrested in Flying....OH by the way are you Gods Gift to Aviation ? just asking,,, you seem like a Know it All