Regional lifers. Why are they stuck?
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Nov 2018
Posts: 832
Regional lifers. Why are they stuck?
Just curious. I'm sure you all know several lifers at your regional. Of those lifers that cannot move up and are not a lifer by choice, what are the most common characteristics and flaws that most of them share? What are the main reasons you think they can't get on with a legacy or at least a good LCC/ULCC?
Are they socially inept, weird, a-holes, slobs, unprofessional, not likeable?
Training failures, incidents/accidents, DUI's, criminal record?
Is it their personality holding them back more than their flying record, and or, their personal history?
We can use this thread as a cautionary tale. Thanks.
Are they socially inept, weird, a-holes, slobs, unprofessional, not likeable?
Training failures, incidents/accidents, DUI's, criminal record?
Is it their personality holding them back more than their flying record, and or, their personal history?
We can use this thread as a cautionary tale. Thanks.
Last edited by Flyboy68; 03-27-2019 at 07:30 AM.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2019
Posts: 310
Just curious. I'm sure you all know several lifers at your regional. What are the most common characteristics and flaws that most of them share? What are the main reasons you think they can't get on with a legacy or at least a good LCC/ULCC?
Are they socially inept, weird, a-holes, slobs, unprofessional, not likeable?
Training failures, incidents/accidents, DUI's, criminal record?
Is it their personality holding them back more than their flying record/history?
We can use this thread as a cautionary tale. Thanks.
Are they socially inept, weird, a-holes, slobs, unprofessional, not likeable?
Training failures, incidents/accidents, DUI's, criminal record?
Is it their personality holding them back more than their flying record/history?
We can use this thread as a cautionary tale. Thanks.
For lifers who try to leave but don’t, often times they’re 40+ year old RJ captains who’ve been in their seat 5+ years and only fly the line, don’t do anything extra to stand out amongst their peers in the industry. They think they’re too good to try to go to LCCs and turn down job offers from them in an effort to hold out for something better that doesn’t ever come.
Sometimes you’ve got pilots who have marks criminal or work history (2+ checkride failures, multiple jobs in the span of a year, withdrawal from training at a 121 airline, failed CQs, long gaps in employment etc.) who make them appear to be a greater risk of not successfully completing training, or not sticking around or being a liability to the company.
#5
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Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 107
The ones who are "major material" that dont move on are almost all tied to their domicile for personal reasons. They dont want to commute to reserve and the "paltry" regional schedule that they know they'll have for the rest of their career let's them take care of stuff at home.
And then theres the bunch that are just poor pilots. Age and experience doesnt guarantee skill or aptitude. Thats the negative side of the seniority system. Some of the best captains/first officers I've flown with are relatively young/low experienced guys.
And then theres the bunch that are just poor pilots. Age and experience doesnt guarantee skill or aptitude. Thats the negative side of the seniority system. Some of the best captains/first officers I've flown with are relatively young/low experienced guys.
#6
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Joined APC: Nov 2018
Posts: 832
Old pilots used to being the boss don’t want to give up being on top of the seniority list where they’re revered, have a better schedule QOL and in some cases a pension to take a pay cut to go to the bottom of another seniority list. That’s part of why that groups of folks don’t try to leave.
For lifers who try to leave but don’t, often times they’re 40+ year old RJ captains who’ve been in their seat 5+ years and only fly the line, don’t do anything extra to stand out amongst their peers in the industry. They think they’re too good to try to go to LCCs and turn down job offers from them in an effort to hold out for something better that doesn’t ever come.
Sometimes you’ve got pilots who have marks criminal or work history (2+ checkride failures, multiple jobs in the span of a year, withdrawal from training at a 121 airline, failed CQs, long gaps in employment etc.) who make them appear to be a greater risk of not successfully completing training, or not sticking around or being a liability to the company.
For lifers who try to leave but don’t, often times they’re 40+ year old RJ captains who’ve been in their seat 5+ years and only fly the line, don’t do anything extra to stand out amongst their peers in the industry. They think they’re too good to try to go to LCCs and turn down job offers from them in an effort to hold out for something better that doesn’t ever come.
Sometimes you’ve got pilots who have marks criminal or work history (2+ checkride failures, multiple jobs in the span of a year, withdrawal from training at a 121 airline, failed CQs, long gaps in employment etc.) who make them appear to be a greater risk of not successfully completing training, or not sticking around or being a liability to the company.
Obviously, you're going to have the ones with sketchy records or employment history, training failures.
So it's a mixture of both choice, and blemished records?
The bolded paragraph is just shocking. Don't they realize that they could make so much more money with just a few years of sacrifice if they moved to an LCC or major? Can they not do the math?
#9
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Joined APC: Jan 2019
Posts: 310
It’s case dependent on the individual but there are categories that many fall into.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2018
Posts: 832
The ones who are "major material" that dont move on are almost all tied to their domicile for personal reasons. They dont want to commute to reserve and the "paltry" regional schedule that they know they'll have for the rest of their career let's them take care of stuff at home.
And then theres the bunch that are just poor pilots. Age and experience doesnt guarantee skill or aptitude. Thats the negative side of the seniority system. Some of the best captains/first officers I've flown with are relatively young/low experienced guys.
And then theres the bunch that are just poor pilots. Age and experience doesnt guarantee skill or aptitude. Thats the negative side of the seniority system. Some of the best captains/first officers I've flown with are relatively young/low experienced guys.
This was a POS CA that was busted by the IRS for setting up a fake church with him as the preacher to try to avoid paying income taxes. Total a-hole.
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