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-   -   Interesting Times, Bitterness, & Success (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/127256-interesting-times-bitterness-success.html)

knewyork 02-07-2020 06:46 PM

What a weird thread.

frizzy 02-07-2020 07:05 PM


Originally Posted by WhiskyWhisky (Post 2972708)
2 1/2 years off the street, currently at a regional, accepted offer at a Legacy carrier. Times are amazing compared to 10 years ago, the 90's, and even the 80's. Wasn't long ago you had to put in 10 to 15 years and 5000 hours at a regional to move up to a Legacy. Now, seeing many of us with just 2 years in the industry, committing a year or two in at a regional, and moving up to the majors with job offers.


Anyone else seeing similar cockpit social-industry behavior lately such as: 7 to 15 year captains at regional with chip on their shoulder after being turned down by major and are "stuck". Some don't have 4-year degrees and a few have 'a record' or 'history', but got hired on with a regional in the late 90's, or early 2000's. 10 to 15 years (some 20+) at a regional, and are hoping for that break they've waited for all their life. But now, new-hire FO's in the right seat, with 4-year degrees, positive attitudes, are moving on to the majors.


It has to be bitter-sweet for the guys at the majors as well knowing what they sacrificed years ago to get to where they are. But now witnessing first-hand 2-year regional FO's flowing to the majors. Not long ago, when flying turboprops at Mesaba, Great Lakes, ASA, Comair, etc, for $15,000 a year. Pay-For-Training was rampant. I grossed $103,000 as a new hire regional FO last year. Amazing.


Is it just me? Or, anyone seeing similar socioeconomic behavior out in the field? Interesting Times, Bitterness, & Success.

A quick look at your post history reveals you have been flying professionally for over two decades. You also state you have over 5000 hours and type ratings in multiple business jets.

Here is your quote from April 19’ for reference.
”That's a pretty narrow-minded statement. I know a lot of guys, including myself, that logged very little 121 time prior to 9-11, then switched to Part 91 flying. 5000 hours later in Citations and Gulfstreams, I have several majors interested with interviews. I want to be sure my 'low enough' 121 time is accurate.”

You make it seem like you just started flying 2 1/2 years ago.

It looks like it took you 20 plus years to reach a legacy. Congrats?

at6d 02-07-2020 09:58 PM

The times are interesting, no doubt. For me, the current situation makes me recall that timing is everything. Some generations get dealt a hand that is tougher than others and every generation has its snowy hill to walk up and down.

majorpilot 02-08-2020 04:10 AM


Originally Posted by at6d (Post 2973033)
The times are interesting, no doubt. For me, the current situation makes me recall that timing is everything. Some generations get dealt a hand that is tougher than others and every generation has its snowy hill to walk up and down.



Snowy hill? We would’ve given everything to have only a snowy hill. We would get up an hour before we went to sleep, walking miles in a blizzard, uphill both ways, returning to our homes in a cardboard box under a park bench.

But, you tell that to kids today, and they don’t believe you!

CLE to IAH 02-08-2020 05:22 AM


Originally Posted by Fifi (Post 2972711)
sure, underscored by newbies so smart they misspell a word in a screen name......twice

um. Whisky is a proper spelling for the word. Some argue it’s the ORIGINAL spelling.

dera 02-08-2020 05:41 AM


Originally Posted by CLE to IAH (Post 2973097)
um. Whisky is a proper spelling for the word. Some argue it’s the ORIGINAL spelling.

I believe the "original" spelling would be uisge beatha :)

tomgoodman 02-08-2020 05:52 AM


Originally Posted by majorpilot (Post 2973082)
Snowy hill? We would’ve given everything to have only a snowy hill. We would get up an hour before we went to sleep, walking miles in a blizzard, uphill both ways, returning to our homes in a cardboard box under a park bench.

But, you tell that to kids today, and they don’t believe you!


A cardboard box? You were lucky.....:D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1by0-nkKOTs

popcopy 02-08-2020 06:02 AM


Originally Posted by WhiskyWhisky (Post 2972708)
2 1/2 years off the street, currently at a regional, accepted offer at a Legacy carrier. Times are amazing compared to 10 years ago, the 90's, and even the 80's. Wasn't long ago you had to put in 10 to 15 years and 5000 hours at a regional to move up to a Legacy. Now, seeing many of us with just 2 years in the industry, committing a year or two in at a regional, and moving up to the majors with job offers.


Anyone else seeing similar cockpit social-industry behavior lately such as: 7 to 15 year captains at regional with chip on their shoulder after being turned down by major and are "stuck". Some don't have 4-year degrees and a few have 'a record' or 'history', but got hired on with a regional in the late 90's, or early 2000's. 10 to 15 years (some 20+) at a regional, and are hoping for that break they've waited for all their life. But now, new-hire FO's in the right seat, with 4-year degrees, positive attitudes, are moving on to the majors.


It has to be bitter-sweet for the guys at the majors as well knowing what they sacrificed years ago to get to where they are. But now witnessing first-hand 2-year regional FO's flowing to the majors. Not long ago, when flying turboprops at Mesaba, Great Lakes, ASA, Comair, etc, for $15,000 a year. Pay-For-Training was rampant. I grossed $103,000 as a new hire regional FO last year. Amazing.


Is it just me? Or, anyone seeing similar socioeconomic behavior out in the field? Interesting Times, Bitterness, & Success.

Ironically, I know some regional dudes who’ve got the attitude of “the times are so good, I don’t have to hustle as hard as a pilot used to” to make the next step up. With that mindset they’re picking a regional for cozy QOL reasons and not career advancement opportunity reasons. Bypassing upgrade to wait until a CA vacancy becomes available in their base of choice. Refusing the option to lateral if times get bleak. And the dumbest I know: They’re “too busy” to volunteer or get involved in their community on their days off to spice up their applications.

It’s like they don’t realize this is still a sprint to the finish line. Especially now that seniority lists are being added to at their fastest pace in 20 years. Each month they fart around being “too busy” to hustle hard is potentially costing them 100 seniority numbers at each of the Big 3 (with more and more of those 100 pilots hired being younger than you)

That mindset of “times are good therefore don’t gotta hustle” among some regional pilots in 2019/2020 is something I’m observing lately.

https://e.lvme.me/2b02ewx.jpg

As Briefed 02-08-2020 06:05 AM

No it is spelled incorrectly twice.
There are many ways to write today’s date. There is one correct way with the FAA.

greatmovieistar 02-08-2020 06:52 AM


Originally Posted by WhiskyWhisky (Post 2972708)
2 1/2 years off the street, currently at a regional, accepted offer at a Legacy carrier. Times are amazing compared to 10 years ago, the 90's, and even the 80's. Wasn't long ago you had to put in 10 to 15 years and 5000 hours at a regional to move up to a Legacy. Now, seeing many of us with just 2 years in the industry, committing a year or two in at a regional, and moving up to the majors with job offers.


Anyone else seeing similar cockpit social-industry behavior lately such as: 7 to 15 year captains at regional with chip on their shoulder after being turned down by major and are "stuck". Some don't have 4-year degrees and a few have 'a record' or 'history', but got hired on with a regional in the late 90's, or early 2000's. 10 to 15 years (some 20+) at a regional, and are hoping for that break they've waited for all their life. But now, new-hire FO's in the right seat, with 4-year degrees, positive attitudes, are moving on to the majors.


It has to be bitter-sweet for the guys at the majors as well knowing what they sacrificed years ago to get to where they are. But now witnessing first-hand 2-year regional FO's flowing to the majors. Not long ago, when flying turboprops at Mesaba, Great Lakes, ASA, Comair, etc, for $15,000 a year. Pay-For-Training was rampant. I grossed $103,000 as a new hire regional FO last year. Amazing.


Is it just me? Or, anyone seeing similar socioeconomic behavior out in the field? Interesting Times, Bitterness, & Success.

What's the point of this post? To rub it in the face of all the "bitter lifers" out there? Stay classy man, I can see why you got hired.


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