Was speaking with an FO for Mesa the other day and he was outlining some of the Mesa benefits for me since I keep going back and forth between joining them.

He was saying that you upgrade as soon as you are able and then within about 5 or 6 years, a captain is up over $100K...

is this possible?

 

It's probably possible if you live in domicile, pick up as much available open time as possible and simply have no other life 'cuz you sell it to the company.

We have guys earning 6-figure salaries at AWAC, but they have been here long enough to have maxed out the salary scale and probably pick up some open time here and there. It used to be far easier when we had the BAe-146s.

100K at a regional is possible, but not easy.

 

..........

 

It's really easy to make loads of money at a regional without actually working. Just ask J.O., H.K., etc.

 

Of course it's possible. Why? Because 100K sucks. You guys just don't get it. This is not 1975!

 

have met plenty of guys over at TSA making 100k, they've all maxed out and typically are IOE check airmen...they get hazard pay for flying with 250 hr wonders. :-p

 

100k does not suck in the real job world.

but i do understand what you are saying. regional pilots could have been working for a major flying a regional jet making 100 in the right seat like they did years ago. They did the ole switcher oo and now pay you half that flying same routes for regional (commuter) airline.

ps- passengers should get reduced rates on flights that have a low time pilot.

 

Come on. Look at the payscales of 737 or A320s at the most major airlines (especially US Airways and United Airlines), and you will see that as a regional captain making $90k-$100k+, it is NOT worth it to go to a major for the first 5 years. And quite possibly so as long as you're an FO, it might even mean a PAYCUT for that entire time at the major. That's why you have plenty of Eagle captains staying put. 15 or more years at Eagle, depending on which equipment and how much you fly, can net you 90k to 100k (or even more)... for those folks, they CAN'T afford to leave to a major.

Case in point is Continental, 29.97/hr first year and roughly 55/hr on the 737 second year. Now what regional captain making 100k would want to start with Continental with such low wages?

It used to be first year wage sucked, and then 2nd year onwards was better. That's how UPS is. Suck up the 33k first year, knowing your second yr will be 100k+. That's somewhat "worth it." But not Continental.

 

The big difference between regionals and majors is that the QOL is much better at the major level. Also once you are at a major you may move to your domicile and not have to commute anymore burning your days off commuting because major domaciles dont change that often. It really depends on what is more important QOL or pay. If you can get both even better but I think getting on with a major is becoming more and more difficult.

 

The pilot that decides the risk of the short-term paycut and possible stagnation as an FO is worth the long-term reward of higher pay and improved in the future.