Flying Magazine
08-12-2007 | 11:46 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: ERJ Right Seat
***** I WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY AND SUPPORT SKYHIGH AND LES ABENDS VIEWS *****
Having seen this industry from many angles I have a better perspective than probably anyone else on this board. My perspective comes from the following back ground:
- Flight student
- CFI
- Chief Flight Instructor
- Asst Chief Pilot
- Capt and FO at a Regional in the 80's
- FO at a Major Carrier
- Furloughed TWICE
- Capt and FO at two scummmm bag charter carriers
- President and employer of many of a non aviation related company
- Back to FO at the same Major Carrier
SkyHigh and Les Abend are RIGHT ON people!!!!!!!!!!
I started in the right seat of a Saab 340 in 1987 at 19,000 per year. Thats 20 years ago. How much are the regionals offering you now? Forking Peanuts money. You can make more as a barista in Starbucks and get better bennies.
Today's airline dream is less of a career today and more like a trip to any casino on the wrong side of the tracks in Atlantic City. Most are gonna lose their training money and walk out the door with barely enough for coffee and a bagel the next morning after a night at the crap table.
And that is EXACTLY what the airline managements and unions are rewarding you with. CRAP!!!!!!!!
You can get any MBA or Law School degree for less than 150K and then expect to be compensated for your hard work. In aviation, Haa forget it.
One example is to go look at the job offerings at http://www.theladders.com
Having seen this industry from many angles I have a better perspective than probably anyone else on this board. My perspective comes from the following back ground:
- Flight student
- CFI
- Chief Flight Instructor
- Asst Chief Pilot
- Capt and FO at a Regional in the 80's
- FO at a Major Carrier
- Furloughed TWICE
- Capt and FO at two scummmm bag charter carriers
- President and employer of many of a non aviation related company
- Back to FO at the same Major Carrier
SkyHigh and Les Abend are RIGHT ON people!!!!!!!!!!
I started in the right seat of a Saab 340 in 1987 at 19,000 per year. Thats 20 years ago. How much are the regionals offering you now? Forking Peanuts money. You can make more as a barista in Starbucks and get better bennies.
Today's airline dream is less of a career today and more like a trip to any casino on the wrong side of the tracks in Atlantic City. Most are gonna lose their training money and walk out the door with barely enough for coffee and a bagel the next morning after a night at the crap table.
And that is EXACTLY what the airline managements and unions are rewarding you with. CRAP!!!!!!!!
You can get any MBA or Law School degree for less than 150K and then expect to be compensated for your hard work. In aviation, Haa forget it.
One example is to go look at the job offerings at http://www.theladders.com
Which means you skyhigh, and everyone else, are allow to be bitter and ****ed, but that also means, that the rest of us that have had positive experiences are allowed to be happy about our chosen careers.
08-12-2007 | 11:52 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
I have an airline job, a bachelor of science (non-aviation), and I should be making 65K+ in a year. Many of my friends work 8-5, 5+ days a week, and they are earing incomes of $28K-$55K.
The only debt I have is the credit card debt I inherited by getting married, and that will be gone in 2 months. I work less than 15 days a month, and average over 20 nights a month at home.
This is not a bad job at all (depending on who you work for, of course), I have zero regrets about my career choice or the path that I took to get here. My feeling is that many people choose the wrong method for entering into this profession. IMHO, aviation degrees and pilot factories are completely worthless. Get a scholarship, get a non-aviation degree, get a decent part time job, live as cheaply as possible, and learn how to fly airplanes. Get your CFI as soon as possible and get paid to fly. The way regionals are hiring, you will be eligible for a job before you finish college (that does not mean you shouldn't finish college). The total process will take longer, as it did for me, but in the end you will come out way ahead. You have 1/10th the debt of an average regional FO, and you will have a fall back degree in case you lose your medical.
-Quag
The only debt I have is the credit card debt I inherited by getting married, and that will be gone in 2 months. I work less than 15 days a month, and average over 20 nights a month at home.
This is not a bad job at all (depending on who you work for, of course), I have zero regrets about my career choice or the path that I took to get here. My feeling is that many people choose the wrong method for entering into this profession. IMHO, aviation degrees and pilot factories are completely worthless. Get a scholarship, get a non-aviation degree, get a decent part time job, live as cheaply as possible, and learn how to fly airplanes. Get your CFI as soon as possible and get paid to fly. The way regionals are hiring, you will be eligible for a job before you finish college (that does not mean you shouldn't finish college). The total process will take longer, as it did for me, but in the end you will come out way ahead. You have 1/10th the debt of an average regional FO, and you will have a fall back degree in case you lose your medical.
-Quag
08-12-2007 | 11:53 AM
#14
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
***** I WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY AND SUPPORT SKYHIGH AND LES ABENDS VIEWS *****
Having seen this industry from many angles I have a better perspective than probably anyone else on this board. My perspective comes from the following back ground:
- Flight student
- CFI
- Chief Flight Instructor
- Asst Chief Pilot
- Capt and FO at a Regional in the 80's
- FO at a Major Carrier
- Furloughed TWICE
- Capt and FO at two scummmm bag charter carriers
- President and employer of many of a non aviation related company
- Back to FO at the same Major Carrier
SkyHigh and Les Abend are RIGHT ON people!!!!!!!!!!
I started in the right seat of a Saab 340 in 1987 at 19,000 per year. Thats 20 years ago. How much are the regionals offering you now? Forking Peanuts money. You can make more as a barista in Starbucks and get better bennies.
Today's airline dream is less of a career today and more like a trip to any casino on the wrong side of the tracks in Atlantic City. Most are gonna lose their training money and walk out the door with barely enough for coffee and a bagel the next morning after a night at the crap table.
And that is EXACTLY what the airline managements and unions are rewarding you with. CRAP!!!!!!!!
You can get any MBA or Law School degree for less than 150K and then expect to be compensated for your hard work. In aviation, Haa forget it.
One example is to go look at the job offerings at
http://www.theladders.com
Having seen this industry from many angles I have a better perspective than probably anyone else on this board. My perspective comes from the following back ground:
- Flight student
- CFI
- Chief Flight Instructor
- Asst Chief Pilot
- Capt and FO at a Regional in the 80's
- FO at a Major Carrier
- Furloughed TWICE
- Capt and FO at two scummmm bag charter carriers
- President and employer of many of a non aviation related company
- Back to FO at the same Major Carrier
SkyHigh and Les Abend are RIGHT ON people!!!!!!!!!!
I started in the right seat of a Saab 340 in 1987 at 19,000 per year. Thats 20 years ago. How much are the regionals offering you now? Forking Peanuts money. You can make more as a barista in Starbucks and get better bennies.
Today's airline dream is less of a career today and more like a trip to any casino on the wrong side of the tracks in Atlantic City. Most are gonna lose their training money and walk out the door with barely enough for coffee and a bagel the next morning after a night at the crap table.
And that is EXACTLY what the airline managements and unions are rewarding you with. CRAP!!!!!!!!
You can get any MBA or Law School degree for less than 150K and then expect to be compensated for your hard work. In aviation, Haa forget it.
One example is to go look at the job offerings at
http://www.theladders.com
08-12-2007 | 12:02 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
In 20 Years
After the initial buzz of putting on a real airline pilots uniform wears off the reality will begin to sink in. Though it might be fun to be poor and 23 and some of you may be satisfied with your jobs now that doesn't mean that it will remain as such. Shutdowns layoffs, more pay cuts and the reality of what it takes to make it with a family in tow will insure that many of you will change your tune.
20 years ago regional FO's made 19K. The way things are going they will make the same 19K 20 years from now.
An airline career just doesn't make any sense anymore.
SkyHigh
20 years ago regional FO's made 19K. The way things are going they will make the same 19K 20 years from now.
An airline career just doesn't make any sense anymore.
SkyHigh
08-12-2007 | 12:05 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
Answered Prayers
Sometimes if the Gods wish to punish you they answer your prayers. Thankfully I woke up in time to salvage what was left of my life.
SkyHigh
08-12-2007 | 12:07 PM
#17
Thread Starter
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
I have faith in you.
The problem with you and skyhigh is you have come onto a pilot forum, to the regional board, and insulted the career choice of everyone here. Do you really think these guys need you to tell them how much they paid for flight training, or how small their paychecks are. I don't think so. Yeah I spent a lot of $ on my flight training. But I did it because all I have ever wanted to do since I was little was to fly airplanes. I'm sure I am not the only one here who feels that way. I understand you may be bitter about your career choice but the great thing about America is that if you don't like your job you can quit!!!!
SkyHigh
08-12-2007 | 12:10 PM
#18
Freightmama!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,880
Likes: 0
From: 757/767 FO
Yep, you're right. This is the only job where you can get laid off or be forced to take a paycut.
Give it up Sky.
08-12-2007 | 12:10 PM
#19
Thread Starter
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
Subjective
It's all subjective to everyone's individual experience. A good family friend is a CAL captain retiring next year, never been furloughed, never had any major problems. Now take a fellow I met while jumpseating 2 weeks ago. He's a picture of what you just described...furloughed multiple times, hates every other company he's worked for, all subjective.
Which means you skyhigh, and everyone else, are allow to be bitter and ****ed, but that also means, that the rest of us that have had positive experiences are allowed to be happy about our chosen careers.
Which means you skyhigh, and everyone else, are allow to be bitter and ****ed, but that also means, that the rest of us that have had positive experiences are allowed to be happy about our chosen careers.
SkyHigh
08-12-2007 | 12:12 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
Another thing you guys don't seem to understand is that being a pilot does not necessarily mean flying for an airline. I decided the 135 route was a better choice for me and I couldn't be happier. Not to mention the other options, corporate, freight, fractionals, 135 etc........
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