It's time to finally get the universally crap-@ss first year FO pay up to AT LEAST the $30/hr range. While I doubt that anyone can achieve that YET, I think it would be great if you could at least break the $25/hr barrier for first year FO's. So far, I believe only Horizon is up there, and they've been there for years.

If you guys could get up around $27-$30 for first year FO's, you would not lack for applications and would finally be able to staff up.

This is a new era for regional pilots. Managements are struggling, and it's time to drag the pay up kicking and screaming the whole way.

Just the fact that decent FO rates, including first year pay, seem unrealistic reminds me of how far this whole industry has sunk.

Please also keep in mind that beating that first year FO pay is tremendously important to every other pilot group in our country. With staffing as competitive as it is, other management teams would be forced to respond if one actively recruiting company actually starts paying their first year FO's above poverty wages. (Yes, I am aware that Mesaba's FO pay scale is equally shameful and pathetic.)


Good luck guys. We are all with you on this.

 

what is interesting is that this is the FIRST time management has admitted there is a problem with hiring/attrition/staffing.. i mean just a year and a half ago they stopped hiring and cancelled upgrade classes just to threaten us because we hadn't signed the contract they threw at us. that threat only lasted 2 months,,, and now they are paying for it.. big time. captain vacancies go unfilled, there will be 25 people to show up for class and only 10 come.. this is the first tangible evidence we have that shows management is starting to squirm... funny enough this comes out 2 days before another round of mediated negotiations are about to start. i hope we take it to the table and say raise it another 5 dollars per year and we will sign a NEW CONTRACT... the contract has been pretty much finished but we have been stuck on compensation and scope for a while now..and like i said earlier we have several rulings of grievances due by the end of the month. they are feeling the heat.

 

Good luck guys...keep fighting for your pilot group.

 

Wait did someone say pinnacle has a sign-on bonus? I mean that's a good START to perks.... but then you have to follow up with decent pay.

 

Well, it sounds like some good news for you guys/ gals. Stick it to them while you have them in your corner because it could be 6 or 7 years before another one gets signed
I'm proud of that pilot group for fighting so hard! keep it up.

 

There is no way that you could ever expect $30/hr first year as a regional FO. You have no experience in the field, and a number of legacy carriers pay that or just above it there first year. According to the pay scales on this website, Delta is the only carrier that pays above $40/hr first year. Who wouldn't want $30, but you have to be realistic. You come from flying a 172 or small twin and expect $30 first year. And now alot of new hires were never instructors, they come from bridge programs where they have always been a student. I believe with Pinnacle, the argument isn't with 1st year pay, it is with the subsequent years. I am fine with making $21 first year. It is your probationary year and first with a 121 carrier. Second year pay at Pinnacle is what I have a problem with.

 

I understand your mindset, but unfortunately I believe that this displays a weakness in the mindset of the regional pilot. Who cares that this is your first 121 job? That doesn't make a difference when you consider that you are flying virtually the same routes as legacy pilots, albeit with a few less passengers.

I am not arguing the first-year's case in lieu of other raises. I just think that a push should be made across the board. If you can't get the increase first year, so be it, but you might as well try.

It is my honest opinion that the regional compensation package is a nationwide B-scale that management uses to their advantage. Better compensation / collective bargaining agreements at the regionals will benefit the entire profession from the bottom up.

Good luck guys, take a stand.

 

Most expect first year pay to suck. I think the company justifies it by saying they have spent oodles of money on your training, guys used to pay for their training. Although this doesn't excuse it I think it will stay for some time. After the first year though an FO should expect a liveable, good wage. 40k should be a minimum for second year and then up from there. One day upgrades are going to slow and FO's are going to be stuck on this crappy never increase payscale.

 

Look, I already said that I know it is unrealistic, but if we ever want to fix the general suckiness of this job, we need to start setting some goals that raise the bar. There are plenty of technical careers out there that start wet behind the ears college grads at $40K or higher, or at least in the upper $30Ks. Furthermore, ALL decent corporations invest plenty of money in their new hires. The only thing that makes airlines any different is their ridiculous stinginess. It is their job to train us. They train us to work for THEM. Our training is 100% NON-TRANSFERABLE. There is absolutely NO legitimate justification for an airline to dock our pay just because they trained us. That just amounts to pay for training.

If you actually think that first year FO's SHOULD be paid less than $30K a year, then this job will just continue to get worse and worse.

You know management has done a fantastic job when they get pilots to do their stealing for them.

There is absolutely NO justification for low first year pay. We are professionals, and professionals do not start at $20K a year in 2007.

 

I am going to a Career fair in Miami next week -

Want to meet and understand the recruiters - not ready to leave for a full time flying job for a few months - but I think I would if I knew I could make at least 35K which might keep me at zero profit/loss for the first year.

I think a lot of other guys with good times are sitting on the sidelines with good day jobs waiting for the same thing.

You guys thoughts?