How long you been at this, 3 years? You've got a long road ahead bro...:eek:

I WISH I could be in your shoes at XJET... I know the system sucks, and I know a lot of people (the ones who work at a cubicle) who move from one company to the other and start off making a lot the first year... they might look really happy today, but it will not last forever....everything is just cycles... Ups and Downs... sometimes you will be really good, sometimes you wont... dont get too obsessed with the money...it is not everything. Don't get me wrong, money is good, we all need it, and if we have a lot, then great! but remember, the more you have, the more you will spend, and every day you will want more and more.. and depression and misery will own you every time you face the lower phases of the cycles... The "rich" pilots is just a small elite, and they were not always rich. This is not a job to make good money, this is a job where you are supposed to enjoy what you do in exchange of less security/pay. Dont like it? leave your spot to somebody else prepared to do it.

The pay is "crappy" because there are just too many pilots in this country, and that's because we were lucky enough to live in here (USA) and pay for the training by one way or the other. Many other countries are in total poverty and the people who want to fly planes simply can't. So the only way Airlines from these countries can get pilots is by offering a better pay.

That's just the way it is, and we cannot change it. No matter how much we try. As long as there are too many pilots around, there is no need for them to raise the pay. There is no such thing as "Shortage" of pilots in this country, not even a few months ago when all regionals were hiring like crazy. When they start paying 50k 1st year FO, THEN there should be a shortage around.

.02

3 years ?

I've been furloughed longer than that.

It really is what you make of it.

The glamour is gone. The big paychecks, job security, and generous retirements are like Willy Wonka Golden Tickets.

But I still enjoy it, I try to make the trips and layovers better.

Anyone have a blender....I see margaritas in my future.

Live slow..Fli Fast

ps. Slice, Crack kills !! :D

And in return they have to deal with the complicated licensing process, in which airlines will often then want them to go through a complex "cadet" program that can cost about twice what it costs to get ratings in the US--the same country where it doesn't matter where you can get hired regardless if you got your hours in the military or at Billy Bob's Flying School. Not to mention that the airline structure in many European countries is generally a large national carrier with a handful of smaller low-fare or regional carriers (the UK is probably the exception, as they have many charter carriers as well). It's a lot easier for your airline to stay afloat when the governments are propping up the national carriers. Of course, this isn't always failsafe--just ask the people who used to work for SABENA or Swissair.

Good lord, these types of comments drive me crazy, thats like those that are unhappy with the state of our country and then you hear, "go move to Europe if you don't like it here". I LOVE being an airline pilot, but at what cost?????????? We should all be doing everything we can to turn this industry around. It seems like what? a 6 month upswing followed by years of economic disaster in the airlines? It is not the employees fault, however we are the ones who pay for it.

"If you don't like it quit" <-------- Thats a silly comment and does not address the issues that WE ALL FACE day to day. Look at these posts we are being compared to non-college educated plumbers! (of course they probably make more then the average airline guy)

Thats my point, all the heartache and BS, that has to have made a pretty big impact on your life? You seem to be in a great spot at UPS, but lets face it, not everyone will be as fortunate.

Again I am not saying I deserve the right seat of a 75 over at CAL becuase I have been doing this for 3years, but an 1st year airline pilot should be making over 50,000.00 a year, especially at the major airline level.

1st year pay is crime, the airline has to to train you, so they hack your pay for the first year????????????? ITS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS , but like ticket prices its never passed on to the consumer, the employee ends up getting raped.

I am looking forward to seeing what CAL pilots do with 1st year pay & health insurance, I hope it changes because its disgraceful as it stands......

emirates and etihad are hiring. youll feel like a professional pilot there and make decent money.

Yeah, I flew with a guy last month who is on his way to Emirates. I dunno I don't think I could ever do that, As depressing as this industry has gotten here in the 'ol USA, home is home ;)

Bottom line if you don't feel first year pay is acceptable, then don't apply/accept the job. I agree with you first year pay at the majors should be at least 50K, but as long as there is a willingness to work for sub-par wages, management will win hand over fist every time. It is business, but every pilot has the option to only accept a job at a rate they feel is acceptable. The problem is we, as pilots, are so eager to get that "dream job" that a majority of us are willing to sacrifice.

You are part of the problem. Looks like you aren't even at regionals yet and you already seem to know you would love the job.

Saab,

I hear you man, I really do. Even as a 24 year old I see friends that I graduated college with buying new cars, nice homes and condos, going on vacations, buying new toys. I even know friends that live $200,000 lifestyles because of inherited money from their family. Some good advice that I keep getting over and over is to be patient. The simple fact of the matter is that airline pilot pay is low in the beginning years. I'm in my second year at Comair though, and with my transfer to the 70/90 seat flying soon as well as picking up open time each month I'm on my way to make in the high 40's to low 50's.

I really would love to buy a house/condo, but I was unable to save anything on first year pay...and I don't believe in 100% financing. If you're 27 and into your 3rd year of 121, I think you're doing well. Just be patient, take a deep breath, and SAVE your money.

Things are ****ty right now yes, but I truly believe we all have a promising career ahead of us. These guys will eventually turn 65, after all :)

I agree, I am still in it for the long haul, just wonder sometimes ;). I guess I should be thankful my girl bought her place and comes from money :) <----- Best careeer decision I ever made ahahah

Man why don't all of you crybabies just get out and do something else? I mean with the industry the way it is right now is there no better time? I will certainly agree with what you are saying about all the s%*tty aspects of the job but good Lord it gets so friggin tiring hearing y'all complain so much and just plod along. Man up already and leave.

Well, by your "Y'all" comment it appears as though you probably live in a part of the country where you can live on 20k a year.............ya hillbilly ;)

What other job gives this much time off? I don't have any friends that aren't jealous.

yeah, neither do I , but I do have friends that can pay the bils :)

The time off is amazing. For This month and next, all day trips 4-day weekends and 90hrs of pay :)

http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade-ea...laries20080411 for anyone thinking they have it bad.

Chicago is a little more expensive. Grew up in Los Angeles. Thanks for the stereotype.

Guess it depends where you work and how your timing was. I'll be on reserve at XJT with 11-12 days off per month for the remainder of the year most likely. It will get better, but right now I can't say I agree!

Are you staring at my ass? :o ONT here I come, but I still have visions of an igloo in my future. We'll have to do the ANC pub crawl someday.

Rich girls need loving too :)

hahah , too top of my depression, my buddy just called me..He bought a boat. I am happy though, cause Ill be on it all summer and dont have to pay a dime muwhahahaha

I don't know of a single person that wasn't told regionals weren't going to be great for your first year or two. Everyone talks about putting in your dues. Now you're doing it. You knew it getting in. Don't lose focus you'll be alright and things will definitely get better.

You're happy because you fly a 'real plane'.

Hey Saab-

I had a beer for you last night.
<<<<<

A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.

- Vince Lombardi

Noi, No, No...that's EXACTLY what management wants...

18-22: Pay $100K for college
22-23: Pay $50K for flight training
24-26: Regional FO
27-29: Regional CA
Age 30: Burned out with the schedule, time to start family, leave flying and get an office job.

Anybody over 7 years longevity is a LIABILITY!

What we really need is for industry newbies to make a VERY thoughtful decision before they start in the first place...and then remained committed to sticking it out and standing up for what's fair.

Peers
 

The lifestyle imbalances are the first thing to hit pilot radar that something isn't right in the happy town of an airline career. You will watch as your friends and college buddies begin to rapidly leave you behind in regards fo enjoying toys, buying homes and having a real life.

The next realization to hit is: It is little benefit to having a string weekdays off when everyone else is working. Your friends will be on the boat and having a good time on Saturday while you are sitting in a terminal someplace.

SkyHigh

Sky, as much as I used to dog on you for your views, as time goes by, I read them and agree more and more.

I'm a 2nd year regional FO and my lifestyle is already better than most of the people I know. My sister works for IBM makes a lot of money and I still get more days and time off than she does. I'd say your experiences are very limited.

where do you people live where 40,000a year is enough to live on. Maybe my problem is where I live, and the Industry is fine after all:rolleyes:

Is anyone in Newark happy, I mean its Newark........in New Jersey.

I'd kill for 40K a year right now.

well, I live in Hoboken, and next time you are flying into Newark, at least from the West take alook at a few of the homes when you are coming in on the arrival, especially to runway 11, or coming from the north landing runway 4.

There's your problem Einstein, you live in Hoboken. I have a TON of friends that live in or lived in Hoboken and they all worked in Manhattan making more than twice what you do. Stop crying and move somewhere reasonable on your salary. If you say there's nowhere to live near EWR other than the ghetto on $40K then I agree and you either suck it up or move on.

Hey Einstein, I don't pay a dime to live in Hoboken, and the point is to not "suck it up and take it", the pay needs to change, not my address. The reference was in comparative salaries and Cost of living, and where this industry has led us not how much I am personally paying to live in Hoboken. Yeah I could move to some bayou in Louisiana and have the largest trailer in the park, but for what we do as a profession we should expect more.

Again, just tired of having to justify everything I do, or justifying money I don't have for the "potential" to make money, when in reality that "potential" to make money is lessening every day.

This I completely agree. If I took your post the other way I apologize. What we get paid is PATHETIC.

no worries bro I hear what you are saying ;)

Its funny how most of the ppl on here who complain are regional FOs who thought they would be making 100k a year by now. If you can't live on 40k a year you should probably try to learn how to manage your money better. Average income in most of the US is in the mid to lower 30k range.

Do I think we should all work for better pay and work rules... of course. But you should have known what this lifestyle would be like before you signed up for your first flight in your private training. Young pilots have been elegible for food stamps for many decades now... this is nothing new.

This whole string of posts is just one sob story after another... get over it.

When I was thinking about starting pursuing a career in flying a family friend of ours who has flying 121 for decades straight out told me that I would qualify for food stamps in my first few years in the industry. This was his situation in the 70's and nothing has changed to this day. I knew this coming in and decided it was worth it to do something I love. Someone obviously should have told all of you about this, maybe then you would be able to "cope" a little better.

Hey Thanks Man
 

I am only trying to help. :D

SkyHigh

The only difference between now and then is it was fewer years of food stamps, and the odds of landing a major airline job were slightly higher