XtremeF150

Ok first of all I am not even out of ground school yet so I can't really say I love my job yet. I don't really enjoy sitting in class 6 days a week for 8 hours but that will be over soon. However I was hired as a DEC and the good thing about this is that I will begin my first regional job at $29 and hour and can fly 1200 hours a year which will likely put me near 30K my first year in a regional....now that isn't too bad. The other plus is you are logging all the PIC and yes Mesa does have fast jumps to the left seat of an RJ. Even if this is 2.5 years which is what i've heard, That means in 2 years your making almost $60 an hour. The other plus here is that the 1900D trips are pretty much home every night. This means that if your willing to relocate for 2.5 years you can continue to be home with the family every night and never have to work for that 15- 20K a year that many regional force you to take just so you can fly there jet. Yes it means waiting 2.5 more years, but with Mesa you WILL NOT upgrade faster to CRJ captain in the CRJ than you will in the 1900D. I hope this adds to the already informative posts you have recieved and wish the best for all.

XtremeF150

AmericanIdiot#1

Flying for Big Brown and loving it. But right now it seems they pay me more to sit in the crash pad and flip through the cable channels then actually fly an airplane.

What are those flows again.....?

rickair7777

I count Orlando as ANYWHERE. The problem with ERJ CA in Orlando is if you take that upgrade you are locked into the ERJ for 3 years...then your ability to get over to the CRJ depends on availability...Almost all the ERJ's are in Orlando, so you're stuck in Orlando (or wherever the ERJs decide to go next). Instead of taking that ERJ upgrade, just wait 6-12 months and take the CRJ...lot more flexible basing.

rickair7777

In many cases Mesa will prefrentially upgrade a CRJ FO because it only takes a week or two to train him vice 5-7 weeks for someone from a different aircraft. I think you might be pay protected, but still...

SkyHigh

Fun is fun but after a decade or more of mediocre pay, repetitive flying and a few layoffs it takes the shine off it quite a bit. There isn't enough room at the top for everyone and it is difficult to predict who will be there in the next ten years. Sooner or later most of us will have to find a real job to pay the bills. You should always have a strong exit strategy.

SkyHigh

Southern Fried

Fins,

I'm at a regional and like my job. Even though I'm on reserve it's still a pretty good gig. I sit reserve at home and have 12 days off per month. Our contract is good and I'm protected from arbitrary mischief from management.

My whole life I've done "unconventional" jobs. The few times I worked at a desk I was miserable and it didn't last long.

I've been flying/working in aviation for 26 years now. I'll still be here when I retire at 60.

Linebacker35

The airline industry sounds like its hurting bad right now. All ive been hearing the last few years is how great it is right now and how it will get even better. But thats what ive been hearing from Air Canada pilots, and of coarse it all apears good when your at a big major airline making the good money.
So I think the best people to hear from about the state of the industry is all you Regional guys. Do you think in say 5-10 years the situation might improve. Senior pilots now were hired at the majors in their early 20's, the Jr guys in their late 20's, pilots now seem around early 30's when hired...... if this trend continues by the time I get to that point the average age will probably be 40.

rickair7777

Maybe. If there are no massive hiccups in the economy or the airline business there should be job opportunites as passengers increase. Also there will be lots of age 60 retirements in the next five years...unless they change it to 65.

But keep in mind that the "doubling" of air traffic in the next decade that folks talk about is GLOBAL air traffic, most of which will in China or other places where it's not convenient for us to get jobs.

SkyWestPilot

I enjoy my job. Been here a little over 6 years and have no complaints! I'm at a good company that treats me well. We're all over the map so it never gets too repetitive. The crews I fly with are great and happy to be here. I live 20 minutes from the airport which makes the abundance of locals (1-day trips, out-and-backs) very nice for me and my family. The pay is adequate- could be more, but when is it ever enough? At least it keeps going up.

No regrets here, either.

ShadowFlight

I used to fly 135 night freight and then left aviation for four years. Having been back in aviation for the past two years, while working a desk job part-time, I can say unequivocally that I'm in aviation for the long-term. I contemplated leaving flying again but I just couldn't do it. The positives outweigh the negatives and working a desk job just isn't for me. I regretted leaving aviation once before and I don't want to leave again only to regret it.

I enjoy my regional gig but it's a means to an end. More than likely, this will be my only airline stop in my career. Hopefully, I can pull off a gig flying out on the West Coast and with an employer that offers decent pay and QOL. For me, at least, it's not what I fly that's important - it's QOL.

We all have to live our own lives as we see fit. For some of us, our happiness is about following our passion of flying while accepting the inherent instability and pay issues. For others, those issues of instability and pay are enough to cause them to leave flying. I won't begrudge those that quit flying. They are doing what they feel is right.

For me, what's right is staying with flying and having fun as I progress in my career!

No one gets off this rock alive so make the best of your life.

SF