Is the regional life really that bad for single guys/ladies?
 

For the last two years I have read these forums on an almost daily basis( I know, Im an addict and Im not even an airline pilot). It's obvious that for many, the airline lifestyle and current wages suck, especially at the regional level. HOWEVER, it seems that many of those that complain about the negatives with the industry are married, have kids, or expected to live in a mansion and have playboy bunnies chase after them because hey, "I'm a pilot";).

Specifically for you single guys and gals out there, how is the regional life. I know, the first year has to suck because even if you arent married or dont have kids, $16-18k/year is not a whole lot to live on. But after a year or two, how are you liking life?

This thread isnt intended to bash on the married pilots or those with kids, but I do get tired sometimes of hearing about those who cant support a non-working wife and 4 kids. I want a different perspective since I dont intend on getting married for a long time( I can already hear many of your comments about that one), and the thought of children does not exactly thrill me. Thanks for the input!

Its called a profession and it should pay a liveable wage whether or not your married with kids. But since your tired of hearing from the married guys that actually did the "I'm a pilot" thing for a living I'll shut up now...

I'm single and I don't have too many complaints. I did the whole "significant other" thing for the first 9 months of my airline life. Great girl, but it eats up a lot of time. In the end, it pulled a Skybus and went belly-up overnight. The girl wasn't as cheap as them though...and she didn't look like a park ranger.

The job is a lot easier when the only person you have to worry about is yourself. I have very little complaints right now but I'm relatively "safe" with all that's going on right now. Right place at the right time I guess. If you're the type of person that needs stability in their lives whether it's with relationships, jobs, etc...this industry is not for you. If you can sleep at night ignoring a lot of the BS that comes along with the job, you'll be fine. I sleep like a baby.

This is the Greatest Job in the world.............however it is one of the worst careers as well.


IM a 2nd year F/O, Im on schedule to make $56,000.00 this year

One time
 

At one time I was a single regional pilot with no kids. Things change. By then though you will wish you had made more money and had a better schedule.

I did not like being off while everyone else was at work or school and being gone while everyone at home was home and doing stuff.

I wish that pilots had more portable value to the marketplace. You really begin to feel like you are building experience towards nothing after a while. At least I did.

SkyHigh

Regardless of what you do, having kids will change your perspective on many things. Being a freight dog spending two weeks or so going to many different places is fine. Having little ones at home means you don't want to be gone for long stretches not to mention the financial responsibilities. The biggest drawback to regional flying is the paycheck.

If you mean "the life" like traveling to exotic places, partying on overnights, etc. while making crap money save yourself the trouble and just become an F/A. You get to live "the life" without investing all the time and money it takes to become a pilot. [extreme sarcasm]

At $34 that is 1,647 credit hours in one year or 137 per month on average.


How?

Thats what great Work rules can do for ya. Last month Flew 80hrs, got paid for 123 :). Weather cancellations, 30/7 issues etc.........

An example is I had to work one leg back on a day off (WX cancellation on the return flight). So the one leg back was a min of 3.75 @ 150%, and I still got a day off restored, I chose a day that originally had a 7:50 day trip, so I was able to fly another day, and not run into 30/7 issues etc.......

We also have day trips that look like thus

EWR-OKC
OKC-IAH

Deadhead on CAL, IAH-EWR, 4hr dead= basically a 10hr day trip

i block 80/50 month on month out for the past 8 months at ASA and this month i have 11 days off vacation and i worked it out to stretch 24 days off total....it is what is is ladies...