Interesting take, I like the $8 bucks/gallon by '09. I think ya low-balled that one, esp. if things continue going down the crapper!

 

Letter from Management:

Dear Pilot Group,
As we dive into these trying times, we must all tighten our belts. As such, we are forced to cut all pay by $500 per month. However, knowing you will no longer be able to pay your rent, we have graciously erected a used circus tent just outside the perimiter fence, and have coverd the ground with fresh straw............

 

There are two types of airlines. Ones that have gone through bankruptcy and those that will.

For those that have gone through it, no. For those that haven't, standby.

 

I'd rather not have a job than make less than I do right now. Maybe the pilots who are making more than me disagree...but I would not put in the hours and personal sacrifice for anything less than the approx. $1500 a month most of us new FOs make. It just ain't happening.

We're professionals, as such, entitled to some dignity in pay. I don't think your doctor would be willing to stick his lubed finger up your nether regions to check your prostate if he was making less than $20,000 a year. I spent just as much time and effort preparing for this job as a Doctor...

And yes, I love flying...and I'm not doing it for the money...but I sure as hell ain't going to do it for free. Let me define free: anything less than I'm making now. Anyone who would needs a dignity check-up. The more we give up, the more we devalue ourselves and our profession. Like my first flight instructor told me: never give free or discounted lessons: it devalues your profession. I'm sticking to that. Offer me less and I walk - its as simple as that. I'll pick tomatoes in Sinaloa before I take a pay cut.

 

Damn fine instructor. We need more like him.

 

I have absolutely 0 respect for CFI's that teach for free.....

 

That was one of the biggest pet peeves I had as a CFI was the pay issue. At the large 141 "pilot factory" I worked at most instructors put a cursory .3 pre/post charge on the billing which I thought was rediculous. We were required to be there for the students half an hour before their launch, though most instructor weren't or were finishing up with the prior student and many instructors didn't even walk outside for the students preflight so many instructors did only do about .3 pre/post. I hated it as a student when my instructor breifed me on what we were doing for the flight as I was running the before start check and said see you next time on shut down - when I'd actually TEACH before hand and be available for the hours I was SUPPOSED to teach - students would look at me like I was trying to rip them off when I'd put down .7 pre/post because they were so used to seeing .3 from other instructors. - which was common especially for primary students. So many instructors were always trying to give their students a break (which I understand - I was a poor college student too) but if we want any integrity in our profession we have to advocate our true worth, even as a CFI.

 

And some who have gone through it before will possibly do it again.

 

Smells like a SFB .3 to me. I hated that as well, so stupid. There are so many things wrong with that place.

 

...the only good place to be right now, sadly, is in the execs. seat...

...it's a crime that management keeps asking for cuts here and there from everyone but themselves...