ToiletDuck

I don't agree with the notion that it was harder to get jobs in the past. It just depends on when you're talking about. I've met TONS of guy at AMR, DAL, and CAL that started there in their early 20's. If anything I'd say the industry as a whole is much harder to progress in now. Before it was more like Mexico where you are either rich or poor. There was no middle class. The regionals introduced that.

JoeyMeatballs

HOLY BANANAS........... I 100% agree with the DUCK

SkyHigh

Well, I did'nt say they were better pilots, I just said better training.........[/QUOTE]

Better training for what exactly?

If you want to blow something up call a military guy. If you want to get to a remote cabin in Alaska call a bush pilot. However if you want a procedure driven automaton to do repetitive functions all day long without offending anyone at a low price then get a civilian trained airline pilot. Each one has different training and expectations for different flight environments.

Skyhigh

SkyHigh

I would say that Low Cost Carriers are becoming the new middle class and regionals are becoming the lower class.

In the past if you had not made it to a major by 30 years old then you were out of luck. It seems much more merciful than what we have today. By 30 you knew if you would make it or not while you were still young enough to start over.

Pilots today can hang on long after it is too late to be able to do anything to save yourself. I have friends who are miserable at the regionals who are in their 40's and are still hoping for a miracle.

Skyhigh

JoeyMeatballs

maybe we should run away from our bad decisions/failures and do some real-estate, I hear that industry is thriving..............

DeadHead

I know a bridge for sale if your interested...

I like the title to this thread, but in addition to identifying The type of Airline Pilots we have become, I think we also need to ask what kind of Airline Pilots are we destined to become.

Will their finally be a movement to restore integrity, principal, and respect to the aviators in this industry, or will we continue down the jangly road?

I'm somewhat optimistic with pilots like Captain Sully, who are truly identifying pitfalls in this industry. I'm not saying we need "one" individual to step up and address our deteriorating standards, but rather we all individually need to determine where our own personal standards are.

What's is each individual pilot's breaking point?

By breaking point I mean, the point in where a pilot will walk away from a job because that individual pilot has decided that they can no longer work in good conscience.

If pilot's are willing to work for sub-par wages and low QOL standards, then there will ALWAYS be Airlines/Airline Managers who are willing to exploit and take advantage of those circumstances.

Airhoss

Mr High,

Which of the above were you?

SkyHigh

Real estate is doing well in many regards. The money is being made in other ways now. People have to adapt to the changes. I admit that I am not doing as well as I was a year ago but had I continued to pursue an airline job I would have absolutely nothing right now. I have fall back positions thanks to real estate and a new plan for the future.

Investing in real estate would actually be a good idea right now. If I were you I would find a way to pick up a few rentals while they are cheap and easy to get. Everyone needs to diversify.



Skyhigh

SkyHigh

Like you I was an Alaskan bush pilot. A flight instructor. I flew smoke jumpers (CASA 212) and other support aircraft on contract to the forest service. I was a corporate, charter and med-evac learjet pilot. I was a bored and broke regional guy. ANd finally a laid off LCC first officer. My only crime was that my company did not make it, my daddy did not work for a legacy and I had a family to support.

I filled out the same applications as everyone else. Went to the same Air Inc. job conventions. I pursued every job lead and contact I could. To my own satisfaction I did everything in my power short of abandoning my wife and children to make this dream happen.


Skyhigh

DeadHead

That would be a great idea, if only banks would be willing to lend money, but that was, after all, how we got into this mess.

No offense, but I can't see any bank giving out property investment loans to individuals who currently have a mortgage and don't show enough money to justify a loan.

Now, if your talking about first time buyers, looking to purchase a duplex with a few units, live in one, and rent out the other, then maybe you could convince a bank to give you a loan.