Pilot Lifestyle Under Threat
#21
All I can say is, when you transition to the civilian world, and it's an airline, you'll be surprised about what makes sense and it logical to us, is not the same as how management sees it.
Yep, sounds simple enough, doesn't it? See above, you'll be surprised how things/people behave in this job.
Yep, sounds simple enough, doesn't it? See above, you'll be surprised how things/people behave in this job.
USMCFLYR
#22
FAA mandated rest
Maybe the FAA should force airlines to include a rest day prior to a pilots first flight? It could be paid and included in pilot duty. The company could spring for a hotel. The rest period could start at check in.
Skyhigh
Skyhigh
#23
The media has been attacking the low wages that the FO made in the Colgan crash. They also have been critical of the commuting lifestyle. If the airlines respond by forcing pilots to live at their base the results could be catastrophic for many.
It is hard enough to make it on airline pay. It would be near impossible to make it if you were forced to live in NYC or most other big cities far from home. I doubt that the airlines will react by raising wages.
Look out for big changes in company commuting policies.
Pilots' low pay, long commutes probed in air crash | Top Stories | Seattle News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | KING5.com
Skyhigh
It is hard enough to make it on airline pay. It would be near impossible to make it if you were forced to live in NYC or most other big cities far from home. I doubt that the airlines will react by raising wages.
Look out for big changes in company commuting policies.
Pilots' low pay, long commutes probed in air crash | Top Stories | Seattle News, Local News, Breaking News, Weather | KING5.com
Skyhigh
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 251
First, calling in sick isn't always as easy as it sounds. It might look easy on paper, but the reality on the ground is that calling in sick rarely goes unpunished. One way or another, through either sick occurrences, more scrutiny, or intimidating calls from management (especially when calling in fatigued), a sick/fatigue call gets some sort of underhanded punishment. Not on paper, not by policy, but in reality it does. End of Story.
Second, long commutes happen. Life happens. I now commute trans-con, and that wasn't my original idea, and lucky for me, it's not forever. But guess what? My base got closed, my new base would have absolutely destroyed my QOL, and other life factors got in the way to where now I commute across the country. Not ideal, but that's how the cookies crumbled. Also, sometimes you have to go get a job, and if that means it's across the country, it's across the country. If you're in a relationship with someone else that actually HAS A JOB that PAYS WELL, guess what again, folks? You're not displacing yourself and family for an under 20K job at a hell-hole. Also, I fight for that jumpseat against enough mainline pilots to know that it's not only regional guys schlepping across the country. Sorry, but there's just as many if not more mainline pilots who trans-con the commute.
Second, long commutes happen. Life happens. I now commute trans-con, and that wasn't my original idea, and lucky for me, it's not forever. But guess what? My base got closed, my new base would have absolutely destroyed my QOL, and other life factors got in the way to where now I commute across the country. Not ideal, but that's how the cookies crumbled. Also, sometimes you have to go get a job, and if that means it's across the country, it's across the country. If you're in a relationship with someone else that actually HAS A JOB that PAYS WELL, guess what again, folks? You're not displacing yourself and family for an under 20K job at a hell-hole. Also, I fight for that jumpseat against enough mainline pilots to know that it's not only regional guys schlepping across the country. Sorry, but there's just as many if not more mainline pilots who trans-con the commute.
Last edited by MrBigAir; 05-14-2009 at 03:15 AM. Reason: grammar
#25
Yes they do! I do like getting paid to fly, however, if I was told I had to live in ATL, I would probably find a new career field. That just wouldnt be my cup of tea.
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,912
The US should adopt the JAR Ops duty/rest regulations. Much more civilized than the FARs.
As for forced based living… especially in the north east??? Right. I say to management, go for it! Hopefully the regional guys would stake stock and tell management to go sh!t in their hats as the pay just ain’t worth it! Now who is going to fly the plane?
Maybe… and I say maybe these overpaid morons in management will wake up and make arrangements for hotels for the commuter so they would be well rested before their start of duty.
When flying cargo, I slept in the dark rooms. Better than the reclining chair, as long as you did not have a wall shaking window cracking snorer sharing your room.
As for forced based living… especially in the north east??? Right. I say to management, go for it! Hopefully the regional guys would stake stock and tell management to go sh!t in their hats as the pay just ain’t worth it! Now who is going to fly the plane?
Maybe… and I say maybe these overpaid morons in management will wake up and make arrangements for hotels for the commuter so they would be well rested before their start of duty.
When flying cargo, I slept in the dark rooms. Better than the reclining chair, as long as you did not have a wall shaking window cracking snorer sharing your room.
#27
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 781
Where does it say anywhere that the company is responsible for where the pilot lives? If you are dumb enough to commute from Seattle to the NY area for a 1300 dollar per month job on 10 days off all the power to you. If people are willing to go that low including taking flights on cargo planes with multiple stops on a redeye why should the company do anything about it? They're going to have a hard time getting sympathy out of anybody with this crash, not to mention it was mostly due to pilot error because he didn't know how to fly an airplane along with the clueless FO.
#28
It really would be nice to see that happen, but just like everything in aviation there would be an almost uneven trade off. Like pay. They would have to pay us less and hire more people. Bad for us, good for management. Never the other way around. I think it is one of the laws of physics or something.
Aviation physics #1 law...Sh_t always runs downhill, unless acted upon by an outside force...i.e. a crewmembers' head.
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,912
I do agree that commuting cross country on a freighter does not cut it. Currently crewmembers know their terms and conditions, and hotels expenses are not covered. They accept without any gripes or move on. Management will not change their views on this issue unless either forced to by job action, or by regulatory authorities.
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