577nitro

OK, so riddle me this...if flying for a living were not the best job in the world, then why would ANYBODY with any SENSE at all do it for the pathetically, ridiculously, joke of a wage that we do. And this is after spending $90000.00 on training, college, twin time etc... I could get you a computer geek job (profession if you like) that's easy as pie and pays 3 times your FO or regional CA pay in 3 months. But you would'nt take it, flying is more than a job its a life style and a very coveted one. So really, this answers the question of why people are willing "to fly for food" (which includes you too my freind).

There are plenty of "professions" out there, but none that are as gratifying for birdmen.

Convairator

I see both your points, however, I would probably have to agree with globetrekker on this one. It seems like what you are trying to say is that, regardless of what the job pays, you'll do it. Regardless? You love this sweet profession soo much that you would work for any wage? Do you even receive a wage now (if thats what you want to call it?) The pay in this profession has gone way below pathetic. If people continue to work for it, because its a 'sweet' job, then you can sure plan on never getting through life with any money. Pilots will soon be 'sweet' jobbing themselves right into homeless shelters if pay gets any lower. Any regional first year FO with a family automatically qualifies for food stamps in ALL 50 STATES!!! That is just funny as to where we've gotten.

*by the way, flying is not the 'coolest job in the world*, not even close. Wouldnt you rather be an NFL player, beer taster, playboy photographer, professional golfer, professional tennis player, espn anchor, travel channel host, adult film star? I would give up flying in a heartbeat for any one of those careers!!!

JoeyMeatballs

well said, F1 driver or actor................

AirWillie

Don't you get it? The pilot willing to fly for food came before the high paying job. Chicken or the egg thing. Management has realized this long ago. By the way yes... I've painfully realized in my short career that flying is NOT all that cool, maybe to your own voices. What is cool, is having decent amounts of money, a stable life, a wife and kids and a happy bank account.

AirWillie

Because they are following a pipe dream. If you read the CVR transcripts of the FO before they went down, she was talking about going to fEDEX/UPS/Alaska. Well, how many of us will be applying there? Just about everyone that meets the mins. The chances of you NOW going someplace that would make your above statement valid is lower than winning the lottery because in most cases it is impossible.

577nitro

I'm not the problem, I know what the pay is, and I know what the life style is, and I don't complain. Those of you who constantly complain, and STILL stay in your joke of a pay position are. You say "I'll quit in an instant.." BS! If this were true, you would have already, the reality is that you LIKE/LOVE your job too much to quit. Because it is the "coolest job in the world" and to prove it, I give the argument that you and the other "pay sucks" guys, are still there flying for peanuts. It's not like your mentally challenged, or physically handicapped, your a pilot so you have to have some smarts. You could do almost anything else in the world that requires technical competency. So the old and tired argument of "I only know this" is BS also. If you want to be a beer taster, go for it, how hard could it be?

And, "No", I don't want to do anything else. If I made more money, I'd use it to fly more or start a 135 op just for fun.

I'll be more than happy to point anybody on this thread to a new exciting (yeah right) lucrative career in data center virtualizing. More money than you can image to be made ($75,000.00 starting), and its EASY for a smart guy. However, like everything in life there is a price to pay, high stress, tedious, boredom and having to deal with complete buffoons.

If money is your goal, EVERYBODY knows flying is not the route to go. So you must be doing it (flying) because you LOVE it, and its the "coolest job in the world" and money is secondary.

IMHO, the only way to raise the pay is to raise the standards. More hours to get in, require an ATP, require a four year degree in engineering, and require an IQ test. These things are weeders, and when the pool of qualified applicants shrinks, those that are left can demand more pay. This is how the rest of the world works, especially in the IT/Computer industry. Thats why Datacenter Virtualizing experts are in constant demand, are paid stupid amounts of money no matter what skill level they are. Demand and Supply, plain and simple.

577nitro

So everybody that is flying for a living is following a pipe dream? I don't buy it.

AirWillie

It's not easy to quit when you have so much invested. Not to mention your personal life. All this stuff is geared towards those from the outside looking in that actually have a choice.

AirWillie

Yes they are if they think all of them will fly something better than a CRJ or an ERJ, at least at the airlines.

577nitro

Whats stopping you? An Actor? You'd have to dummy down yourself first.