NY Times Article
#1
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NY Times Article
I think this is a great, open and honest look at the realities of this industry. I applaud Brian for being so open with his personal life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/bu.../14income.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/bu.../14income.html
#2
I thought it was a satirical piece at first. There was not one word about sacrifice for survival. It was all material sacrifice, piles of christmas presents, trophy motorcycle, big screen television, moon bounce birthday party, and of course, the house they can barely afford (bought when we all knew there were imminent furloughs and downgrades at the mentioned airline). We have really lost our way as a society if this is considered sacrifice, and if someone who didn't even know how to fly an airplane seven years ago already draws so much of his identity from a fourth stripe, now taken away.
I do feel sorry for the guy, because he mentions his employer, appears in uniform, and admits that he arranged for a flight to be delayed in order to commute home. Very dangerous, he's likely to understand sacrifice after the inevitable disciplinary action.
I do feel sorry for the guy, because he mentions his employer, appears in uniform, and admits that he arranged for a flight to be delayed in order to commute home. Very dangerous, he's likely to understand sacrifice after the inevitable disciplinary action.
#3
I think the piece is silly myself. This guy walked away from a lucrative career as a chemical engineer to pursue his dream of flying. With FOUR kids at home and a wife earning teacher's pay, I could have flagged this career jump as risky at the time. The risk was taken, worked out for a while, and then didn't.
He still has a job and a paycheck, more than many people can say, despite the shock to his ego for not feeling "in command and powerful".
Many pilots suffer this same plight over and over again. Through a career as a pilot, one must live below their means. Purchasing a Harley upon upgrade seems to indicate a problem with prioritizing where the finances need to be going to plan for this sort of thing that is inevitable in this industry.
Sounds to me like they are making $75,000 a year between the two of them, even after downgrade. That is a solid middle class household income. He's got no sympathy from me.
He still has a job and a paycheck, more than many people can say, despite the shock to his ego for not feeling "in command and powerful".
Many pilots suffer this same plight over and over again. Through a career as a pilot, one must live below their means. Purchasing a Harley upon upgrade seems to indicate a problem with prioritizing where the finances need to be going to plan for this sort of thing that is inevitable in this industry.
Sounds to me like they are making $75,000 a year between the two of them, even after downgrade. That is a solid middle class household income. He's got no sympathy from me.
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: DD->DH->RU/XE soon to be EV
Posts: 3,732
I thought it was a satirical piece at first. There was not one word about sacrifice for survival. It was all material sacrifice, piles of christmas presents, trophy motorcycle, big screen television, moon bounce birthday party, and of course, the house they can barely afford (bought when we all knew there were imminent furloughs and downgrades at the mentioned airline).
We have really lost our way as a society if this is considered sacrifice, and if someone who didn't even know how to fly an airplane seven years ago already draws so much of his identity from a fourth stripe, now taken away.
I do feel sorry for the guy, because he mentions his employer, appears in uniform, and admits that he arranged for a flight to be delayed in order to commute home. Very dangerous, he's likely to understand sacrifice after the inevitable disciplinary action.
I do feel sorry for the guy, because he mentions his employer, appears in uniform, and admits that he arranged for a flight to be delayed in order to commute home. Very dangerous, he's likely to understand sacrifice after the inevitable disciplinary action.
I know the individual in the article. The amount of personal time and sacrifice he's put into helping the pilot group at XJT cannot be measured. We are lucky to have him represent us in the role that he serves as an MEC volunteer.
Flame away y'all.
Funny, 9 years as a 121 pilot. 1 furlough, 2 downgrades, 4 hourly pay concessions, 1 of them was 60%, the other 45%, 15%, and 9%.
I might, might break 40K this year.
In the boring, stale, worn out fashion of what pilots should be compensated for vs. the amount of work put into it, I'll ask you this; what do YOU feel should be a "solid income"?
#8
He blew up last week at his 3-year-old son, Shayne, for refusing to take a nap, and sent the child whimpering to his room. Then, after arranging with another pilot to delay a flight so he could “dead-head” home in the early afternoon instead of having to wait for the next flight, he blew up at his wife for failing to appreciate the effort he had made and the stress involved.
“A lot of my friends say their husbands would not stay home with the kids on their days off, even to save money,” Mrs. Lawlor said, “but Bryan feels that if he is going to be home more that is what he should do, and he is doing it.”
Do I win the douchebag award yet? Come on, it was posted in a national newspaper, we are allowed to pick on it. I'm sure he's a great guy.
#9
I hate to say it, but if he ever jumps ship to a major, the first couple years could be rough as well. I feel for the guy being downgraded, but everybody has had to make adjustments - regardless of what industry we work in. It's called reality and it's a b**ch sometimes.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: DD->DH->RU/XE soon to be EV
Posts: 3,732
Assuming we lived in a fantasy land, and people were hiring, it would depend on where he goes. With the exception of 2 legacies, just about every other one, as well as the LCC's pay more first year than what he's making now
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