You are correct for FOs. They get paid for the equipment they could hold, not what they fly. However, Captains get paid for the equipment they fly.

 

True. I am an advocate of a flat pilot payscale...each equipment and seat has a given hourly rate, period. There is no increase for longevity, this prevents the manager/thieves from promising high wages tomorrow if we work for sh*t today. We all know the real value of any sort of deferred compensation in THIS industry

Seniority still exists and is important, as it determines the seat & equipment (and thereby pay) you can hold as well as QOL. But there two huge advantages to this:

1) You are not giving management a Hamburger Today in exchange for Payment on Tuesday. Cash on the barrelhead!

2) Upstart carriers cannot undercut the entire industry simply because ALL of their employees are at the bottom of the longevity scale. You could still create a new airline, but your 1 year A320 CA will make as much as a 20 year CA at an older airline...you would have no artificial competetive advantage.

 

Who would work for ANY job if possibility for a raise was not there?

 

I think they should come up with a point system where you get 1/2 point for every hour you have flown for other airlines and 1 point for every hour you fly at your current job. That way you still get credit for past success but it doesn't discount the seniority system of your current company.

 

It seems to me that in the attempt of avoiding real work many people take on the hardest jobs of all. I am currently packing for a 3 to 4 day camping trip with my family. I got all my work done in just 30 to 40 hours last week and can now enjoy a long weekend with friends and family. In years past I would be packing for a long and lonely weekend of 12 hours days in boring hotels with strangers. The best part is that by doing even a manual labor job I am doing better than in all my flying years combined.

SkyHigh

I will take my chances on my own abilities.

 

Hey, to each his or her own. That's great that you are happy outside of the airlines. I like the lifestyle of an airline pilot. I have worked other jobs and would be hating life doing the 9-5. I am extremely happy with my life. Everyone should do what makes them happy right?

 

Sky,

Congratulations! You seem to have found success and happiness by starting your own business, which is neither easy nor risk-free. Most small businesses fail, usually from inadequate research or undercapitalization. We could use more posts from pilots who have successfully transitioned to other careers, offering advice and warning of pitfalls. Sometimes a pilot is forced out of the cockpit on short notice, so alternatives are always worth thinking about.

 

Thanks Mr. Goodman,


I was forced out and on short notice. At first I was scared. What if the business failed? Business owners take a lot of risk, but then I remembered that I have invested much into my aviation career and placed my destiny in the hands of strangers as an employee. Many times I have been furloughed or took the brunt of others mistakes without even an equity stake if it was a success. Looking back it seems that living as an employee was the biggest risk of all.

SkyHigh

 

FP,

Sure everyone should do what makes them happy. Humans live and work between sun up and sun down. They sleep at night. They also enjoy taking a few days off together each week so they can rest, pursure hobbies and socialize in unison. Pilots often show up for work when others are going to bed and then drag themselves into the seclusion of a dank hotel room as the blazing sun is peaking above the horizon. When pilots are off it is usually when the rest of the world is away working and they enjoy the time alone. Seems more like the life of a vampire but as long as it makes you happy.


SkyHigh

 

Hey sky dont forget those gems in aviation where you go to bed after everyone you know has been asleep for a few hours, and wake up before them, everyday (3 hours of sleep per night works fine after you get used to it). And your "days off" are just days when the pager didn't go off, just like your required "rest" where a trip didn't pop up and your pager didn't explode so you where "resting".

You have no idea what your loosing until you sign up. No more quiet relaxing nights at home with the wife/girlfriend (dont worry someone else will have those for you, with her . No more holidays with family or vacations. but hey with an 80% divorce rate and widespread alcoholism how could you resist. Im sure that 14-16 hours of daily conversation with the same av-freak sitting in the seat next to you will make up for a family life made entirely of sprint nights and weekends minutes. And who knows, maybe you will get some candle light time with your wife durring your 23rd furlough after the electric company uses bolt cutters to take you and your family off the "grid".