sorry to hijack, but is this a good time to mention how people in another thread are all arguing about the benefits of requiring a 4 year degree to even get a foot in this industry's door?

Can you really do anything substantial in life anymore without a four year degree?

^^^^

And that right there is part of the problem. It's why we have people so deep in debt that they're screaming for the government to bail them out. Its why a significant percentage of people with student loan debt (many of them pilots) have defaulted on those loans. We just sit here like sheep and think "well, that's just the way it's done....You HAVE to get a degree..." Maybe someone can tell me how I'm supposed to pay for that with my 20K a year FO pay?

Every time I read a thread like this I feel like I have a different career than everyone else. I go to work everyday loving it. I got hired at 20 (with a 4 year degree), been here for 4 years. No I haven't upgraded yet, but in those 4 years I've bought a house, developed a great marriage, and eliminated virtually all of my loans. I travel with the wife all the time, and go to work every morning with a huge smile on my face. As a 4 year FO I make around 45K. Not trying to brag, just saying I always hear all these people complain about how horrible aviation is but I've had nothing but a relatively good experience. That’s the thing; I think ones initial experience makes all the difference on how they feel about the job. That is all.

You sir are the exception to the rule, but I am glad that you're really happy and satisfied.

I am almost 29 years old, 4 year degree, and have never made over 30k/yr... it sucks. This year will be my year to break 30k though.

I am from Orange County California, and buying a house is absolutely out of the question... in order to do that I would have to move a good distance away from all my family, which I am sort of willing to do right now. I have a bunch of credit card debt from supporting myself throughout college, and supporting myself during this last furlough and long period of unemployment... I am not trying to complaign, I'm just trying to give you a different perspective.

I will say this though, I spent 16 months at ExpressJet before my furlough, and I usually looked forward to going to work. The crews were great, the trips were pretty cool, and I enjoyed the aircraft. Since starting at Ameriflight I think I have looked forward coming to work maybe a handfull of times... I am eager to get back to ExpressJet.

Oh and back on topic, ExpressJet is re-evaluating staffing to determine how many more recalls they will need. But as previously mentioned they sent 175 letters hoping to fill 125 spots. They're also upgrading 63 FOs to Captains.

As a point of clarification, they're RE-UPGRADING 15 FO's that were prior CA's, and 17 FO's to CA. Where the other 31 come from is yet to be determined.

And sadly, if you talk to your friends that have come back, COEX is NOTHING like the west coast was. Yep, I'm sure you'll be very glad to come back, but brace yourself.

WCW's rule.

i know this is off topic... but i have spent about 11 years as a professional pilot... 6 years of that in the military.... 4 working for two different 121 regionals... and 1 year flying a citation....

The good has always outweighed the bad for me... and thats with some pretty bad stuff..LOL.... and the most I have ever made... yet... flying is about 45k in a year.

I am not sure what you are trying to say here. Are you trying to hold yourself up as some sort of aviation success story? 11 years in and you still haven't topped 45k? That if tragic. I am sure you would have rather made more, but it amazes me that people in your situation aren't leaving the industry. No offense to you, but if I were in your situation I would have left years ago. It is my duty to my family to give them the best life I can. Pretty hard to do at 45k a year.

He wasn't trying to claim to be an aviation success story... what I took from his post is that he is happy with the job... just maybe not the pay.

We work a lot of our waking hours... it is nice to be able to do something you enjoy, although there certainly are sacrifices.