Thank You
 

I never expected to sway those who are truly addicted. If someone wants to throw their life away then they can have at it. Someone has to do it I guess. My big issue is with the universities and pilot mills that sell aviation as if it is just like any other career and I maintain that it is not. The results are a lot of wasted educations and unpaid debt. My mission is to save a few from that fate.

SkyHigh

I would also remind you that not everyone has the same idea of what a wasted life is. It might help your cause to keep that in mind.

Shackone
 

Shackone,

Thank you for your insight and debate. I feel that we have reached common ground. Quote "The fact is that in this business we are paid what we are worth." I couldn't agree more. And it seems that the price keeps getting lower.
If the die-hard, aviation as a religion, types wish to take over the industry and don't mind the low wages then they can have it. I will not mind the cheap tickets and will take pause whenever an RJ passes overhead and say a silent prayer thanking God that it isn't me up there anymore. No matter how you slice it to me a career at the regionals just isn't even close to being worth it for the pay. I will gladly seek elsewhere.


SKyHigh


Just two hours ago I was in a hangar with a few other disgruntled aviation guys. They were all CFI's in their late 20's and early 30's who now work loading crop dusters and aircraft maintenance. Each one had a sad story to tell of how they were big city flight instructors and made around 600 to 800 per month. I see the destruction all around. The guy who worked on my fence this morning, neck burned red in the sun is another CFI with a BS degree in aviation. He earns almost as much as a major 737 captain putting in farm fencing last year. The good news is that I hear that enrollment at universities and community colleges are less then half of what they were five years ago.

Thank You
 

Thank you SC-7

SkyHigh


No matter how fun something can be unless the basics of life are met no one can be happy for long. Everyone has a hierarchy of needs.

There you go again. Making statements/assertions that are nothing more than pure hyperbole. You do NOT have the right to make judgements about the value other individuals place on their career. It isn't up to you to decide whether or not someone is "throwing away their life".

That is a honorable mission, and for that I commend you. Now If you could ever realize that the true target of you vitriole is the "l'll do anything to fly a shiny jet" crowd, not those of us who perservered and are actually doing the job, we would get along famously. Unfortunately, you continue to let your bitterness toward successful pilots get in the way.

Sucess
 

I always knew that you and I could be friends one day. Another fine question is what is the definition of success? If it is simply making it to a regional or flying any jet? I was flying a 757 as FO next to captains who took home 55K. Was that successful? I sure wouldn't think so. I have another friend who flew for Allegiant and had to take a 40% pay cut from his cab driving job to work there. Was he successful? Even after upgrading he didn't match what he made as a garden variety city cab driver. Money isn't everything but it is definitely something.


SkyHigh

Though I may not be actively flying anymore I still have the heart of an aviator. By the way little bolt is doing well and polished off some celery this morning.

Reality check Regional
 

This is a response to many of skyhigh's postings

The truth is that sky high might be right to some level, but mostly not. The reality is that any job is going to take effort and hard work. It is not going to be different in the corporate world or any other job besides flying. I have been at a regional for 9 years, and it is not bad at all. In the next 5 years i will be making 120,000 a year to fly for 3 days and four off or 3 off and four on. And like skyhigh says " we just sit there and put our hands on our knees and press a few knobs here and there", well that sounds like the perfect job for the pay to me - no stress. Any other job, to make 120,000, you would have to work your ass off, including weekends i might add, besides all the work you would have to take home in the corporate world.

120,000 dollar jobs outside the airline industry is for upper management of corporations, and if you think it is easier to become upper management of a corporation than a captain in a regional or major, good luck.


There are a lot of changes going on in the industry, now a days some regional captains are making almost as much as some major airline captains, when you incorporate and calculate the amount of block time per bid and month.

To finalize this - for all the people coming into the industry, do not get dissapointed about the industry. Regional and Majors are hiring and the money is good ( Aim for the high paying regionals, and later consider the majors based on where you are at). Besides, what is the alternative - trying to be a manager somewhere or starting your own successful business that will make you rich -- good luck

I wish
 

I wish my turn at the regionals had that kind of return. I don't know who you work for but from my peer group not a one has bested 70K. (and he is a challenger captain). Had I stayed at Horizon after 8 years I would be making 52K after nearly 25 years of total effort in the the industry. I think that is not great considering that most urban firefighters, police and many new college grads make that as a starting wage in my home state. If I felt my career had that sort of potential perhaps I would have stayed. Maybe after 20 years with the company that sort of money is possible but compared to the majors it is a pittance.

SKyHigh

occupations
 

Skyhigh, you make it sound like all other occupations are just peachy. I am sorry to tell you this; but, you are very wrong!! My youngest brother is a police officer. He hates his job and doesn't make a whole lot of money. Reasons, that he hates his job: low salary, weird shifts, dangerous, stressful, works holidays(birthdays, ect), court appearances on days off, and its hard on a family life. My youngest brother has been on the force for about 19 years and he makes around 65k a year!! Is that a good wage for working with a department for 19 years? I did not think so. I do know that there are other departments that do pay more, however, there are a lot more that pay less. Firefighter pay is roughly in the same boat as police officers. My niece, received a MBA from Notre Dame. After 7 years with a very large corporation; her father tells me that she makes around 60k a year. Her MBA cost her 50k alone.:eek: I guess what I am trying to say, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Your negative perception of the aviation industry really bothers me. Some of the stuff that you say is very accurate, however, a lot of it skewed. I have heard my little brother say numerous times " I wish I would have been a pilot." I also have two other brothers who are captains with Legacy carriers. Three of us are captains for different airlines. Can you guess what we all talk about when we get together:D I recently started watching poker on TV. For some strange reason; Skyhigh, reminds me of Phil Helmuth. I think that it is your attitudes.:p I'm not trying to bash on you Sky, I just think that your views are slightly(very) skewed.

For some the glass is always half-empty for others its always half-full.

I try to see it half-full and count my blessings...

-LAFF