Low Pay for Airline Pilots "Threatens" the Country - Orange County News - Navel Gazing

 

Sadly, for many Americans it seems they may become worried about their safety and not be concerned about the quality of life of their underpaid pilots. So far there's little evidence that says safety has, or will be, compromised. This is a sad indicator of the increasing tilt of the equality level in this country, all about our own little selves. "Oh my god, those pilots make so little, I am worried about my safety" - its not about the pilots, its about themselves. And everyone knows many pilots play this against each other, too. Sad. I frequently ask non-pilot friends if they'd pay $5 more per flight to boost pilot/crew pay. They all readily agree they would. Let's use a RJ700 at 80% capacity. 48 X $5/4 = $58 per crew per leg. 4 legs a day = $232 a day per crew x 15 days per month $3480 a month. Like that's going to happen!

I am sure someone else has thought of a tip basket by the cabin door. I also wondered what would happen if upon arrival the crew said "we'll we're here and on time, everyone enjoy their time at home, it'll give us time to spend our food stamps" Of course they'd be fired. It would be a interesting court case, too. Fired for telling the truth. Interesting times.

 

Why should the public care about how little we are paid, other than the fact that low pay is generally associated with attracting less qualified applicants. I accepted the rate, so I can live with the consequence of that decision. Do I think we need to increase the pay? Yes, but that needs to be taken care of during negotiations, and not through any form of government intervention.

 

We need to stand united and make our demands. One person can't do it by themselves, but together we all could. It's about time to stand up or we're going to see a continual erosion of our quality of life. It hasn't been going our direction - has it? Its not going to either until we all grow some spinal stiffness and unity.

We pilots gave a lot after 9/11 to help the airlines stay in business. Now things are looking up and profits are beginning to slowly flow. Its time we get a piece of the pie back.

We need to realize that we drive the wages and the value of this profession. We determine what it is worth. Lately it doesn't seem like we're valuing ourselves and what we provide. We have become our own worst enemy. It's not the companies or the unions, we have allowed this to happen and it's time to turn that around. We need to get involved and stand up.

 

Please, please, everybody simmer down! Roger Cohen will be here momentarily to set the record straight.

Until then here's some light reading:

Regional Airline Association > RAA- Home

Enjoy

 

Yeah, people are only worry about themselves..... and I only worry about myself AS IT SHOULD BE! If you disagree, please feel free to make a donation to the FlyJSH Transportation Rejuvenation Fund *

We will never get any gains by crying "Poor me, my QOL is so bad I can't stand it. Please pay me more." We may be able to get better pay by selling the idea of better pay attracts better pilots, and better pilots are safer pilots.



* The FlyJSH Transportation Rejuvenation Fund is a charity raising money to provide underpaid, under appreciated, puddle jumping captains new family vehicles.

 

If I needed brain surgery, I wouldn't spend all day surfing the internet, looking for the cheapest brain surgeon. I would want the best brain surgeon.

 

Until they check for the lowest fare on Orbitz, etc. Maybe the airlines should put a note on those websites saying "we pay our pilots $5 more per hour than X airline, hence our higher fares." That would bring customers!

 

Roger Cohen...what a spray tan freak of nature!

 

I hear even his dog spray tans while Roger is out on the road staying in 50$ hotels next to EWR.