I agree with that. Especially the second paragraph. What I didn't get was why so many people complain about things like being away from home. It's like a surgeon saying that he doesn't like blood.

 

Young passionate people embedded in the throws of budding adulthood often make foolish choices.

It is our job to infuse the harsh reality into the masses who are considering aviation so that they choose something else like art, history or even being a music major.

The guy at McDonalds probably does not have an expensive degree and training to do the job. They were not preferentially hired because there is little competition to work there. If an employee at McDonalds really strives they can move up the chain. McDonalds recognizes hard work and natural ability. You don't just advance because your number came up.

In addition everyone knows what working at McDonalds involves. If you are able to survive a few years in the ranks then move into management everyone knows that you have a work ethic, are goal oriented, well trained and would be a considerable asset as an employee. It opens more doors outside of McD's as well.

Managers at McDonalds can become owners and owners are rich. They make far more than even a half dozen of the best airline captain wages put together. When you compare the investment and outcome, if you believe in yourself and are willing to work then you can not go wrong by starting your career at McDonalds.

In conclusion I would have to say that for the no name guy off the street McDonalds is the better investment.

Skyhigh

 

No, I expected to be compensated appropriately (read that as North of six figures in 1980's dollars) for those sacrifices. Unfortunately, the never ending supply of SJS people and the unending SCOPE giveaways by the likes of DelTacCo pilots pretty much ensure that there is no end in sight. So much for that career.

 

+1 Juice.

A lot of guys are quick to point out that we're more highly trained than FA's, yet they compare themselves to McDonald's workers who have even less training.

Some people just don't think. If you want to be home every night, and not spend too much on your education, Burger King will hire you fresh out of high school. If you want to be a professional airline pilot, make the sacrifices, and accept the fact that it will never be a "day job".

 

Where did I say anything about compensation? yes, we should get paid more, but my post was about people *****ing that they're airline pilots and they have to travel.

 

Serve the classes and live with the masses.

As airline pilots we serve management. As the managers of an airline the management serves the general public (masses). Management then lives with the classes.

The owner of a McDonalds also serves the masses.

Skyhigh

 

The managers of my airline sure as heck don't serve the masses.

 

And there are lots with very good undergrad degrees, good graduate degrees, other job experience and 4-5000 hrs of flight time, but no TPIC. These pilots are earning 21-25000 net at Republic Airways Holdings. As I'm now on 6th year pay, I can say I'll be lucky to top 23000 net this year.

I tell people I work for "that dumbass overly religious guy from undercover boss with the indoor basketball court" and I almost qualify for food stamps. They look shocked and some argue with me about my pay. Hourly wage employee at McDs, maybe not, but flight attendants, taxi drivers, van drivers and good bartenders can all earn more than regional FOs. Most of them with a lower barrier of entry into the career.

 

Unless of course every time you are given the chance of talking to one of those young, impressionable faces one-on-one, you turn your back because it is too late to help them

When during all your time traveling the US looking for flying jobs id you have time to work in the fast food industry or did you have time to study their hiring practices and management opportunities? The ones who work their way up the chain of fast food might be the ones who actually stay on for longer than a month at the job. don't act like it is some true merit based promotion system. I was offered a manager's job at Wendy's while still in high school because I had been there for over a year! Luckily I had otherplans.

My owner went bankrupt. Lost everything. If you are fond of using singular examples as successes, then you'll have to take my (personal experience) of a singular experience of failure as the norm too. I was also friends with a person who knew Dave Thomas' family personally. Being an owner of a Wendy's was a tough, time cosuming job, with MANY hours outside of an 8 hour day. Me thinks your are rattling off more of your exaggerated stories than speaking from any real experience.

I hope that you are pushing your children into this line of work if you find it to be so supportive and personally rewarding. I'm sure the NE could use more McDonald's. I'm willing to bet that you have other plans for them.

USMCFLYR

 

I guess I need to interject, so I know this will get plenty of flak. I wasn’t complaining about my job at all. I love my job and wouldn’t give it up to flip burgers to save my life. I was just pointing out that our job comes with so much responsibility,training, and debt, not to mention our license could be revoked so easily, ending our careers quicker than ordering that burger with the guy I apparently 'ENVY' (Don’t think I ever said that). My original post was to just see if my fellow pilots get the same response from the general public as I do.

Oh on another note....the folks that were commenting on not commuting in uniform or avoid talking to passengers.....1st, I was on ready reserve so I had to sit around the airport and I was hungry so I went up to get something to eat. Second, you are those tools that give others in our career bad names. I understand that people ask stupid questions but we are part of what these people are buying. If we act unprofessional and dive behind trash cans because we think someone is going to talk to us then maybe you shouldn’t be in this industry. This kind of attitude just puts us in the same realm as the gate agent that is cold and callas. People are scared to fly and sometimes talking to pilots is calming for some, not to mention it just makes us look better. I enjoy talking to passengers so I don’t mind being asked a question or two.

On some of the other posts about just telling passengers how it really is.....you can’t do that either. How many times have you gone to a store or just somewhere that you have to interact with someone that is working and they start complaining about management and how bad they have it......I bet you hate it yeah? So one thing you never do is b&tch to the customer. I’m sure your employer would love that.

So sorry if I came off like I was complaining about pay and the job. I know it sucks but I knew it when I came into this career.