No Ross, I was not expecting mainline pay. I also don't feel any direct connection to this job or care about its long term viability. I only care about getting off for interviews.

The wheels are turning as we type.

 

What's wrong with someone who want's to stay at a regional for a career - even with the knowledge of lousy pay ? Does everybody have to aspire to the "majors ?"

Posted a few years back: " Many years ago in the big blue bedroom at the USAF Air Command and Staff College, a bearded college professor walked out on the stage and said, "The biggest problem with the military is you don't have enough dumb people." Forty five minutes after being greeted with boos he got a standing ovation.

He said, "We take Baba out of the mountains, give him nice clothes (uniforms), three square meals a day and a roof over his head then teach him to drive a crew bus." After three years we say, "Baba, you got to improve your chances for promotion and increased responsibility by going to schools and eventually the NCO academy. "

Baba says, "Boss. I love my job. I want to do it for twenty years, make Airmen 1st class then retire and go back to the hills where I will be "SOMEBODY." So we pass him over for promotion, let him separate, then go to the mountains for another "Baba" to train."

Some folks might be happy driving the "Regional bus" for a career.

 

And they were never intended to constitute more flying than mainline.

They were never intended to be jets.

They were never intended to be more than 20 passengers.

They were never intended to require an ATP.

They were never intended to fly from SAT to SFO.

They were never intended to fly above FL20.

And so on...

The industry has changed since the 1970s.

The pay should be commensurate with the responsibility and skill required. These days those are equal to any "major" airline. Make no mistake, this is a pyramid scheme. A few pilots at the Majors convincing the masses of pilots below them that they should just "get their time and move on", when it just doesn't work that way. Any job worth doing should have decent opportunities for careers. It doesn't mean they have to offer every pilot 100K/yr starting out, but it should be possible to earn a fair living considering the skills and responsibilities. After all, if a regional pilot is worth no more than 30K/yr, why is a major worth any more? If the entire mainline workforce was suddenly gone you could probably hire the regional workforce for much less money than is paid to mainline today.

 

That's some reasonable thinking James. Just because you're talking about it doesn't mean you're complaining and niether was I.

I was talking to one of my buddies from the old job and he was telling me about his daughter who just graduated from college and had a job offer that paid 55K to start. Now, if every airline in the industry were hiring right now, where could we get jobs that start at 55k? Even with all our training and experience there are maybe two places that start that high. Just seems sad to me.

 

I am not trying to undermine what we do at a regional and neither am I saying that I wouldn't love to get a mainline wage at where I am working. Realistically is this possible? No and I know you, ftroop and tophog know the answer to it. We could sit and dream as much as we like about getting paid but unfortunately that won't come till you are willing to take the next step and move onto a major. Is your job more secure at a regional than a major? I don't know and that is because it seems as though almost everything in aviation is uncertain and boils down to two things: luck and timing.

As for getting paid 55K out of college, well then for that to exist in aviation the regionals should not. All pilots should go straight to mainline. I doubt that will ever be the case because mainline management has been reaping the benefits of having these jobs contracted out to the lowest bidder.

Mainline management (not pilots) determine who gets the flying and you know how the game works. Can YOU make the regional life a career? Maybe but for me, I would take the opportunity to be at a major.

 

Take a payday loan.

 

Hell they could pay you at 2359 on the 15th.....and that would be in the spirit of the agreement.... frankly it wasnt the 16th yet...... take a freaking valium.