It's kind of funny listening to all the young ones complaining about starting pilot pay. I remember those days.

One of the reasons is, it's an entry level job. Most entry level jobs start with low pay. This will never change.

No one put a gun to your head and made you take the job you now have.

If you want to make serious money and you are still young. Go work in the Maritime Industry. Starting pay in the Maritime industry is 60K and tops out at 400K.

Just my two cents

701EV

 

Mergers is another reason. Delta once had 10,500 while NWA had 6,500. The combined airline now has 11,500. Consolidation will continue to help prevent any pilot shortages. Therefore, supply and demand and the market wil continue to keep entry level pilot wages very low.

 

Entry level position? 6 years at a regional making less than $40k a year flying people around is only "an entry level position" in this country because we let it get away from us.

 

You took the job. Who is part of the problem?

 

Not an entry level job. Where does this idea actually come from? Google is paying engineering interns $6500 a month. Don't think being a pilot requires (usually a four year degree) plus considerable training, skills and technical knowledge, and, also think its an entry level job (regional)?

As far as the public knowing or actually caring much about regional or other pilot pay, oh, they are surprised - but only for a bit. Ever hear: "all men (people) are bore with other people's lives'? It isn't up to the public to get pilots decent money.

I did the regionals in the 80's, unemployed now, but I swear I'll not go back like they are (it wasn't so hot then but it was far better than now). Maybe I'll be unemployed (pilot wise) forever but I did that, its not worth doing twice, and as it is now, probably not even once. Its a Ponzi scheme, largely built by the mainline carriers all the regional pilots so desperately want to work for. Genius. Ask Marx. Karl or Groucho.

 

6 years at a regional making 40k means you are a FO because RJ Captains aren't moving on. So you can't move up.

 

Bringing up the captains that won't leave in the presence of 5 year plus FO's is like kicking a hornets nest sometimes.

Aggravating as heck to hear them explain why they aren't going to leave. F word.

 

If I got paid more I wouldn't commute.

NOVA is quite expensive.....even more so than Los Angeles.

 

Or Bloch hands them the left seat for free!!

 

That would be a good start; since every FA on my widebody crew makes more than regional pilots. I'm not saying our FA's don't deserve it. I'm saying something is wrong with an industry that pays a pilot less than ANY flight attendant anywhere.

That's the argument you guys should make to arbitrators. You also need to form your own regional union with a single industry wide seniority list and a single contract for all regionals. Without that you will continue to be whipsawed against each other over and over.

Lots of majors are finally hiring. Get out of the regionals while you can.