I'd love to claim courage, but it's more like a dose of reality intertwined with stupidity and inability to BS my way through another regional interview. I bailed from a regional with an upgrade class in my back pocket to go to an indoc class at a "last job in aviation you'll ever have" kind of place (they literally told us that both at the interview and on the first day of indoc). Since I didn't have the turbine PIC there were no options for me at the time of furlough to get on with one of the few ACMI carriers that were hiring. Same with JetBlue. My ASA interview didn't go so well, because, quite frankly, after 11 years in various cockpit I just wasn't playing their game and it was quite transparent. Nothing like sitting in a technical interview being asked "at what speed would you hold over XXX at 17,000ft?", and answering "as slow as I can without putting the flaps / slats out". Dude said it was the best answer he'd ever heard, but wrong... Same type of stuff with HR. She asked if I wanted my son to follow my footsteps into the cockpit. Answered "hell no" and told her why.

I sat through that interview knowing that I would be commuting to hell if hired, would be committing my son to going to daycare, spending money on a crashpad, airport food, etc. Before walking in I knew that at 100 / hrs per month credit with the airline it would cost me money to go fly an RJ.

The reality is we all still want to fly, and a single engine Cessna isn't going to cure the disease. That's when you enter rehab for pilots. Coaching kid's sports, working out, expanding hobbies you never had time for, etc. Even waiting on a recall that may or may not come, allowing you to have experienced some "working retirement" while you're still young enough to enjoy it, but old enough to appreciate it.

I'd still gander that if there was an RJ operator who offered a decent schedule / work rules, and a decent paycheck, we'd be lining up. Until then, they can cancel flights....

 

You summed it up pretty well for me too. 10 yrs in/ 6 as a captain at a great regional that became the turd at the top of the bowl. I went out on OJI and now I'm on long term disability. Best thing that ever happened to me. My overall health is better, I lost weight, I'm not angry. I actually think I'm outgrowing my need to fly as I get older. I've already had surgery and the doctors tell me I'll need another if i ever want to go back. Not seeing the ROI on that one at any regional!

You're "interview" at ASA pretty much described what I would have to fight doing. Do you know they are not even able to pay their pilot's correctly, due to a "glitch". Union can't even enforce proper pay! In any other industry the Dept of Labor would be all over them!

 

Okay my stat's 9,000 plus total, 5,000 jet (9 years as)PIC, 3,000 SIC Turbo prop,Regional experience.

It would take $40K, Home Based, trip and duty rigs, good health care. Until then they can park the planes.

sorry had to keep thread alive

 

I know this is the regional forum, and forgive me if I've missed it. Would any of you go back if called by the Legacies/FedEx/etc...?

 

The legacies, in general, pay what's being quoted and have (now only slightly unfortunately ) better work rules. So I'd bet yes most would

 

Can we forward this thread to the latest journalist jumping on the pilot shortage bandwagon?

 

I'd jump back to some of the majors, but not many of the fractionals....While I would have a "livable" wage, it'd be rough to justify $35-$40/Hour when I'm making more than that hourly now...and it's at a regular full time job (i.e. I don't need an inflated hourly rate to earn a truly livable wage)

 

How about if you were retired from a legacy and someone offered you a street Captain/Check Airman job?

 

Are we talking non-121 flying?

If not, how many guys retire from a legacy before age 65 and are still capable of holding a medical certificate and WANT to deal with a regional lifestyle.

 

It would take a guaranteed pathway to a major for me. It's more than just the money. If the flying you're doing goes away, I don't want to have to start over at another regional.

The solution to the regional pilot shortage is easy. Bring the regional flying back in house. Make flying a regional type plane the entry point for a career at American, Delta, or United.