Per diem or not, if starting pay were 50k with incentives to top out at 80k as a senior FO, the shortage would be over tomorrow.

 

How many ATP qualified pilots aren't flying anymore?

 

Seventeen.

 

The GAO said in its report how many ATP's had first class medicals compared to the number of airline pilots in this country. What they don't realize is that most ATP's flying overseas aren't currently holding an FAA medical. Also, ATP's who went to other professions wouldn't necessarily make it a priority to keep current a FAA first class medical. We know a lot of those ATP's with first class medicals are employed in other flying non-airline jobs in this country. As for the rest, it is impossible to tell how many quit the profession or went overseas and would return if the pay was better. The terrible pay doesn't help the pipeline of new pilots.

 

There is a drastic shortage of qualified ATP's who are 23 years old, single, and still live with their parents.

 

What did the grocery store just give you that food...my god son your lost!
You obviously don't do the grocery shopping!

 

$538/week x 52 weeks a year is only $28,000 not $36,000. How many weeks a year would you be working to make the posted $36,000?

Even so
Pilot
Year Cost
01....Training $50k + $10k room and board (negative amount)
02....CFI $15,000 +/-
03....CFI $20,000 +/-
04....F/O $27,000 +/-
05....F/O $38,000 +/-
06....F/O $42,000 +/-
07....C/A $70,000 +/- (assuming 3 year upgrade)
08....C/A $75,000 +/-
-------------------------
$227,000 over 8 years net

Clerk at Convenience Store
01....$28,000
02....$28,000
03....$28,000
04....$28,000
05....$28,000
06....$28,000
07....$28,000
08....$28,000
-------------------------
$224,000 over 8 years net

Doesn't even include a 4 year degree cost. Throw that in and you're looking at over a decade just to break even. And that assumes a 3 year upgrade. Which in the past may, or may not (6+) happen. Really, really infuriating how the union negotiated pay gave the spoils to the CA's and left the FO's out to dry.

 

So, other professions don't buy food because they don't get per diem? Your comment, both logically and grammatically, sounds like it came from a 14 year old. The convenience store employee has to use his taxable income to buy food, wheras I use my tax free per diem to buy food. You're lost.

The reason I asked about ATPs, is because everyone is denying the shortage from a 121 standpoint only. In 15 years when retirements peak, even if regionals increased compensation to $80k a year, there would be a shortage. Those pilots have to come from somewhere and other parts of our industry (fractional, corporate, cargo) would feel the pain. We aren't making enough pilots to cover the baby boomers.

 

Per diem is to cover cost on the road and business expenses. To me its not income. Some look at it as income. When working at a gas station, you are home every night and wouldn't have the cost of living on the road. Your food should be much cheaper at home than having to pay people to serve you.

I get a company card that pays for my meals, rental cars and hotels. I don't count this as income. I do my expense report, the company pays the bill. I could of negotiated a higher income and just paid for everything on the road but then I would be in a higher tax bracket just by doing my job.

Regionals do this by giving your per diem. I guess they could of dropped the per diem and made every pilot fill out an expense report.
If you live on the road with no cost and just pocket the per diem I guess you think of it as income.

No need to call people names/argue about it. It is what you make of it.

Per diem - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

This one.