It's not so much that foreign airlines will save regional pilots, but that alpa in collusion with airline mgmts have alienated the regional pilot force.

This invasion of low cost international carriers won't be good for our profession, but if alpa doesn't work on its relationship with regional pilots, they will be a force against alpa on this issue.

Alpa can do all the lobbying they want, but that won't prevail against bodies running to those jobs because of the labor situation alpa helped to create.

 

I can't argue that, although I would caution disaffected regional pilots not to assume their enemies enemy is their friend.

The NAIs of the world aren't wanting rush into our market with the goal of creating rewarding aviation careers. When you look at why they are structured the way they are, it's clear that the goal is to source the cheapest global labor and fly in your back yard (ie. the worlds most lucrative consumer market). If you thought regionals were good at whipsawing, wait until you see it on the global scale.

Regional pilots may be able to stem the tide of demand short term, but long term, should the NAI model prevail, the manpower market for US flying will be global. That will suck for all of us, including disaffected regional pilots.

 

My previous job at a regional

14 years
Three pay cuts
Final pay @80k per year, take home about $3,800/month
Reserve captain 76 seat rj
Days off 11
No failed check rides, not failures period
No action at a major...jumped ship to Asia on a commuting contract

Contract job...real world numbers been hear 16 months

Captain

Housing paid for by company up to $2500/month I spend 1800 and keep 600
Global health insurance for my family paid for by company, as good or better than previous health care

100k life insurance myself and wife

8k per month loss of medical for one year paid for my company

Minimum 12 days off per month, I can get 24 if I choose back to back

Sell back day off option at $1000.00/day up to ten days per month.

$1,500 per deim

Company buys me real tickets home. If average more than 60 hours per month for three months and the third month is 80 hours I get buisness class....I have not rode home yet in coach...I keep the miles

Company pays local taxes, tax treaty with USA so I pay no taxes...yes true just got them back

I sold back the last two months take home pay with base pay and overtime was

$23,400 last month!

Guys it's a dream come true.

 

Bingo right here is why we need these companies in the usa. No more of this "honesty, integrity, and mutual respect" while we cut your pay until you work 3 jobs to live.

 

Please forgive me if I'm missing something, but is the published payscale grossly inaccurate? According to that payscale, that's about $114,000 more than published at min guarantee, and a 747 FO at 8 years and 100 hrs a month would gross $206,400, which is still $8,600 less than what you make in a narrowbody.

Please help me understand. I would be very happy to make that as a narrowbody FO when I get there! If there is a method to it, please share! Thanks!

 

You're paid like that because that's the price to go over there and do that.

Does anyone here really think that they will benevolently pay glorious wages in the states out of the good of their hearts? You'd better not.

All it would do is force the bar even lower were they to be allowed in here.

 

Have you ever looked at or taken a cruise? If you have, you will see that nearly all cruise ships are operated under Panamanian, Liberian, or other registry. How many of those who work those ships are paid at US Merchant Marine rates?

Short answer: almost none. Maybe the Master and the First officer, but the rank and file, not even close.

Why? Because crap wages here in the US are darn good wages in these other countries.

Don't believe me? Look at the rates for the airlines that are actively seeking US pilots and compare them to comparable US jobs. Forget Emirates, they are looking for the cream of the crop and don't care where they come from. Look at the borderline companies, or the ones that have perpetual adds on the 350 etc. Same equipment for lower wages in they US. They make sense because there is a huge tax break for ex pats.

I was head hunted by an Australian Saab operator. They were willing to pay me 40% more.... But I would have needed to live in Sydney. After figuring the cost of living, I would have lost money... and I WANTED to take some time down under. And they paid far less than other Saab operators in Australia.... kinda the Colgans of the down under.

Still don't get it?

Okay, I'll try another tack.

Why is it when you call customer support for something you bought in the US, you get a guy who calls himself Fred who has a distinctly Hindi accent? No guesses??? Short answer, "Fred" can make twice what his brethren make by working from 9pm local to 0500 local answering calls from folks in the US calling during business hours. And he is still cheaper that having US folks working from 9am to 5pm.

Still don't get it?

Auto industry. Auto workers in the US in the 70s-80s were paid a very reasonably wage. Then the US market collapsed. Why? Because Asians thought $7 an hour was living high on the hog. (Funny thing is now the Japanese are running into pay issues versus the Koreans)

Final thought. Foreign airlines are willing to pay "Big Bucks" to drag US folks FROM THEIR CONTINENT to work. Why? Because the rates they are paying are not great enough to attract the locals.

Think about that.

 

They have green slip flying at delta, it's similar to open time pickup/save a junior man, which, pays double time.

 

Actually yes. Air china is paper basing you China and you begin and end each of your trips from LAX. So again you are an American pilot flying Air China 777's from starting from LAX.

I am not interested in the Norwegian Air debate, but tell he is proof that the system can work.

Also correct if I am wrong, but doesn't Delta hire Asian Cabin crew and run them on flight from say Tokyo to la. Hiw is that much different than Norwegian hiring US cabin crew from JFK to London?

 

What I am saying is I had bought into the Ponzi scheme of the us aviation career path. I wasted 14 years making nothing while my union brothers were driving nice cars and living in big houses.

Once I opened my eyes and looked what was available I was amazed! Sure not all the contracts are great but it's supply and demand. Right now we are paid what the market is dictating. In the US system their is a value placed on being a "major" airline pilot. I am embarrassed to say that the price of that gamble was 14 years...

So I would encourage any of you who are sick of waiting for your chance to take a look at the contract world. Just google for information but places like Wasinc and Rinsworth are good places to start...