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Should captain pay top out at 150K?

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[quote
My point was simply, if someone can't survive on $107K/year with a wife and three kids, while I've got 22 year olds that can do it on 1/3rd of that, he needs to reevaluate.

Way to jump to conclusions though and make yourself look like an ass.



You CHOOSE to put away a ridiculous amount for college fund.

You CHOOSE to have a mortgage on what I hope is a $300,000 house.

You CHOOSE to carry two car payments and have some outrageous utility bills. I remember growing up with my dad as an airline pilot making ******************** at Republic, we were a one car family.

You're not starving on $107K/year, and if you can't survive on that, again, you've got priority issues. It can be done, there are luxuries you seem to deem as priority.[/quote]
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Then maybe you should take a paycut since life is so sustainable on $2000 per month.. ???

2 used cars are a luxury? Maybe living on a boat or in a big city with a transit system but not when you have to drive an hour to get the the airport to commute to work. Wake the wife up at 3am and load up the kids to drive daddy to work?

Have you added up utility costs? $500 is not expensive. Some winter months my gas bill is $400 alone and that is with the heat set on 65

I am sure your 22 yr old sailors can make it on $35,000 a year but with my remarkably plain life I get by just barely
 
Sorry but I think I'd be going to work while you were picketing.

Sorry but, I think I'd deny you a jumpseat for the rest of your career for being a spineless scab.
 
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instructordudeThis user is on your Ignore List.

This feature has made my FI experience so much more enjoyable, the only flaw is that some of you keep quoting. I just don't get why you waist your time
 
I don't bother ignoring posters. Rarely does someone get under my skin on a message board. Nor should they.

I actually find instructordude's posts quite entertaining. He certainly adds some comic relief to the thread. God help us though, if none of it is an act! :erm:
 
Even I think Instructor dude is crazy. I'm just saying that capts that think they deserve 300k are nuts. We even have some at UPS that brag about making 400k. Given the supply of pilots there is no way we should be making that.
 
You choose to be an idiot . . . . I don't. Unfortunately, with pukes like you willing to settle for less, we all have an uphill battle.


YOU CHOOSE to do my job for less

YOU CHOOSE to be a doormat

YOU CHOOSE to live in a dumpster

YOU CHOOSE to send your kids to crappy schools

YOU CHOOSE to be at the bottom of your profession

YOU CHOOSE to be a fool.

I CHOOSE not to argue with you.

You're willing to do my job for 50% less, apparently. How nice for you. Have a nice day . . . don't tip the van driver, you're over your monthly budget, and your wife is out of tampons.

Well, at least she never has to buy d0uchebags, she's married to one . . . so you've got that going for you :rolleyes:

I actually CHOSE to leave the airline industry because of the downward spiral. I won't go back. No camaraderie, everyone looking out for themselves, and paranoid that management is out to get them. Paycuts, job security, BS, you guys can have it. I won't do your job at 50% pay. I won't do your job period. It sucks and there's no satisfaction in it, so stop sweating it.

And just in case you're wondering, I have a nice house, a garage full of motorcycles, and I'm single. Having way to much fun as a single fighter pilot in my late 20's to be married. Nice shots though. For a 6th grader.
 
Actually the whole point of the union is socialism, the original poster is arguing against that.
I beg to differ.

If you read any microeconomics book it will tell you one of the main duties of a union is to use capitalistic principles to increase the median price of its product (increase labor wage rates). However, ALPA has failed miserably at this. It's still stuck in the dark ages of regulation.

The first thing they should have done was implement a national seniority list. The second thing they should have done was define the qualifications of professional pilots. If you define who can be a professional pilot, then you control the supply of pilots...kinda like OPEC.

The fact is most professional associations, such as the AMA, ADA, etc. have more power over its labor resource than ALPA.
 
And you guys all wonder why public opinion of airline pilots is so low. Bunch of cry babies ONLY making 107K/year. Get real. Wow am I glad I got out (and why my old man hates his job so much). 30 years at a major, and he can't wait to retire. If only you could hear how the old guys talk about you.
 
And you guys all wonder why public opinion of airline pilots is so low. Bunch of cry babies ONLY making 107K/year. Get real. Wow am I glad I got out (and why my old man hates his job so much). 30 years at a major, and he can't wait to retire. If only you could hear how the old guys talk about you.


sig its okay dont take offense you live a life where YOU are #1 with your " Garage Full Of Motorcycles "

Thats great and I encourage you to enjoy your situation as long as you desire because some day when you meet that certain person and she drops a few kids out you will look back on your posts and realize that you were totally absorbed and inmature.

That is not an insult we have all gone through it and I know all you can do is read a post and relate it to your own situation and draw a conclusion. It wasnt to long ago that I was in my mid 20's single, captain, new car every year, numerous hotties, living the life..

The majority of men out there wake up one day and realize that they have gone from number 1 to somewhere below number 4 on the family sen list.

It will happen and your outlook will become future oriented and not what color bike do i ride to the base today oriented...

Been there done that got over myself and have three kids and a wife to support for the next 18 years..
 
And you guys all wonder why public opinion of airline pilots is so low. Bunch of cry babies ONLY making 107K/year. Get real. Wow am I glad I got out (and why my old man hates his job so much). 30 years at a major, and he can't wait to retire. If only you could hear how the old guys talk about you.


you're not the only one who is glad you got out. Please don't ever come back...
 
And you guys all wonder why public opinion of airline pilots is so low. Bunch of cry babies ONLY making 107K/year. Get real. Wow am I glad I got out (and why my old man hates his job so much). 30 years at a major, and he can't wait to retire. If only you could hear how the old guys talk about you.


Gonna be playing volleyball with all the sweaty guys, Mav? Don't forget to shower.
 
And you guys all wonder why public opinion of airline pilots is so low. Bunch of cry babies ONLY making 107K/year. Get real. Wow am I glad I got out (and why my old man hates his job so much). 30 years at a major, and he can't wait to retire. If only you could hear how the old guys talk about you.

If only you could hear how us in the AF talk about guys like you hotshot. I would suggest you leave this thread.
 
I'll admit I didn't read this entire thread, so I'll pose this question: If 150K is not enough, what would be adequate compensation? Someone pointed out that adjusted for inflation, early 1970's pay would equate to about 750K. Is that what the average pilot should be making?

Just asking...
 
I'll admit I didn't read this entire thread, so I'll pose this question: If 150K is not enough, what would be adequate compensation? Someone pointed out that adjusted for inflation, early 1970's pay would equate to about 750K. Is that what the average pilot should be making?

Just asking...

That's whats really funny, but I digress.
 
And just in case you're wondering, I have a nice house, a garage full of motorcycles, and I'm single. Having way to much fun as a single fighter pilot in my late 20's to be married. Nice shots though. For a 6th grader.

I can relate my fellow bro. I got a motorcycle, nice condo and am single and crazy with the ladies.

Do you street race your bike?? I got mine up to 155 MPH last weekend, left them in the dust.
 
Even I think Instructor dude is crazy. I'm just saying that capts that think they deserve 300k are nuts. We even have some at UPS that brag about making 400k. Given the supply of pilots there is no way we should be making that.

Given the supply of 2 bit wannabe Hollywood actors and actresses and wannabe reality stars, which most people could pull off without a problem, I suppose we need to bring their pay into line as well. I mean come on millions to pretend you are someone else while being filmed...HAHAHHA!! Talk about entitlement and chutzpah!
 
Come on. All I'm saying is that we all know flying is a cake job. Making $150k/year is borderline theivery. My dog could turn on an autopilot.

Besides, other than wowing people with all the dials and guages, we all know the job is pretty simple. With less than a year of training, you might be able to teach a neurosurgeon how to fly the Concorde. With a year of training a pilot couldn't even give a rectal exam.


I disagree with this ridiculous post. Flying might be cake most of the time because most airline pilots have done it for years and years and have lots of experience. But the pay is for when the @#$% hits the fan. (emergencies)

You may be surprised... I would bet that after a year of on the job training, a pilot could perform some surgeries. Those surgeons aren't gods. Yeah, lots of education and experience, etc, but I don't see how it could be much different. Regardless, thats not really the point. Would the public like a 1 year experienced pilot flying their airliner? Didn't think so. (That airline would go out of business pretty fast or there would be a mishap.) Just like they wouldn't like a 1 year trained surgeon operating on them.
 
You CHOOSE to have a mortgage on what I hope is a $300,000 house.

You CHOOSE to carry two car payments

I can't believe now one has called you out on this. $300,000 is crap for a home. Ask a NYC based pilot who doesn't want to drive 4 hours roundtrip to and from NYC 4 to 12 times a month depending on schedule, and lives in 1 of the five boroughs of NYC. $300,000 gets you a dump. Are you saying because we CHOOSE to be airline pilots we must live in below average homes? Or drive 4 hours roundtrip to work? Doesn't an airline pilot deserve to live in a slightly better than average home and neighborhood in the city he works in? After all, we aren't cleaning toilets for a living, although RJ FO's are paid roughly the same.

And as for the cars, a minivan for the wife and kids that is reliable and allows you to have the peace of mind that they are not going to be broken down in the dump of a neighborhood you have to live in due to our pay. And a 4 year old Accord for yourself, to drive to work in, far from a luxury vehicle, seems reasonable. We also nned something very reliable. It's not like we have a normal job in which you can call work and tell them you will be late today. No, with us there is hell to pay, and we have to go do a carpet dance in front of CP like little school children, because management treats us like children, who are expected to live their lives for the company.
 
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......Coming from a C-150 driver. Maybe when you start flying professionally and understand the responsibility, accountability and experience required from years of work you will understand why our profession should be compensated appropriately. Why does a neurosurgeon make more than a GP? Why does a partner at a law firm make more than an associate? Answer those and you might start to understand. I don't think anyone is saying a capt should make $1 million or anywhere close to it. I think most captains would be happy making around $200K, have good work rules and treated respectfully by management.

One big flaw in your comparison.... portability of income.

I don't agree with JoeMerchant about a lot of things, especially RJDC stuff.... BUT.... maybe you can answer this:

I have 5300TT, 10 years of professional flying (getting paid to fly and not including training), 3 type ratings, 121 (passenger) and 135 (both VIP and cargo) captain experience, ETOPS (Hawaii/West Coast/South and Central Pacific) and domestic (US/Canada/Mexico/Alaska/Carribean) experience. My salary at my previous job was $94.14/hour (10% paycut included - should have been $103/hour)

Unfortunately, my airline went under, and I have to look for another job.

Why is my experience now worth the same as that of someone coming fresh out of ALL ATPS just having completed their commercial multi ticket, Regional Jet Standards course, and 250 hours total time?

OK, so I'm using regionals as an example because a few are still hiring, but OK.. let's use same equipment I flew at my old carrier - B737NG. Does my experience not matter? Why do I have to take $60+/hour paycut to fly the same equipment? Why do I have to leave this country in order to make the same amount of money flying the same equipment I was flying before my airline went under?

I'd really like to know...
 
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Do you street race your bike?? I got mine up to 155 MPH last weekend, left them in the dust.

Street racing? Not only are you spineless, you're a reckless idiot with no business commanding an aircraft. I hope you end up as a stain on the pavement before you kill someone else.
 
Street racing? Not only are you spineless, you're a reckless idiot with no business commanding an aircraft. I hope you end up as a stain on the pavement before you kill someone else.

Street racing is hardly dangerous if you do it right, wear a helmet, two beer limit and only on roads with little or no traffic. Its fun to test the limits of your bike and nerves.

As far as me ending up as a stain thats a bit much. Grow up.
 
Street racing? Not only are you spineless, you're a reckless idiot with no business commanding an aircraft. I hope you end up as a stain on the pavement before you kill someone else.

Instructor dude is totally flamerbating but I have a funny story that actually applies.

I too went through the motorcycle phase in my 20's and we all bought crotchrockets with my flying buddies. I got on the turnpike one night and decided that i would open it up. Got it up to 165mph but couldnt read the speedo past 150.. Slowed down drove home the rest of the way at 55 woke up the next day went out to the garage took one look at it and sold it a week later. Sadly the guy thta bought it from me ended up getting killed on it. ( Got Drunk and hit a tree)

Grew up on dirt bikes and three wheelers ( Had a Honda Big Red !!! Yes it would float if you hung off the back of it) but never did the streetbike thing.

Put 2400 miles on it and got it out of my system.. Lucky? Yes Alive ? Yes
 
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Street racing is hardly dangerous if you do it right, wear a helmet, two beer limit and only on roads with little or no traffic. Its fun to test the limits of your bike and nerves.

As far as me ending up as a stain thats a bit much. Grow up.

Ok, now I know that you're simply flame baiting. You think that you're simply entertaining yourself by playing like you're an idiot in your online alter ego. The ironic thing is that the real you is an idiot. Get a girlfriend.
 
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One big flaw in your comparison.... portability of income.

I don't agree with JoeMerchant about a lot of things, especially RJDC stuff.... BUT.... maybe you can answer this:

I have 5300TT, 10 years of professional flying (getting paid to fly and not including training), 3 type ratings, 121 (passenger) and 135 (both VIP and cargo) captain experience, ETOPS (Hawaii/West Coast/South and Central Pacific) and domestic (US/Canada/Mexico/Alaska/Carribean) experience. My salary at my previous job was $94.14/hour (10% paycut included - should have been $103/hour)

Unfortunately, my airline went under, and I have to look for another job.

Why is my experience now worth the same as that of someone coming fresh out of ALL ATPS just having completed their commercial multi ticket, Regional Jet Standards course, and 250 hours total time?

OK, so I'm using regionals as an example because a few are still hiring, but OK.. let's use same equipment I flew at my old carrier - B737NG. Does my experience not matter? Why do I have to take $60+/hour paycut to fly the same equipment? Why do I have to leave this country in order to make the same amount of money flying the same equipment I was flying before my airline went under?

I'd really like to know...

With all that experience you need me to answer this for you? I think you know.
 
Even I think Instructor dude is crazy. I'm just saying that capts that think they deserve 300k are nuts. We even have some at UPS that brag about making 400k. Given the supply of pilots there is no way we should be making that.

Good for them. If they want to work the system to make 400K, more power to them. So you think they're overpaid? What about some of the actors making crappy movies pulling in millions?

You sure you're not management?
 

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