BoilerUP
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- Joined
- Nov 11, 2003
- Posts
- 5,311
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You may be correct, but again it is the unintended consequences that are unknown at the beginning. For example, if the pilots get raises, will the FA's. Mech's and baggage smashers all stand by at their present pay rates? This along with a hose of other unknowns would make consolidation anything but a sure thing. Remember in the end, it is not management, gov't or unions that determine your pay, it is the consumer who elects to make an independent economic decision based in his/her best interest.While that's an economically sound theory YIP, we're talking a few percent increase in crew compensation which could be MORE than offset by taking 100% advantage of a mainline carrier's economies of scale with maintenance, parts, fuel, and other necessary vendor items.
To all of you union boys who vote in lousy pay and rules at the regionals. Congrats!
Another low paying career is evolving in this country and you boys are making it happen. What was a great career is truning into a slave labor industry. Low pay, crappy work rules, time away from home and family.
Keep applying to Gojets, Colgan, Republic, Pinnacle,etc.
The I gotta fly at all costs so when I turn 50 and secure a captains seat at a major airline so I can finally earn a good salary is working out just fine.
As a regional pilot, way back when "I" voted to turn about 7 or 8 THOUSAND entry level positions at mainline into 7 or 8 THOUSAND career positons at the regional level, I was thinking....., OH, wait a tick. Actually, I wasn't in on that decision. Sorry, I guess you'll have to ask some ALPA/APA mainline pilots about that one.
When I started my regional job, we flew turbo props and SkyWest was a good place to spend 3-5 years. We all know the rest of the story.
What the heck, I was over six figures last year (to the left of the decimal point) as a non check airman line pilot averaging 16 days off a month. Right now, I wouldn't trade my quality of life for juniority at a legacy for anything. That may change in the future, but the people who make those decisions are the same ones who sold out 7 to 8 thousand mainline jobs (excepting the ones that took the lump some early retirement buy out.)
So ALPA/APA, let me know what you decide. My logbook is up to date. Change the game and I'll think about updating my scantron. For now I'll make the best of it.
And please, please stop with this nonsense that the people who's careers you shat upon for you own shortsighted reasons are dragging this profession down. That decision rests with you. I don't have a vote on scope, but I do need to feed my family.
So answer my Question Lineflyer!!! Are mainline pilots going to walk with the regionals when they strike and try to better the profession????? That is the only way this will be fixed. Post all the bs you want about who is undercutting who you want, BUT WILL YOU WALKOUT WITH US???? If your answer is the contract doesn't allow us to, than STFU!!! ALPA won't help us, so we need the guys making the money we all want to make to be on our side, or your paycheck and flying will continue to shrink. It really is that simple!!! I have put my time in and deserve it as much as you, so the next time any regional strikes we all walk. They can't fire all of us. Hows that for a solution. mesa excluded. You get the point! Quit pointing fingers at guys that have the same goals as you with familys and bills to pay. By the way, the competitive pressures are from management and mainline pilots (especially mainline ALPO), not the regional guys. Think about that after a couple beers, OK!!! FuOf!!
and you will flying that 737-800 for 95k a year!
And loving life too! That's more than he will make and probably have weekends off. Much better than at mainline in the same amount of time. You can't just look at hourly pay anymore you have to look at quality of life. I have a good friend with 2 years at Delta who will make under 60K this year. He sits in a crash pad in NYC and gets his min days off. He is making at least 30K less than he was making at Mesa. Guess he is just still paying his dues. All I know is that he is seriously looking for a job outside of aviation. Delta is supposed to be one of the good ones! Imagine what it is like at CAL, UAL or USAir
And loving life too! That's more than he will make and probably have weekends off. Much better than at mainline in the same amount of time. You can't just look at hourly pay anymore you have to look at quality of life. I have a good friend with 2 years at Delta who will make under 60K this year. He sits in a crash pad in NYC and gets his min days off. He is making at least 30K less than he was making at Mesa. Guess he is just still paying his dues. All I know is that he is seriously looking for a job outside of aviation. Delta is supposed to be one of the good ones! Imagine what it is like at CAL, UAL or USAir
Probelm is pay is disapperaring and so is the quality of life in every contract out there.
I know why your friend is looking outside.
Even though you may only have 8 days a month off at a regular job you're home every night, your wife and kids actually know who you are and all those birthdays and events in your childrens lifes you can be at. Sounds like your friend has figured out where the true quality in life is.
Pilots are addicts. Thats why we take time away from home to commute across the country so we can fly for 18 days a month with pilots and flight attendants that we have never met before, who we don't enjoy being around because so many are waiting to stab each another in the back, so on layovers we hang out alone because most of the people you fly with are just not that friendly.
Home, family and friends. Thats were the true quality lies, through the friendships and comaraderie that are built by being together every day of your life.
I agree, thats why I got out in April. Working at a University in Pittsburgh and I don't see myself going back. I thought I would really miss the flying but I don't. I think the last few years really took the love of it out of me.
I started my leave in May...I miss the flying. But I don't miss being paid very little, being treated bad by my employer, and worrying about reduced flying and how it's going to destroy my schedule. A regular job is nice, predictable, and I don't have that depression that comes when I know I have to leave my family.
And yet, I still think about going back to the flying job. Pretty sick! Calling it an addiction pretty much sums it up.
Can't strike or walk out with you! I'm no longer employed at an airline!
I only had one contract to vote on and that was at a regional. My vote was no but more than 50% of my fellow pilots voted yes for it. The CAL pilots will never walk.
All you have to do is look at where the manufacturing jobs have gone in this country, to the lowest cost provider. The same thing is happening to the airline industry here. Deny all u want, the fact still remains that most regional pilots won't strike. They need the job to get to that major job that will soon be just a shadow of it's former self, as far as a career goes.
P.S. Just curious> How many contracts have u voted no on?