1st year as a Regional FO

[FlyChicaga]

One more thing: DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, start racking up debt on credit cards to maintain a quality of life. It is financial suicide.

 

[mmmdonut]

So... did you turn in your resignation yet?

Just do like every other entry level pilot does......

#1 Sell out the industry bu taking a job with such sub standard wages.

#2 Be thrilled to death you are flying for an airline.

#3 Enjoy the novelity of the job while it lasts.

#4 Start Bitzchin about how under paid you are knowing g0d darn well what the friggin pay was when you sold out your peers by taking your job.

#5 Walk around pizzed off and disgruntled and complain about how people working at McDonalds and Home Depot are making more than you.

#6 All the while you are stuck in a dead end job in an industry that isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[AZaviator]

Do you have a problem with being broke for a year or two?

Sad, but true, this is an actual interview question asked by Pinnacle Airlines.

It was posted on aviationinterviews.com

 

[ASAFOE120]

I spent $3.65 on my last 4 day trip!

Stock up on PBJ sandwiches (or whatever sandwiches you like) and put them in the fridge at work. When you pass through the hub, run to the fridge and retrieve them. Keep lots of Rice Krispies Treats in the cockpit with you to keep your hunger down in between meals (keeps you from impulsing on the cc) and RK Treats are super cheap at WM.

Learn which hotels have free breakfasts in the morning and bid accordingly (if you hold a line). You know what I'm talking about ASAFLYER!!! Set your alarm so you dont miss it and eat until your allmost miserable (after all its free)!!! Always carry extra zip lock baggies from home so you can take some of the breakfast with you for later (bagels, biscuits, etc..). Then, if your stuck at a hotel that doesnt have the free breakfast, there's usually another hotel nearby that does (be careful though!!).

And last of all, you dont have to tip the van driver (as another post on this board states)!! To those of you who think you do, get a life! When it comes down to my kids going hungry, the power being shutoff, car being repossessed not being able to pay for prescriptions, etc, etc.. I could care less about the van driver. You have to look out for your family and yourself first and foremost!! Thats it, period!

Just some of my ways for saving money. Good luck!!
ASACRJFO

 

[Gulfstream 200]

my god, anyone else think this is pathetic??

I gotta ask.....

why???

 

[FlyChicaga]

my god, anyone else think this is pathetic??

I gotta ask.....

why???

Because we all can't be super-duper corporate pilots in BBJs.

 

[Cosmo1999]

my god, anyone else think this is pathetic??

I gotta ask.....

why???

I have to agree this is no way to live after all that hard work to get a regional job. The point is it shouldnt have to be that way. Its better to rock the boat and try to change things than to just accept it. I wouldnt go as far as to berating someone else for taking low paying jobs, lets face it we have all done it myself included. You have to do what you think is best for yourself. I think the point is that with all the money invested in the career and all the hard work put in to get here it shouldnt be acceptable to have to live like that no matter what year you are at in the regionals. It may be reality but it doesnt mean its ok. As far as someone saying quit if you dont like it I say if you dont like it keep fighting for changes, after all too much is invested to just give up like that....

Remember we are all in this together for the long haul.

 

[Cosmo1999]

ooops

 

[Air Biscuit]

I have to agree this is no way to live after all that hard work to get a regional job. The point is it shouldnt have to be that way. Its better to rock the boat and try to change things than to just accept it. I wouldnt go as far as to berating someone else for taking low paying jobs, lets face it we have all done it myself included. You have to do what you think is best for yourself. I think the point is that with all the money invested in the career and all the hard work put in to get here it shouldnt be acceptable to have to live like that no matter what year you are at in the regionals. It may be reality but it doesnt mean its ok. As far as someone saying quit if you dont like it I say if you dont like it keep fighting for changes, after all too much is invested to just give up like that....

Remember we are all in this together for the long haul.

I agree 100% with what your saying. I don't think that you can blame anyone for taking a job at a regional after all the time and money that it takes just to get to this level. However once your here you should be willing to do what it takes to better yourself and your career which means having the balls to vote no on these crap contracts that keep being passed. Even if it means having to go out on strike. An fo doesn't have a whole lot to lose pay wise as it is. I hope that the majority of my brothers and sisters at x-jet are willing, because that is what it is going to take.

 

[Brett Hull]

my god, anyone else think this is pathetic??

I don't know about pathetic, but it sure is sad.

...on second thought, yea, it is pretty pathetic.

And Lequip, I agree with everything you said. However, I will say that I was disappointed when I looked at your profile and saw the letters "ATR". You were "the guy who took that job at one time". I'm not trying to bust your balls, just trying to give a perspective of where the problem lies - you taking that job did nothing to remedy the problem, and sent a message to the younger guys coming up behing you that it is o.k. to whore yourself out for a while.

There are other ways to advance your career. They may not have the glamour of walking through the terminal to your new shiny RJ, but at least you get something that resembles a paycheck. And isn't that why we do this? I love to fly too, but I also love being able to eat - and what I'm eating not be ramen noodles.

I can't believe you guys justify being treated like whores.

Signed,
Brett Hull - not a super-duper corporate pilot in a BBJ. I don't fly a BBJ.

p.s. Please don't anyone bring up the "supply and demand" argument. Read two lines up.

 

[JohnDoe]

quote:
"Just do like every other entry level pilot does......

#1 Sell out the industry bu taking a job with such sub standard wages.

#2 Be thrilled to death you are flying for an airline.

#3 Enjoy the novelity of the job while it lasts.

#4 Start Bitzchin about how under paid you are knowing g0d darn well what the friggin pay was when you sold out your peers by taking your job.

#5 Walk around pizzed off and disgruntled and complain about how people working at McDonalds and Home Depot are making more than you.

#6 All the while you are stuck in a dead end job in an industry that isn't going anywhere anytime soon."



Unfortunately, it is quite funny because it is true (especially number 6).

quote:
"Thank you, Lequip, for your insight, kind words and encouragement for all of us up-and-comers in this industry. Lord knows we all are looking to undercut each other as much as needed for the honor and privilege of wearing three stripes and sharing the cockpit with a cheery soul such as yourself."

And there is the typical "you are a big fat meanie for dashing the hopes of all us up-and-comers, boo-hoo-hoo-hooo" reply.

You and some others call it being disgruntled, bad attitude, or whatever. Myself and many others call it an insight into the hard reality that is a career in this industry. Get used to it. Truth hurts doesn't it. One of my favorite posts from somebody in this forum (can't remember who, sorry) said: Never have as a career what others do as a hobby.

 

[Lequip]

Yes, I was one who took the job knowing the pay, QOL, ect. ect and I dealt with it and never complained. I wouldn't trade where I'm at for anything. I'm Just sick of all these regional FO's who think they are owed the world. You guys are going to be regional FO's for a LONG LONG time so just deal with it or quit. You are fighting a losing battle by saying crap "I'll vote No", "We deserve more", "Home Depot and McDonalds.....", it's all crap coming out of your pie hole and it has been said by thousands of entry level pilots who think they are owed and entitled to EVERYTHING just because Mommy and Daddy paid for their college and flight training or perhaps because they have a boat load of student loans to pay off. Well I got news for you..... REGIONAL FO Pay isn't going up because of entry level supply and demand. Face it, any dumbass can be trained to fly an airplane. 0 time to ATP and regional FO in 6 months by MANY outfits. You guys AREN"T Dr. and Laywers who require years and years of graduate study. Pilots are nothing more than glorified overpaid bus drivers and I'll be the 1st to admit it.

 

[Sticky]

Try This...

Now wait a second! Before we jump on Lequip, I want to point out that he makes a perfectly sane, logical and reasonable point: In order for me (a beginning airline pilot) to succeed in this profession, I should....not get a job as an airline pilot. That makes perfect sense, and I don't understand why anybody would question this assertion.

Heres an idea. Rather then going to work for food stamp wage as a "professional", don't go to the interview. Tell your peers not to go to the interview. If they do, encourage the labor unions to punish them. Soon as that happens, *poof* pay goes up. I've asked some people here through PM how they expect to live on such low pay. Most say they don't worry about it. For example, I had two school friends get hired by Eagle couple months ago. At the current rate of upgrade, and the pay scale, in 7 years they'll be 33 years old making $28,000 a year. How the heck can you save for retirement, save, invest, and own a property/house on that pay? All the time I see pilots my own age running off to fly those cool jets and wear the cool uniform. Amazing to me.

 

[OUjetdrvr]

Lequip,
Speaking of pie holes and shutting them!

Everyone else,
I have swallowed plenty of shiot at Eagle for four years to last a lifetime, therefore becoming one of the most stubborn dirtbag FOs I know!
Only through teamwork can we even fathom a chance to redirect the downward spiral that this industry is headed. Or I just might go to work at Home Depot if not just for sanity...

Newbies,
I know its hard but quit being so g.d. happy to be here!

 

[FN FAL]

Heres an idea. Rather then going to work for food stamp wage as a "professional", don't go to the interview. Tell your peers not to go to the interview. If they do, encourage the labor unions to punish them. Soon as that happens, *poof* pay goes up. I've asked some people here through PM how they expect to live on such low pay. Most say they don't worry about it. For example, I had two school friends get hired by Eagle couple months ago. At the current rate of upgrade, and the pay scale, in 7 years they'll be 33 years old making $28,000 a year. How the heck can you save for retirement, save, invest, and own a property/house on that pay? All the time I see pilots my own age running off to fly those cool jets and wear the cool uniform. Amazing to me.

What's so funny is all the eagle and simmons guys you trip over all throughout the industry. I bet you couldn't throw a beer can at an airport and not hit an ex-eagle/simmons guy in the head.

Five years ago I was down at O'hare with a 135 charter...thought I'd take a walk down to the big terminal to see what was going on. Ran into an eagle captain and his co-pilot that were hiding out trying to jumpseat home. Seems if they hung out in the lounge, someone would put them to work.

But anyway, this captain gave me about 30 minutes of his time and it was pretty clear to me that I wasn't ever going to put a resume in there. This was like the umpteenth time I had heard the same thing from eagle flight crew.

I'm sure there are some guys happy there, but like I said, it sure seems like you just about trip over ex-eagle pilots out in the world.

 

[English]

Eagle is a great place to be FROM.

 

[TonyC]

... , maybee have a kid with a wife that doesn't work, ...

No such thing as a Mom that doesn't work.

 

[Air Biscuit]

Yes, I was one who took the job knowing the pay, QOL, ect. ect and I dealt with it and never complained. I wouldn't trade where I'm at for anything. I'm Just sick of all these regional FO's who think they are owed the world. You guys are going to be regional FO's for a LONG LONG time so just deal with it or quit. You are fighting a losing battle by saying crap "I'll vote No", "We deserve more", "Home Depot and McDonalds.....", it's all crap coming out of your pie hole and it has been said by thousands of entry level pilots who think they are owed and entitled to EVERYTHING just because Mommy and Daddy paid for their college and flight training or perhaps because they have a boat load of student loans to pay off. Well I got news for you..... REGIONAL FO Pay isn't going up because of entry level supply and demand. Face it, any dumbass can be trained to fly an airplane. 0 time to ATP and regional FO in 6 months by MANY outfits. You guys AREN"T Dr. and Laywers who require years and years of graduate study. Pilots are nothing more than glorified overpaid bus drivers and I'll be the 1st to admit it.

Lequip, have you ever taken a job knowing it sucked, but took it anyway because there wasn't any other option? This is what these new guys are faced with and they have every right to bitch. The landscaped has changed and changed rapidly down the toilet. With your mentality everybody should just sit back and take it and not do anything to make it better. Well a no vote is the loudest voice one has. Name one place that you can go 0 time to regional f.o. in 6 months. It can't and does not happen.

 

[norskman2]

Face it, any dumbass can be trained to fly an airplane. 0 time to ATP and regional FO in 6 months by MANY outfits. QUOTE]

Hey, Biscuit's right. 0 to ATP in 6 months would only require 250 flying hours a month! A mere 62.5 hours of flying each week. That must be some academy! Great math, LeQuip!

 

[UPF-7]

1,400 on 75hr or at least 20,000yr