1st year as a Regional FO

[Mach.75]

Just totaled up my 1st yr. pay and came out around $22-23k gross or roughly a little less than 2k/month. Not great, but I've lived off worse, you just have to make whatever you get paid, work. Agreed, you don't have much left over for the luxuries (plus the always unexpected), but then again I don't live in a crashpad, and a lot going out in loans. Suggest you take a look at outgoing expenses and then your income, and then break it down to how much you can spend each day and still break even. I know you can't always stay below that, but at least it's a guideline. It worked for me, and I haven't touched a pack of Ramon yet, but as far as the F/A's cart missing a few sodas and pretzels, I plead the 5th.
Good luck

 

[~~~^~~~]

Jeesh - I only made $12,200 my first year after expenses ( uniform, moving, crash pad, etc...) Ramen noodles can support life for 12 months. I used to save up on the flavoring packets, the double up on the weekends - yee haa!

My flight attendants used to always feed me. Not sure how they afford it. Parents & ex-husbands I guess....

 

[SMOE]

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.

May I suggest to everyone out there who is unhappy with their level of compensation to 1. work within their union or company to improve your contract, or 2. quit flying, get a desk job and make the "big bucks" you constantly say you can make elsewhere!

[/rant, sarcasm and ignorant response to flamebait]

Amen BoilerUP. Someone had to respond. I would have been far less kind...

 

[moscowcfi]

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.

May I suggest to everyone out there who is unhappy with their level of compensation to 1. work within their union or company to improve your contract, or 2. quit flying, get a desk job and make the "big bucks" you constantly say you can make elsewhere!

[/rant, sarcasm and ignorant response to flamebait]

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.

 

[FlyChicaga]

In my first year at the regionals, I made probably around $18,000 in those 12 months. Give or take. I was able to live fairly comfortably, but that is just my own perspective. Comfortably for me might not be for someone else. I did move back home in the with the parents, which really wasn't bad since I was on the road quite a bit either flying or using my travel benefits to go to Vegas, Oahu, DC, Daytona Beach, the Poconos, New York... all for VERY cheap since I knew people and had places to stay. One month I slept 5 days in my own bed. I was able to purchase a new car (because I HAD to), but did so wisely... got a Saturn and got a few extra safety features which in the grand scheme of things saved me much $$$ in insurance costs. Also, I don't have mondo student loans to pay off compared to many pilots are burdened with the $100,000 flight training loans. I only have around $17,000.

The key thing is to analyze your current financial situation (living costs? Loans? Car payments? Insurance? Kids? Wife? Mortgage?) and decide what you need and what you can do without. When you determine how much your NEEDS will cost you, see if you can afford those first few years in the regionals. Maybe it will mean moving to your base (be wary: some companies change bases a lot, like Air Midwest as I understand) to lower your housing expenses and avoid the extra burden of a crashpad. Living in base also frees up that commuting time to possibly pursue other sources of income... waiting tables, landscaping, real estate, web design, or whatever else fits your fancy.

The simple answer to all of this is that it CAN be done. However, it will take a lot of adjustments to your quality of life and the will to live within your means. Be smart with your finances in the beginning, don't get in too much debt, and when you start moving up in the world to higher pay (is there any high pay anymore??) then you'll be able to enjoy the extra cash. Particuarly if you hold strong to the standard of living you had when making $30,000 compared to $130,000!

Just my two cents.

 

[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.