AMR eagle BK

[Citjok]

The airline pilot profession in the United States is dead.[/QUOTE]


The airline pilot profession in the US is not dead. It is just very different from what it was. Between corporate raiders(CEO's) and unions our job has turned in being basically "glorified bus drivers", so we get treated like such. With that being said the next couple of years will be very interesting considering the upcoming retirements.

 

[SpaceShipEarth]

And no one noticed "there" instead of "their"

 

[james1]

Well it's official now every major (legacy) airline have gone down in BK and it always those damn greedy pilots fault, or so they would like you to believe. I love the press releases don't you? And the press themselves? Having been at Eagle and Comair myself, I know a thing or two about getting the very short end of the stick. I bailed. I don't fly anymore. After 11 years in the right seat of regional A/C I saw no "light" at the end of the tunnel. There will be NO pilot shortage, more BK's and mergers will take care of that. Every professional pilot needs to reevaluate themselves and ask one simple question "is it really worth it"?

Is it worth it to be topped out at $40,000 for the rest of your career?

Is it worth it to only see your family 2 times a month?

Is it worth it to be held to a higher standard than everyone else, but then not be respected as such?

Is it worth it to be told day in and day out "you cost too much, but you better fly safe or we'll fire you"? (you might die too)

Is it worth it to fly with an unsafe as#$%! in the left seat that could care less about your future because he got there first?

Is it worth it to be told by all major airline pilots you are not a REAL pilot?

Is it worth it to be treated like a second class citizen every where you go (airports, hotels, the bunny ranch?

Is it worth it to sacrifice what you sacrificed and get nothing but disrespect in the end?

My answer was finally NO. It took me 11 years to see the light that the airlines are not worth it for me. The dream job is dead as previously stated, and it continues to die with every BK and quarterly report showing a "loss".

When are the pilots in this country going to stand up and say, "enough"! We all deserve more respect than what we receive. The fat cats at the top will ALWAYS GET PAID WHAT THEY DON'T DESERVE. When they ask for more cuts to your profession when are you going to say "no, it's not worth it. Thanks for playing." When they say take this cut or we'll shut it down, when will you say, "go ahead and shut it down, it's not worth it".

I don't know how else to say it guys and gals, but it time you all stood up and said it's not worth it anymore. How much more do these people have to take from you before you do???? I did. Good night and good luck.....you all need it in this profession. Oh and by the way... fly safe.

 

[bri5150]

James,

I don't think there is an accurate assumption in your entire post. I get overly dramatic sometimes, but that post is over the top. Mainline will not top out at $40k, you will still see your family more than twice, and I do get respect when I go somewhere in my uniform.

 

[RJLoser]

I would guess there is an age difference between the two of you.

 

[Inconceivable]

American declares bankruptcy. CEO bails out the night before bankruptcy with his golden parachute. Pilots will have their pension terminated. Their CBA could be tossed like garbage by a BK judge, but most likely, they will have many concessions and pay cuts shoved down their throats. Scope will be eroded further to outsource 70-90 seaters to regionals other than Eagle. Management will award (bonus) to their executive management, and then they will emerge out of bankruptcy as a "new, lower cost" airline.

Seriously........ THAT is the reality of airlines in the US today. The last place anyone should rip on is Emirates. The pay/compensation package is good, the checks clear, and they've always made money. Who's more likely to be around for the next 50 years. American, Delta, United, US Air, or Emirates, Qatar, Etihad? I'd put my money on a Middle Eastern airline any day.


The airline pilot profession in the United States is dead.

Except the middle eastern airlines don;t want you making a career out of it. Just like PCL, put in your ten years and LEAVE please.

Maybe you want to fly an airbus from abu dhabi to india for 93 hours a month. I don't. It's regional airline scheduling, no work rules, and bigger planes.

And those bigger planes are doing to the U.S. wide body fleet and jobs what RJs have done to the narrow body fleet. So go and help kill the profession from the other end too. When you wonder where it has all gone in twenty years - buy a mirror.

 

[Brasilia Pup]

...And thank you for all that you do... uke:

 

[Fubijaakr]

Well it's official now every major (legacy) airline have gone down in BK

Wrong answer, James. Alaska is a legacy airline who hasn't and SWA is a major who hasn't.

 

[XJohXJ]

American declares bankruptcy. CEO bails out the night before bankruptcy with his golden parachute.

The article I just read stated that there was no golden parachute for Gerard Arpey. He's just retiring, no chute. Now, he'll probably be able to waltz into a different good job, but no chute from American. Needless to say, his stock is now as worthless as anyone else's.

The BK was a defeat for him, as he has been strongly opposed to any BK move. His opposition was probably a big reason why American avoided BK for so long.

Anyway, that's what I learned from my morning reading, I could be misinformed.

 

[james1]

James,

I don't think there is an accurate assumption in your entire post. I get overly dramatic sometimes, but that post is over the top. Mainline will not top out at $40k, you will still see your family more than twice, and I do get respect when I go somewhere in my uniform.

You are part of the problem. Keep fooling youself that you are in a repected position. Uniform respect? Really? You must be one of the ones I referred to that's in the left seat.

 

[james1]

James,

I don't think there is an accurate assumption in your entire post. I get overly dramatic sometimes, but that post is over the top. Mainline will not top out at $40k, you will still see your family more than twice, and I do get respect when I go somewhere in my uniform.

Wrong answer, James. Alaska is a legacy airline who hasn't and SWA is a major who hasn't.

There was more to my post than that. Please excuse my error. I was trying to convey a point, that was not it.

 

[bri5150]

You are part of the problem. Keep fooling youself that you are in a repected position. Uniform respect? Really? You must be one of the ones I referred to that's in the left seat.

I am a part of the problem because I think that mainline carrier captains will make more than $40k? I am not sure why you don't feel like you get respect. The passengers and the van drivers are more than friendly to me, and when I go to restaurants in my uniform (not often) the servers give me better service. As far as the left seat, I am pretty sure about 75% of the people we interface with don't know the difference between 3 and 4 stripes. The only people I don't get respect from are the ones that are managing the company I work for.

 

[bri5150]

There was more to my post than that. Please excuse my error. I was trying to convey a point, that was not it.

Trying to prove your point with vast exaggerations isn't going to help your cause.

 

[james1]

Trying to prove your point with vast exaggerations isn't going to help your cause.

No exaggerations here bro. I am just trying to tell my story. It was all true. I was hoping to pass it on so that others could learn from my mistake of becoming an airline pilot and continue with it. You mentioned management in your previous post. Thank you. They are the biggest problem. I have no cause to fight, I'm just giving the facts of my experiences. I decided it wasn't worth it. I hope you will stand up some day and say enough. Or just keep taking it, just like management wants you to. Good luck and fly safe.......

 

[JustaNumber]

James,

I don't think there is an accurate assumption in your entire post. I get overly dramatic sometimes, but that post is over the top. Mainline will not top out at $40k, you will still see your family more than twice, and I do get respect when I go somewhere in my uniform.

I think he was referring to the fact that the majority of today's regional pilots will never make it to the majors; many will never make it out of the left seat, as even regional airlines get replaced. Thus, odds are very good today's regional FO may never see greater than $40k. It's a huge ponzi scheme, where career entrants willingly work today for pennies in exchange for a lottery ticket for entry into the top of the pyramid tomorrow.

As far as seeing your family more than twice, there is no doubt that many regionals these days are seeing their bases closed and relocated, due to changing whims of mainline management. Even if you intentionally chose a base you could live in, odds are at some point you will be forced to become a commuter, and commuters don't see their families very much. There is much truth to James' reason for leaving the industry.