Any happy regional pilots out there?

[LearLove]

Yeah sure, wouldn't trade it for anything. I depends on the person, just my observation. At my company I've flown with guys that have 30 or more years here and are still happy as FlyChi (as am I, but you'll learn there is alot you can't control) and others with the same amount of years that hate it. You either love to fly or you don't.

Doesn't mean I don't get aggrivated, but I do enjoy my work
S.

Yeah, what he said......

Another thing, there are some things that make the job easier. Being young, debt free and single for example goes along way. That about sums up my situation, all I have to worry about is showing up for work on time, doing my wash on my days off and if the free porn site is still up and running.

Anyway - off to fly my dash - happily but sometimes alittle aggrivated about stuff I've got no control over. Plus chicks still think I'm one of thoes "high paid" pilots. The key is to "get in and out" before the chick gets wise to the whole commuter pilot thing.

 

[VFR on Top]

Know I'll get flamed, but here's a reality check:

Come back in two years after flying the line. This is the attitude of a newbie who is still enthralled with the idea somebody is paying him to fly an airliner. We have all been there at sometime, heck I was flying a jet at 21. Thought I had the greatest gig in the world. Looking back now I see just how young and naive I was back then.

Not at all, dude; you're right on the money. FlyChicaga had durned well better be thanking his lucky stars every minute of every day, because airline recruiters are wiping their dogs' asses with the resumes of pilots with four times his experience.

Seriously, Fly--you know durn well you won the proverbial lottery here; to pretend otherwise is somewhat disingenuous of you and a tad disrespectful of people eminently more qualified for your job than you, but can't catch a break to save them in this market.

Sorry for the harsh--you seem like a great guy and I'm seriously stoked for you, but you haven't toiled in the job long enough to have anything BUT a stellar 'tude.

Peace.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Happy as can be. If I weren't, I'd excercise my freedom of choice and remove myself from a distasteful situation.

 

[Red Baron]

One thing is certain for me......... I would rather fly with a low-time pilot with a great attitude than a high-time pilot with a poor attitude. Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you react. We all want things in life. Everyone wants more. It is an endless cycle. Sometimes we have to stop and realize just how fortunate we are to have jobs which allow us to do what we love doing the most.

Happy Flying,

RB

 

[Swaayze]

Yep. Quite happy.

I was one of those career obsessed pilots. Worked pretty hard and sat right seat in turboprops a long time before I got an upgrade. Finally got that "career job". Then it went away and I still hadn't lost that career obsession. That caused me to make some stupid decisions which then quickly illuminated what's important in life.

I was then blessed with an opportunity to have my cake and eat it too. Started over at a regional but get to live near family and be home almost every night. Yes, the pay is too low for the responsibility, but that's life in the aiplane driver business right now.

Bottom line is that I love being an airline pilot despite the aggravation that comes with it sometimes. I am fortunate enought to have a reasonable flying job that allows me to tend to the real priorities in life.

 

[acaTerry]

Sure. You have to take this board with a grain of salt. Some of the people on here just spout off in no apparent direction or reason (me?). It's really enetertainment today, as there is not interview stuff to talk about these days.
I'm sure that alot of us who call each other names, say that someones airline sucks, etc really would do fine to have a drink or two together.
It's kind of like what we used to say in the Marines.....if they're b1tching, everything is well. But when the b1tching stops, look out!

 

[belchfire]

I like my job, I'm pretty happy, blahblah...just wish I ran out of
bills b4 paycheck.

I took a calculated risk on who I left hauling trash for to go get
turbine time(bfd, a crusty freight dog can fly any turbine transport out there). Could be making more as a FO at most regionals than as CA where I am. My bad...but at least I'm in the left seat.

I'd go back to hauling trash in a heartbeat if the pay was a little
better and I could sleep at home. Heck, I'd stay in the junkstream for the duration if there was any future in it! We have people that made MORE as instructors than at corpex. Great Lakes and Colgan may be a little worse off, I'm not sure.
Mesa, after probation is BETTER off...

But money ain't everything, and we do have a good pilot pool that are great people to fly with.

Bottom Line...pilots ain't happy unless they're bi*&%^(n and drinkin beer!

 

[BigFlyr]

I just hope that someday when I move on to another company, it can be as much fun flying there as it is at my current company.

Not to bash your otherwise "refreshing" post as someone else put it... but this is precisely what's wrong with the regional side of the industry and is trickling over to the majors. If flying at your current company is so much fun, then why not look at it as a long term career option? I'll tell you why, because you think the pay is too low and you deserve more for the job you do as a highly trained professional and the responsibility you have to ensure your passenger's safety. You're absolutely right!

 

[mullet]

I do like my job. Mostly because it really doesnt feel like much of a job most of the time. Going to the airport, talking to your buddys, and flying from A to B. Overnighted in Philly, next thing I knew, I'm at Springsteen concert at brand new Eagle stadium. Not planned, it just kind of happened . Eating at different restuarants, different cities, bars, and not really planning what your going do until you organize it, during your hotel van ride. Beings able to visit family and friends depending on what schedule you get that month. Not really knowing what youre going to do that day. Be able to leave your job at the airport on your days off. Off work for a month (voluntary leave), took me about 40 min. of revisions to be all caught up again. Not many jobs like that out there. As far a the flying goes, who cares I'm busy looking out the window, I just let the autopilot drive that what its there for.

 

[mullet]

pay still sucks!!!

 

[FMR_RGNL_PLT]

Wish I was as flexible as Mullet, unfortunately when you have a family one can't be as footloose and fancy free.

I love flying and was willing to endure all of the inconveniences, except a complete lack of job security........ I'm going back to flying a desk which will be a drag, but at least I'll be reasonably sure that I'll have a job in six months......

Life's all about compromises..... one just has to decide which type of crap he can live with the easiest!

 

[boeingdriver213]

I was furloughed in Jan. 03, and except for a few sim sessions I haven't touched an airplane since. Miss it bad, even at my advanced age. I have had several interviews, even had a job offer which I accepted flying a King Air, only to have it vaporize 3 days before I was scheduled for training. So now I am going to a j4j opportunity, and except for the commuting part, I am looking forward to being "up front" again. I did the Home Depot thing too. It's not all it's thought to be. Gimme an airplane any day over a non-aviation job!

 

[Heavy Set]

Boeingdriver,

Your situation sounds familiar - sucks don't it? Do you know which aircraft you will be training on? If you are USAirways (I think you are), what is the demand for the MidAtlantic EMB-170 positions? Difficult to bid? When does training for that begin?

Good luck

 

[boeingdriver213]

Instructors and line check airmen start training this month. Regular classes for the rest of us start in Nov. , 30 pilots/month I understand. They have to go thru the list of furloughed U pilots first, theb WO pilots, then everyone else. Could be as many as 350-400 guys added to MDA by the end of 2004. I saw the EMB-170 in PIT 2 days ago, pretty big airplane, looks like a mini airbus....

 

[colored_airman]

I wish I flew for a company that I can have nice overnights in Philly like mullet. But no, at Pinnacle most of our overnight are reduced rest and at places like cedar rapids, ia, appleton, wi, etc. you feel my pain. But flying the CRJ is what gives me the strength and motivation to come to work. Oh, did I mention the compensation here, well I think were making less than every respectable regional out there.

 

[chperplt]

I'm happy today.

The worst day since the accident was Tuesday, and now I'm finally starting to feel like myself again.



Oh.. For those complaining about crappy overnights.. Try being based in an outstation... You want to go back to Presque Isle, ME or Lebanon, NH every night after you work? How about Altoona or Johnstown PA? I can't wait until I work for a normal company that runs overnight trips.. Can't wait to spend the night in Fresno or Bakersfield.

 

[acaTerry]

Think I'll find an airline that does nothing but SJU to LAS!

 

[boeingdriver213]

ALl my years flying mainline and I rarely had enough seniority to get nice overnights like FLL, RSW, MIA, MSY, SEA, PHX, etc. I usually ended up in BUF, EWR, LGA, PVD, etc, not all bad, but nothing spectacular. Timing is everything!

 

[BlueCanoe]

Happy Guy

It's amazing. As a kid, all you do is dream about airplanes, and flying. I have a job that is doing what I've always dreamed about. Any job will have ups and downs, but you have to roll with it. It's a lifestyle job for sure. Some, no matter how long they've done it, never adjust. I am just as happy as can be. My wife has a flexible schedule. Sometimes we have lots of days off together, this month I can count them on one hand (allows me to type on this junk).

Just ask any kid which is cooler---Pilot or typing TPS reports?

There is Quantity of Life, and Quality Take your pick.