Any happy regional pilots out there?

[SkyWstman]

This is my second regional. My first one went out of bussiness three years after I got hired. Then I got on with Skywest and have been here ten years. Love it. Being fairly senior helps with getting good schedules and the pay , well it pays the bills and a little extra. My kids are healthy, my wife still wants me to come home at night. I guess it's all good.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I am a freight pilot, and I like my job. I graduated from college in 1984, and this is the best job that I've had. That being said, I would leave if I found a job that is definitely better.

Horizon, Air WI and Comair would be definitely better than the job I have now.

Cliff
SDF

 

[hagen]

Artic you haven't ever used a ditch witch have you. Digging ain't that bad!!!

 

[hydroflyer]

Perhaps an advantage to flying for the airlines (major or regional) or cargo is that at least if you have a bad day, it usually won't carry over to the next (unless it is really bad). Think back to instructing, one bad student or problem could linger for days, weeks or years.

Reading some of these posts, you can see how some still fly because they find ways to enjoy it, and others are getting very bored with it. I guess that is why I'm not in a rush to advance to large airplanes, once you're there, what next? Pay is good, but bordom can increase as well. Personally I'm just enjoying different airplanes and seeing what happens. Who knows maybe I'll retire at a regional. But hey, if I'm based where I want to be, have a descent salary and can maintain a good quality of life, why complain? The trick is to be hired by good companies so that you can leave if you want, not because the company is so bad that you have to leave.

 

[Jeepman]

If I were single I would love this job. Being married makes me wish I was doing something else to be home every night. SkyWest is a very good regional to work for, although UAL is really dragging us through the mud and that is frustrating.

Sometimes I get more disgusted at the vulgarity on this board. People don't realize how stupid they sound when they cuss on here.

 

[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!!!