Lear70
JAFFO
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2003
- Posts
- 7,487
You'll notice a recurring them here. The young and rather "industry inexperienced" believe wholeheartedly they will make it to a major someday, when the reality simply ain't so. The older and more experienced pilot posting, the more "middle-ground" answer you get.Prop2Jet said:Here here! I will make it to a major someday, its always good to have goals- these by which drive me to fly everyday and better myself in hopes that I will make it their soon! If not then I will still be happy as I do have the best job around.
With the growth and expansion of "regional airlines", scope slowly but surely disappearing courtesy of ALPA, and airlines increasingly lowering the bar for both majors and regionals in an effort to lower costs, the result is fewer and fewer major airline AIRCRAFT to move on to.
As a simple math equation, there will be only a finite number of "Major Airline" jobs out there to be had. Do the math and you'll find that your odds of winning this particular lottery ticket are stacked against any individual pilot. You can stack the odds in your favor, but can never guarantee the outcome.
The only thing that keeps me coming here every day is the hope and fervent prayer that I will make it to bigger and better things. Every day that passes and it doesn't happen is that much closer to not being able to satisfy that hope and dream, it's a simple reality of the times we live in, so I concentrate on making this place a better place to come to work or STMFD.
Here's an exercise for you: create an Excel spreadsheet based on your current regional you work for -vs- getting hired at Southwest. Then project your CAREER earnings each year the goes by that you don't get hired... you'll see that, for most pilots, if you haven't gotten on with a major by age 42-45, you're pretty much SOL (the pay and QOL equal about the same and go DOWN after that age by changing jobs).
Think there aren't that many people in this boat? Take a look at your regional airline's seniority list's top 10-15% pilots. For each one of them is another pilot who got out of the industry when it became obvious they weren't going to make it.
Bottom line: about 30-40% of us won't, so you better make this "regional airline career" one worth staying at for life through negotiating better contracts. Otherwise, you may be doomed to LIVE with your contract the rest of your career.