I think I want out!

[capt. megadeth]

You might want to try being a teacher. Can't beat the sked. They are in demand. All you need is a 4year and your cfi exp will help if you spin it the right way. Depending on where you are in the US they start between 30 and 40 K. My cousin graduated from Penn State last year and started teaching science last fall at a HS north of Philly PA and he makes what I'm making now, about 38,000/yr.

Wow! Woo hoo.....$38K! That ain't jack! What will he top out at $50K???? Teachers don't make nearly what they are worth. They get shafted paywise more than pilots do, IMO.

 

[kmox29]

Take it from me 9-5 sucks... I was at a regional for four years got on with Delta, 911 furloughed, worked as an accountant for three years. Came back to another regional in right seat of 1900, left before furlough flew 135 on demand and now am with a frac. Never have made a descent living flying but love the job and hated pushing a pencil around a desk.

GOOD LUCK!

I disagree....I will agree that working 9-5 (or 30 minutes a day for that matter) as an accountant would suck, but not every 9-5 is a drag.

Leaving the regionals was the smartest decision I have made. It was a hard decision, but a smart one. I have a life now.

7 years with a regional, left as a CA. My STARTING pay is what my 7 YEAR CA PAY was.

 

[gator_hater]

Wow! Woo hoo.....$38K! That ain't jack! What will he top out at $50K???? Teachers don't make nearly what they are worth. They get shafted paywise more than pilots do, IMO.

GOOD Teachers don't get paid enough. The majority are over paid.

 

[Rerouted]

Same here

Hey Kmox29 - same here. I left the regionals after a few years of lousy schedules, disgustingly low pay and all the rest that goes with it and couldn't be happier to be out. Sure I miss flying, but I like the idea of having a real future in my new business - and in all honesty I work a lot fewer hours (if you take all the non-paid aviation duty time hours into account). I tip my hat to anyone who flies for a regional...it's only reward is intrinsic. There are many ways to make a much better life for yourself outside of aviation...and yes, still enjoy going to work everyday. It's like anything else...being away from it is easy - getting to the point of resigning takes a lot of real honesty with yourself. Best of luck to anyone who jumps out....it's a lot better than just "not so bad" out here.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Rerouted,
What business did you escape into?

 

[Rerouted]

A little more ground based

I bailed out into the real estate business. While the market is slowing down from where it was, it still only takes 3 house sales a year to exceed what I made as a regional pilot. So far I've got 3 deals done and one in the works. Granted I work in the Northeast where you can't buy much of a house for under $500K...which helps with the commission checks!!

 

[CopilotDoug]

I could see getting a 9-5er when the time is right, like the house sale stuff. Getting a regular job can be a roll of the dice though. There's a very good possibility you might be working for some Bill Lumberg protoge and man I tell you what, THAT would SUCK! Gotta get a job where you are your own boss.

 

[SBD]

erjguy, do you truly love flying? Do you think flying is cool or is it your job? A senior pilot asked me that and it made me think. Most of us love what we do. Many had prior 9-5 jobs and truly hated it. Just because you don't fly for a airline(regional) doesn't mean you are not a complete pilot. I'm relatively new to the regionals but I understood what I was getting into. Do you want to go through what the regionals ask of a new hire again? Pay sucks and most new guys will accept this because they are told that we are just starting to build our career. "Better opportunities will eventually come." Getting on with a nice corporate or fractional gig doesn't seem to bad. Evaluate what you want out of life and then make your decision. Take into consideration that I'm just a newbie.
P.S. I sure hope that Human Development degree pays off if this flying career doesn't work out!

 

[rsspilot]

Yeah I read what he said, did you,Mr. Holier-than-thou?



He's getting furloughed from Trans States, and that sucks. I asked him how much flight time he had because alot of regionals are hiring. Depending on how much time he has, he can get hired on everywhere from Mesa to CAL. Maybe he doesn't want to keep flying, or maybe he doesn't have any options, I dunno...

Most of the people that say "go do a trade" or "I can make twice as much money doing _____" are the same people that DON'T and ruin the atmosphere for everybody else.

If you don't like the industry, then quit - there are plenty of jobs available out there for somebody with a bachelors degree.

Well said.......I agree....give the rest of us a chance to pursue the profession we love.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Has anyone made the move out of the industry?

I got out for about 4.5 years in the mid 90's. Most of the regionals had embraced PFT and I wasn't about to subsidize business expenses that should be handled by an employer. Lots of other guys got out too. Many went into computer related work and some did pretty well during the dotcom boom.
I went back into sales in the construction industry and made some money, sometimes more in a month or two than regional pilots made in a year back then.

If I were you I'd look at corporate or fractionals unless you like starting over for next to nothing.

The only reason I'm still doing this job is that I don't commute and I'm not gone overnight too much. I also have a side business ( www.IPsails.com ) that I really enjoy. I expect the side business to generate enough income in the not too distant future that I can just bank my flying bankcheck and pretend that money doesn't exist until it's time to retire.

 

[exhaustgas]

What's good for one isn't necessarily good for antoher. You can take all of our opinions but only YOU can decide what is best my friend. Remember this, if you do step out, you will always be a pilot, and nobody can take your experiences away from you. My story... I am out. Have been for a little more than a year now. These guys are right, it beats working for a living, but...If you like to see your family, sig other, etc. grow up or spend nights with your loved one, then you can not put a pricetag on this. It is priceless. You have to decide what your personal priorities are. You will realize that a degree in Aeronautical Science (or equiv) will get you jack. If you pusue a new degree or industry your general ed classes will xfr to a new degree. Personally, I am employed as a medic and in Nursing School. Looking for a career in Triage Nursing c/in Emergency Medicine. There is an industry 180 degrees from this. They are in HUGE DEMAND, you help others, and the pay and benefits are OUTSTANDING. Work 2 days a week and make 55k your first year, work 5 days a week and make 6 figs. Job security and wondering if you will work for the same employer a year from now, not an issue. However this said, it isn't being a pilot. It isn't glorious (then again is there any left in this industry that has had the bar lowered more and more every year?). I'm not trying to sell the healthcare profession, or any profession, just trying to weigh the sides for ya. I miss flying, I always will. You take for granted the perks, the joy it brings and if you get out you will miss it, but no more will you live the life of your kids (if applicable) through your cell phone or live your relationships c/a sig other through your cell phone counting the days till you can go home. No more Christmas at the Denny's with some guy or gal you can barely endure another week with.

Only you can decide. It will take alot of humble pie. It's hard to put 4 yrs of education, instructing, and professional flying aaside and start from scratch with High School Grads. However, if you do go back to school or go to work in another industry, and people will ask "Why are you here if you are a pilot?". But 8 hours later you are home in your own bed in your own home.

Best of Luck.
As they say...
"Do da right thing!!!"

And for god's sake....If you do stay in, do what you can to raise the bar. Stop letting mgt get away with treating "us" like they are doing us a favor. Hold your ground, and get the pay where it belongs so we don't have to have these conversations. I am all for one union, and a union that can have the power to discriminate against the PFT guys and the I'll fly for food guys who accept these ridiculous wages and working conditions. It'll never get better if the industry as a whole can unite and put a stop to it.

See ya!

 

[BizPilot]

My thoughts:

The Love:
I LOVE my flying. I have a nice paying, predictable corporate job. I get to go pull the Cheyenne IV out of the hangar each morning around 7am, prep it, do as much pre-flight planning as I desire in my own hangar office fully equipped with the latest computer technology. My passengers show-up leisurely, climb aboard, and we blast off to our destination. I engage the Collins autopilot and slide my chair back and enjoy a hot cup of Starbucks coffee at FL240. My company arranges a rental car at our destination. I go off to do what I want in a different city each day until my cell phone rings. We meet back at the airport around 3pm or 4pm, and I am home around 5 or 6pm. All this for $65K a year.

The Hate:
But I HATE the regional airlines and what they have done to the industry.
The regional airlines are the ulitmate disgrace and embarrassment to the professional pilot. It continues to boggle my mind how many 'put-up', or 'sacrifice' to go to the regionals to build time, or use the 'stepping-stone' excuse. At what cost: Your marriage? Your family? Starvation? How can one be 'honorable' in a regional pilot position when it pays less than a starting wage at McDonalds? That is a choice to work for the regionals, but I have my right to knock-it too....and I will continue to knock-it until the day comes when aviation jobs actually exceed the pilot-pool population. Many of us were mis-lead in the 90's by Air, Inc. and others: "Prepare for the up-and-coming Pilot Shortage". Never happened, most likely never will. The ploy was a join-agreement/cover-up by aviation universities around the country to attract students (ERAU, UND, Spartan, etc.).

Continue to expect $15,000 a year REGIONAL jobs with very low QOL (Quality Of Life), all-while rich daddies brag about little Johnny getting a regional job, and the denial part of rich daddy continues to send rent, food, car payment, and student loan money.

That is my HATE and my LOVE of aviation gentelmen.

 

[rod farva]

F*** yeah, I'm out, already in pharmacy school. Life is good.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I am employed as a medic and in Nursing School. Looking for a career in Triage Nursing c/in Emergency Medicine.

Aaaahhhh, nursing eh? I have been an ER nurse part time since I began to flight instruct. 8 years later, I have had enough and the most I have worked as a nurse is 2 days a week. Sure the money is good. I have made up to $56/hr. Of course that is working 12 hour days on the weekend. Don't forget having to alternate holidays. It's a great SIDE job, that's about it. Have fun working you a$$ off for that money. NO WAY I would ever give up flying to work as a nurse....no thanks! Good luck to you man....truly. Maybe the grass will be greener for you on the nursing side....it's definitely greener on the flying side for me.

 

[Regul8r]

As has been said before, flying is as much a lifestyle as it is a job. Some people just can't hack it. Should they be looked down upon for this shortcoming? (Insert sarcasm here) Absolutely! And feel free to judge them without mercy!

 

[007]

My thoughts:


The Hate:
But I HATE the regional airlines and what they have done to the industry.
The regional airlines are the ulitmate disgrace and embarrassment to the professional pilot. It continues to boggle my mind how many 'put-up', or 'sacrifice' to go to the regionals to build time, or use the 'stepping-stone' excuse. At what cost: Your marriage? Your family? Starvation? How can one be 'honorable' in a regional pilot position when it pays less than a starting wage at McDonalds? That is a choice to work for the regionals, but I have my right to knock-it too....and I will continue to knock-it until the day comes when aviation jobs actually exceed the pilot-pool population. Many of us were mis-lead in the 90's by Air, Inc. and others: "Prepare for the up-and-coming Pilot Shortage". Never happened, most likely never will. The ploy was a join-agreement/cover-up by aviation universities around the country to attract students (ERAU, UND, Spartan, etc.).

Like the entry jobs in other times ever had any better pay or schedule, actually worse.

I have been on the corporate side of things and not all jobs out there are as rosy as yours. Not everyone is that lucky.

 

[wiggsfly]

I'm looking at going back to school and working towards teaching at a university somewhere. As for flying, I will always fly. I loved being a CFI more than anything. I just won't do it to support myself anymore.

 

[Smarta$$]

Well said.......I agree....give the rest of us a chance to pursue the profession we love.

Hey goatjet pilot, You already have the last airline job you will ever have.

 

[KaptainKarl]

I disagree....I will agree that working 9-5 (or 30 minutes a day for that matter) as an accountant would suck, but not every 9-5 is a drag.

Leaving the regionals was the smartest decision I have made. It was a hard decision, but a smart one. I have a life now.

7 years with a regional, left as a CA. My STARTING pay is what my 7 YEAR CA PAY was.
__________________

Got out too. No regrets. Love being home every night and sleeping in my own bed.
...Flying? Yeah, I borrow a buddies plane and go. Tons of fun. No pax complaining and no crew sked.

 

[jtrain609]

Is that BK from Kalamazoo?