HalinTexas
昇る太陽の土&#
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2004
- Posts
- 1,536
Plain and simple: We can't afford it. In case you didn't know, when you leave one flying job for another you give up seniority and the pay comiserate with the years of service.
When you're at a regional/small jet operator it's easier to take the hit to start over. When you've moved on to higher paying companies it's embarrassing to say the least to take the pay cut.
Ex: I started at the other, really crappy, TSA in late 1993. Made $16,600 my first year. Spent five long years there, left for greener pastures in late 1998 in the middle of Jungle jet transition. I was to be the No. 1 Captain in JFK on an RJ making about $43,000 a year. Ever try to live in NYC on that income? That's why I commute. To live where it's cheaper. Duh!
To continue. I took a $10,000/year paycut to go to ATA. Hired into the L10. Pay, benefits, schedules weren't all that great, but it was a he!! of a lot better than where I came from. I got a B757 type as an FO/IO and bought a house in 2003 based on FO pay in 2002. I upgraded to Captain on the B737 in less than 5 years in a slightly better state of the industry. I thought I had it made. Was pretty damn happy, in fact, 2003 was the happiest year of my life. 2004 sucked, one of the worst.
Today. ATA is in BK, should emerge, but then so what? We're a whiff of swamp gas compared to what we were. I turned 40 and began my 8th year at ATA last month. I've been downgraded to FO on the B73. I made $123K last year, now I'm making about $67K, $5K less than I was making 3 years ago. If there was no BK, paycuts/freezes etc. I'd be making around $150 a year! Holy sh!t. If they doesn't upset someone even just a little, then I don't know what to tell you.
New hire pay at the larger carriers is somewhere between $30K (CAL) to $50K (SWA, FEDEX) to $40K at Netjets (nice job, btw).
My home life is awsome. When I go home, all is well, I'm very happy.
Here's your answer. What do you tell your family, your creditors, your child-support dependent ex, or your non-aviation friends why you took another huge paycut to start over? I'm a grown man with adult responsibilities. If I could go sideways in this career (gaffaw! :laugh: ) I would, but it's not so simple. So you stick it out if you can, interview at places you can afford to go if they'll hire you, and hope for the best. In the mean time, it's my career, I'll cry if I want to.
When you're at a regional/small jet operator it's easier to take the hit to start over. When you've moved on to higher paying companies it's embarrassing to say the least to take the pay cut.
Ex: I started at the other, really crappy, TSA in late 1993. Made $16,600 my first year. Spent five long years there, left for greener pastures in late 1998 in the middle of Jungle jet transition. I was to be the No. 1 Captain in JFK on an RJ making about $43,000 a year. Ever try to live in NYC on that income? That's why I commute. To live where it's cheaper. Duh!
To continue. I took a $10,000/year paycut to go to ATA. Hired into the L10. Pay, benefits, schedules weren't all that great, but it was a he!! of a lot better than where I came from. I got a B757 type as an FO/IO and bought a house in 2003 based on FO pay in 2002. I upgraded to Captain on the B737 in less than 5 years in a slightly better state of the industry. I thought I had it made. Was pretty damn happy, in fact, 2003 was the happiest year of my life. 2004 sucked, one of the worst.
Today. ATA is in BK, should emerge, but then so what? We're a whiff of swamp gas compared to what we were. I turned 40 and began my 8th year at ATA last month. I've been downgraded to FO on the B73. I made $123K last year, now I'm making about $67K, $5K less than I was making 3 years ago. If there was no BK, paycuts/freezes etc. I'd be making around $150 a year! Holy sh!t. If they doesn't upset someone even just a little, then I don't know what to tell you.
New hire pay at the larger carriers is somewhere between $30K (CAL) to $50K (SWA, FEDEX) to $40K at Netjets (nice job, btw).
My home life is awsome. When I go home, all is well, I'm very happy.
Here's your answer. What do you tell your family, your creditors, your child-support dependent ex, or your non-aviation friends why you took another huge paycut to start over? I'm a grown man with adult responsibilities. If I could go sideways in this career (gaffaw! :laugh: ) I would, but it's not so simple. So you stick it out if you can, interview at places you can afford to go if they'll hire you, and hope for the best. In the mean time, it's my career, I'll cry if I want to.