Is ANYONE Happy At The Regionals?

[Boondock Saint]

Reading the threads in this area is so depressing. Yes I agree its mostly due to the industry and its seemingly downward spiral. Ive been watching regional news lately trying to gauge a direction I may want to go should the need arise to build more-different experience...and I cant help but get depressed.

The reality it seems is that no matter where I go I am going to get paid squat, live in a domicile that I dont want to, and most likely get treated like crap and worked to death.

Thats fine to an extent. Im all about paying my dues per say (within reason)...and I understand that I probably will never stop paying my dues...however...

Is ANYONE out there at a regional airline thats actually having a good time at their job and is still thankful to be doing what they are doing minus the hardships? It seems like everyone around here is always so pissed off...

I understand that the only reason to post around here it seems is to "vent" of sorts, but...

All the BS aside, are you relatively happy doing what you are doing?

I want to hear about it. Im curious as to what people say they enjoy about life as a regional pilot.

 

[Rogue5]

Only people who are upset complain.

The majority of those guys out there happy with their flying jobs won't but occasionally make their presence here known.

To answer your question: Yes, I genuinely enjoy my job, although I'd like to make about twice as much as I do. To that end I am attempting to advance my career, but as for right now, I enjoy the place I work and the people I work with.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

All things aside, it's still a good job from engine start to engine shut down...

 

[flyer172r]

The flying part is great, it's just all the other stuff we have to put up with to get to the flying part that's annoying.

 

[SluffPuppy]

I love it. Compared to a regular day job, this flying thing is awesome. Great people, great equipment, great company - plus you get leave your job at work and not bring it home. Most of the chronic complainers in this industry have, IMHO, never done anything else - ergo, they really don't know how good we have it. But as I've seen in someone else's signature, do it because you love it, not for the money.

 

[theo]

Yep...like the job very much. Better than many others I have had in the
past.

 

[Jack Mehoff]

Its fun to me because its never the same day out at the office. I am glad I am in the airlines. Mgmt sucks and pay could be better but thats life. I have many friends at real desk jobs that make more then me home every night and they hate their boring lives.
Lil behotches who think they are gods gift to the world will always whine about their QOL (god i am so sick of seeing that on here) and pay. I think you will see that at any job. It would be more depressing I think if they had a flightinfo for office space types.

 

[jeroom]

Ok... thank you for posting this thread... It's a bit refreshing... I also started to get bored of reading always people complaining about their jobs. (I understand... some have good reasons to!)

 

[FlyinTim]

thank god for a thread like this. I was going to die if i saw more negative things on how my future will be.

 

[rumrnr78]

Well let's see, domicile closes, forced to commute (will not move without new contract), company wants status quo on 50 seat rates (negotiated in 98)so this means no true raise. Soon to lose travel benefits (reduced priority). Airplanes flying full but Delta can't seem to turn a profit (maybe raise fares?)Do I need to go on?
I only hope we go on strike and show management that we are serious and tired of seeing this business go down the toilet! And, I hope that management will see the light and give us the quality of life improvements we are looking for and then the smile may return to my face when I am at work.

ps- The Regionals are no longer a stepping stone (I wish they were).

 

[Guitar Guy]

I agree the general sentiment of SluffPuppy's post. Flying was a career change for me and I greatly appreciate that I don't spend 5 or more days per week at the same old desk. I think it's important at the regional level to keep your eye on your goals and realize that the regionals are, for most people, merely a stepping stone, not unlike grad school.

In the end, we can each choose to be happy or not.

 

[labbats]

It's like any other job. It has its ups and downs. The other day I was done and in Miami at 10am. We stayed on the beach and it was 80 and sunny. Fantastic. But the prior week was all cancellations, deadheads and 5 approaches to absolute minimums all day. Then scheduling basically tells you they can and will do whatever they want with you because the company is so tight on money, they won't hire enough. So, you take the good with the bad, you take them both and there you have... oh, nevermind.

 

[PTS]

Thanks for the input guys. This has given me some hope that everything isn't all bad in the regionals. I have an interview coming up that I have been debating whether or not I really want to finally join the airlines, it's good to know people are happy out there. I've never been in aviation for the money or else I would have left long ago. But we have the best office with the greatest view available!

 

[fugghedabowdit]

Thanks for the input guys. This has given me some hope that everything isn't all bad in the regionals. I have an interview coming up that I have been debating whether or not I really want to finally join the airlines, it's good to know people are happy out there. I've never been in aviation for the money or else I would have left long ago. But we have the best office with the greatest view available!

That'll work for awihle, till you realize the mortgage needs to be paid and you want to see your kids. I'm not saying this biz doesn't have good things, there are some, but don't sell your soul for a "nice view".

 

[BRA]

I enjoyed a good amount of my time at colgan. The quick upgrade helped though. Life is much better in the left seat. Learned a lot, and then got out. I enjoyed the years as captain much better then the one year as FO though. Big difference. I know i wouldn't be happy stuck as an FO at a regional for years, jet ot prop. I least liked the northeast cold bases, and constant aircraft write ups and break downs.

 

[Hypoxik]

I only hope that this thread gets to be over 10 pages. Though the guys that are already in it complain, a bunch of us need to be positive. Granted things need to get better for everyone in the industry, but thats the way things are. Its better than everything else out there. Thats why we became pilots! I for one would not be happy as a cubicle guy.

Thanks again for this post!

 

[mrnolmts]

All the BS aside, are you relatively happy doing what you are doing?

Short answer: Yes.
Long version: We all like the flying part, or we wouldn't be here. However, there is more to it than that. Being faced with layoffs, concessions (pay and others), gruelling schedules, drafting (aka Junior Manning), etc etc, tends to dampen the happiness. Thus, I see absolutely nothing wrong with pilots seeking to improve their working conditions. To think management will do it for you is naive (in my opinion). Management would have you fly for free if they could.. Do I like my job? Absolutely!
Cheers!

 

[taloft]

I think you just have to get there and find out yourself. No one else can tell you if it's going to be worth it or not. All I can say is that if you really want to fly for a regional, then you at least owe it to yourself to find out first hand what it's like.

Is it worth going through all the effort to get there? Absolutely
Will it be worth it after you've done it for awhile? Who knows?

Just realize that there is a huge disparity between the perception of being a (regional) airline pilot and the reality.

 

[rogerdoger]

First of all. Thank you for posting this here thread. Its about time we for once expressed how we truly felt. And for the most, I really do like my job.

For instance, I'm living at home rent free, little to no bills. Which is good for only making 19.04$ per hour. The best part about being an airline pilot takes place out on the line. Its all the before and after that kinda kills the mood sometimes.

All things considered, I think we as human beings tend to dwell on the negative things in life. So thats why it seems so evident that we hate our jobs.

In actuality I really do love my job. It's a heck of a lot better than doing some kinda JERK OFF desk job.

 

[BRA]

Before flying I poured concrete floors and did home framing for 8 months. That is some rough work. 5-6 days a week, all the time, the rest of your career. The drywallers really worked hard, and i never really saw older guys doing that type of work. It just beats you up. I guess that background makes me appreciate my job more. Framing houses in the northeast in january is no picnic. I also did a few years of retail work at marshalls department store. Could not do that long term, even if they did make me a manager.

 

[RJP]

Love it? Nah.
Like it? I guess.
Could it be better? Absolutely!
Could it be worse? Unfortunately, yes.

But where else can you get paid a whopping $20k a year take-home while not killing a planeload of people on a daily basis?

Living the dream....

 

[BOHICAgain]

agree with everyone.. Doing something Ive always wanted to do. The prestige of flying a jet goes away quickly and all that is left is QOL. We get upset when we are told we have to work on our day off. First year pay stinks but that the way it has to be. It is awsome to live where you want to live even thou commuting sucks.. so Yes I am happy...for now...

 

[Atccfi]

I used to be in the restaurant business and we used to have a saying/rule of thumb....

An unhappy diner will complain to 10 people.... a satisfied diner might tell 1....

You never hear anybody anywhere talk about how happy they are... nobody really wants to hear it anyways.... How many happy dramas do you have on tv....

I guess my point is that unfortunately you only speak up when you're unhappy...

 

[Sun Devil 2000]

I agree with a previous post .. I love my job from the point when I disconnect from the push cart tuntil I line up at the gate and have to call for the ramp rats to get off their butts and do their f-in jobs.

I also have a new attitude towards my company when they extend me and/or take away a day off (unless its a weekend and then I get really pissed). I just remember that they are screwing themselves because every extra hour I fly gets me closer to the door.