Is this what it's come down to?

[Clyde]

nobody was trying to discourage anyone

wingnutt,

sorry if that got misinterpreted. that wasn't directed at anything posted on this thread. it was meant as to not be discouraged by people or circumstances while working on gaining experience.

 

[Timebuilder]

Scuba, all of those higher time pilots, who have no other skill (or one they want to use) and will accept an entry level wage to stay "in the game" will be displacing you and other similar pilots, including me, for years to come. Why? The number of jobs that pay a "traditional" wage, the one we'd aspire to, are shrinking and the number of lower wage flying jobs is increasing. The industry is adjusting to the GLUT of pilots.

When kids figure out that the high pay jobs will continue to wane, fewer will enter the game, and we will be back to equilibrium. It will be better in ten years.

But not a lot better.

 

[DenverDude2002]

I met a nice fellow at a baseball game recently. He was an ex UAL 744 captain/check airman, retired 3 yrs ago, got hired on with UAL during the vietnam war with 56 hrs, no multi, no ifr. UAL paid for him to get his multi/ifr and he went straight to a 727 FE position, then FO, then Capt, then to the DC10 as a capt and spent the last 10 yrs on the 747-400. He retired 3 months before 9/11. Talk about having perfect timing.....

 

[labbats]

I believe all those Vietnam-era baby boomers are going to be forced to retire at age 60 still, right? So movement is inevitable.

 

[bobbysamd]

Timing and luck

Talk about having perfect timing.....

I would call it exquisite.

That gentleman's case was very much the exception. Most people have to work their way up. Then, they have to be lucky. One could be the perfect applicant and interview perfectly. But, if everyone else who comes in that day is similarly perfect, how do the H.R. coneheads choose? I would submit that either names are pulled out of a hat or darts are thrown at a dartboard.

Some people have a golden touch. Anything they touch turns to gold. Others get there eventually after working hard. And, of course, for some, there is you-know-what.

 

[Draginass]

I think the hiring situation is going to be bad for the next 7 years or so. Thousands of heavy pilots on the street. One aviation consultant group sees a lot of regionals being sold off from their major before they get stuck with a bunch of inefficient RJs, high fuel prices, and depressed ticket prices. In a few years there's going to be a glut of inefficient RJs and RJ operators and a lot are going to go bust.

Even if you get hired by an airline, don't consider it a career, just a job . . . . and keep your resume updated. Retirement . . . forget it, it up to you. Management considers you in the same class as the Chinese guy making trinkets to sell in Walmart.

 

[labbats]

Hey, wow. An optomist.

 

[khsgt]

KEEP AT IT!

Scubbari,

Even today there are some getting hired with only 1500 at the regionals...just keep at it, everybody will get their shot. Don't get frustrated and don't quit! I got on with a regional in november of last year with 1530TT. Took me a year and 100's of resume's/updates, but when they start calling, it seems it is all at once. When it rains, it pours, but when its a draught, its really a draught. Just wait for the change.

Greasy side down!

 

[350DRIVER]

I bust my ass, spend 50k+ to get ratings, build time, give up my life, and with 1500tt, and 200me, according to my boss, I'm not even qualified to fly an Aztec, without

Talk to our favorite female poster on the board, English who has ties to get people hired right at 1500TT as a captain in a CJ (citation jet) .. Oh she has, she has, and she has seen it first hand!!!!

pretty comical thread with regards to her posts on the general board to say the least.

3 5 0

 

[ArcticFlier]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned (or if it has, I missed it) is that employment is a lagging indicator of how the economy is doing. It's on the upswing. Just be patient, and it'll happen. That's not to say you don't have to continue busting your a$$ for a bit longer. I got hired in '91, at the tail end of a hiring boom. It's all cycles, man.

Hang in there,

AF