Looming pilot shortage at regional airlines...

[Magneto]

I know of a bunch of Captains at SkyWest that make 100,000 + a year. Granted you don't have 20 days off a month either. It's not as hard as everyone thinks.

 

[labbats]

After you pay off your alimony for the wife that left you because you were always out flying overtime, that $100k isn't quite so much.

 

[Catnhat]

Quote: Among educators, these concerns have resurrected the idea for a government-sponsored national aviation academy to take up the slack in training future pilots.

This is great! We're all here talking about how lousy this profession CAN be with low pay and furloughs and the "Educators" want to start a government sponsored academy. Can you say welfare? Just what the airlines need, more government subsidy to keep salaries low.

How about letting the system work? If a shortage ever develops, salaries will rise and more people will get into aviation because the pay is better. Simple principle that worked well until so many people decide that the government should fix every problem. Isn't this what deregulation was supposed to allow to happen?

 

[ERJFO]

Why so bitter? Jealous of the fact that I have a good in at the most profitable major in the world and that I'll never have to fly for a commuter to get there?

I guess I'm not bitter or jealous. I was just angry because of the condesention and "tone" that you used in your post. Someday when I make it to a major (profitable or not) and my CA or FO asks me "how did you end up hear?" I can tell him that I bused my ass flight instructing, then got hired to fly a busted up King Air while I was in college, and finally flew an ERJ for a company that I love and respect. I will earn my peers respect as they realize I worked hard to earn my job and that I did not have to use a "silver spoon" to get hired. In addition they (as well as myself) will appreciate the skill set that my experiences have given me and realize they all combine to make me a better pilot. I'm only 22 and with one more jump to make (barring any furloughs) I guess I'll have plenty of time to enjoy whatever major I end up at and should really not be that upset at your attitude and position. I'm sorry for using profanity towards you. Good luck with your carrer.

Out of curriousity what major do you have your in at?

 

[SkyBoy1981]

I guess I'm not bitter or jealous. I was just angry because of the condesention and "tone" that you used in your post. Someday when I make it to a major (profitable or not) and my CA or FO asks me "how did you end up hear?" I can tell him that I bused my ass flight instructing, then got hired to fly a busted up King Air while I was in college, and finally flew an ERJ for a company that I love and respect. I will earn my peers respect as they realize I worked hard to earn my job and that I did not have to use a "silver spoon" to get hired. In addition they (as well as myself) will appreciate the skill set that my experiences have given me and realize they all combine to make me a better pilot. I'm only 22 and with one more jump to make (barring any furloughs) I guess I'll have plenty of time to enjoy whatever major I end up at and should really not be that upset at your attitude and position. I'm sorry for using profanity towards you. Good luck with your carrer.

Out of curriousity what major do you have your in at?

Ready2Fly is Rhoid. He does nothing but post flame bait under various identities. He thrives on attention, so just ignore him.

 

[Lear70]

But they are not making $35K after 10 years in the business, most are making close to $100K.

WTF are YOU smoking?

10 years in the business making six figures? Not likely, unless you count the people who PFT and jump right into a regional and STAY there.

Otherwise, 2 years of flight instructing, 3 years as a regional F/O, then 5 years as a CA puts them at 8th year CA pay on most RJ's around $75-80 an hour. Even if they fly 1,000 hours a year with work rules that add 10% to their paycheck you're still only around $85k - $90k a year.

Then you go to work for a major (if you're lucky) and drop back down to $30k to $45k a year for another 3 or 4 years before you get even CLOSE to six figures again.

That still puts a pilot in the upper 10% of US wage earners. That is not a bad place to be. If you like to fly this is still a great career.

Sure, not a bad place to be... as long as you live in a moderately-expensive location and don't have more than 1 or 2 kids. If you DO, you just put yourself living about the same as you did when you were single and making $55k. Comfortable, but not fantastic.

I taught my son to fly and he is a professional pilot, I am teaching my grandson to fly and will encourage him to pursue his interest in flying if it matches his father's and grandfather's.

Good for you. Seriously, I'm glad it's worked out for you. For me...?

I'm playing subliminal messaging tapes to my 7-month old... they keep saying:

"Med school, cardio-thoracic surgeon, plastic surgeon, fly for FUN..."

Looks like an old troll has a new name today... Ready2Fly. Jeez, don't you have anything better to do?

 

[JohnnyP]

....

I'm not sure why everyone thinks that being a doctor, or a lawyer, or some financial type is the ticket to financial and emotional satisfaction, it really isnt. You hate your hours now? Go talk to some poor, burnt out middle-tier lawyer, or some doctor who didnt end up being a beverly hills physican. Their wives will divorce them because they are always gone, just like they are going to divorce us. You need to help your kids foster their athletic talent so they can excell in some sport and make multi-multi millions of dollars chasing a ball around. Yes, I am bitter they make 30 million dollars a year and I dont. My son will be a professional football player, weather he likes it or not, and my daughter will be a tennis player, weather she likes it or not. Then they can support us, buying us houses, cars, all the things we couldnt have by being pilots. Now, where did I put those old football cleats.........

 

[OOflyer]

I know of a bunch of Captains at SkyWest that make 100,000 + a year. Granted you don't have 20 days off a month either. It's not as hard as everyone thinks.

Yea if you stay with the company till the end of time or are one of those guys that are involved with the company more than they are with the family and have no life outside flying.

What these SJS kids in college need to realise is that if they get into aviation, they will need to spend years of flying just to make what their friends in college made right out of college. A bio grad out of college makes around as much as a Reg CA. Meanwhile John Doe struggles who's a reg FO struggles to live in an apartment with 9 other FOs, that make 1500/ month.

 

[pilotyip]

Wrong route

[FONT=&quot]Lear the money is not in the RJ route; it is in the cargo route, bigger airplanes, and bigger paychecks. I have seen too many of our younger pilots in their 20's approach the $100K figure. As far as living on your pay got to be in the right place. One of our pilots just bought a house in ND, payments are $76/mo including taxes. 3 BR, 1 bath 1200 sq ft on a 60 x 40 lot. Purchase price $6,000. On his$80K/yr he lives like a king. Plus with our CASS program jumpseating is pretty straightforward. BTW you are really a lucky guy you are flying the 727, the one plane I really wanted to fly but never got the chance[/FONT]

 

[SkyBoy1981]

[FONT=&quot]On his$80K/yr he lives like a king. [/FONT]

I don't think kings live in North Dakota.

 

[cybourg10]

It is not the 20 yr old kid with SJS who is driving down wages, its the 28 yr old lawyer or accountant that already is making a decent living and is able to take out an $80k loan and buy their way into the right seat. These are the d-bags I hear say stuff like well I still have quite a bit of $ in my savings account from my last job so I don't give a sh***t if I barely make any $, I'll be flying a jet!!!! Most of us 20 yr old kids have to get it done cheap and instruct/work another job for a couple years and pay our dues. I wish the 30-something yr old guys would just keep their current job and fly for fun instead of selling their house and paying for a program that gets them into an RJ at 500 hrs, but those with more $ will always have an advantage. But I agree with the pilotyip, there is better money in going the cargo route...

 

[Flying Ninja]

As long as these future pilots don't attend the CAPT program they'll be just fine...

 

[LAFrequentflyer]

Flying Ninja - you also on airlinepilotcentral?

IF so thanks for you candid story...It was a real eyeopener to the dangers that lurk for would be students interested in flying for a profession.


-LAFF

 

[Metro752]

It is not the 20 yr old kid with SJS who is driving down wages, its the 28 yr old lawyer or accountant that already is making a decent living and is able to take out an $80k loan and buy their way into the right seat. These are the d-bags I hear say stuff like well I still have quite a bit of $ in my savings account from my last job so I don't give a sh***t if I barely make any $, I'll be flying a jet!!!! Most of us 20 yr old kids have to get it done cheap and instruct/work another job for a couple years and pay our dues. I wish the 30-something yr old guys would just keep their current job and fly for fun instead of selling their house and paying for a program that gets them into an RJ at 500 hrs, but those with more $ will always have an advantage. But I agree with the pilotyip, there is better money in going the cargo route...

BEST POST I'VE READ IN AWHILE!!!!!!!

 

[Jpilot23]

someone educate me

i guess i don't understand because i don't fly for a regional airline. But seriously why is everyone so angry about this article. If you guys are so upset about the money your making in the regionals...then move on. I'm sure there is something out there that pays better. it sounds like alot of people in this biz got in it for the big bucks. surly you had to see better things out there. Aviation is only for a select few. i think most of the times people go..hey how can i make the most money without doing anything. i know AVIATION!! and then they get where they want and its not all easy work. so people complain about what they aren't getting. I guess i might learn what the deal is when/if i actually get an interview and get hired. Most of my flying has been corporate and i have been very lucky to get the flying.

But it seems to me that unfortunately the pilot community i've been around loves to complain about something. SO please tell me whats to complain about. I knew getting into the biz that i wasn't gonna make 100k a year. and i knew that i'd probably have to commute a bunch and not be home. i knew that it would take me about 4 years to get where i want to be. And yeah i've spent money on my training, but who hasn't? you guys can't tell me that one of you hasn't spent some kind of money on his/her training. i can understand being made at someone who dropped 35k on a CRJ sim and got all this turbine time because they have the money.

IF i'm that guy who drives your wages down then i guess i'm sorry. i don't think i am. but i am like alot of the people out there who flight instruct and can't wait till they land that first job flying somebody somewhere. All of you have been there.

 

[Skaff]

Boy I'm glad I've got an in at the most profitable major and won't have to put up with the regional BS.

I hope your kidding with your 450 hours. I had an in at a profitable major airline at one point, but he got killed in a plane crash. Think my game changed? Pull your head out of your butt. 450 hours and already going to the majors. Good luck, it'll eat you alive.

 

[Metro752]

I hope your kidding with your 450 hours. I had an in at a profitable major airline at one point, but he got killed in a plane crash. Think my game changed? Pull your head out of your butt. 450 hours and already going to the majors. Good luck, it'll eat you alive.

It is pulling your leg. Someone will post his other usernames here eventually.

 

[cybourg10]

And yeah i've spent money on my flight training, but who hasn't?

Military pilots...

IF i'm that guy who drives your wages down then i guess i'm sorry.

IF you are that kind of guy you can expect to hear this quite often in the future: "Sorry sport, looks like we are going to be over max gross. I won't be able to let you jumpseat this flight, best of luck on the next one."

But lets hope you aren't that kind of guy........

 

[OOflyer]

I knew getting into the biz that i wasn't gonna make 100k a year. and i knew that i'd probably have to commute a bunch and not be home. i knew .

Don't say that I knew getting into this biz I wasn't going to make 100k, that means that you are giving in to the company and are willing to get down on your knees to get that flying job. What you can do to help is go only for the companies that have higher salaries, if they don't accept you continue to instruct untill you get in, don't go to a company that pays slave wages. That way companies will be forced to raise salaries. It's kind of hopeless when people pay 25K to ATP to buy a job at eagle,expressjet,pinnacle. That is what we are complaining about.

 

[list2002]

God forbid in a country like The United States of America you would like to pursue the profession you desire.
Only cybourgs know what they are when they are created.