New (Older) Pilots staying w/ Regionals

[wuberoo]

Are there many 40+ yr old pilots coming out to the regionals? And because of their age, do they typically have to stay w/ the regional because of lack of hours and experience? Would you find many of them going overseas w/ low time?

 

[mesaserf]

The choices I made were my own. I have passed up chances to move on that were in retrospect poor judgment. I would like to think that I still have a chance to move on to another airline, and so far my choices are primarily overseas.

It is somewhat sad to think that to earn a good wage I must leave the country of my birth.

 

[IBNAV8R]

In the case of my airline (myself included), it has nothing to do with low time. Yes there are some 'late-start' new hires who may or may not stay. But a 40+ captain, who's been with the company 10 or more years, is probably bidding a fairly decent schedule, days off he/she wants, equipment she/he wants and makes sufficient (not great) money.

A few years ago, when majors were hiring, I looked at going somewhere else. It would have taken 8 years just to make parity (in pay alone). This assumes I would not have been furloughed. Of course, this would have been a grave assumption. Then, it would have been at least 15 years to upgrade and I would NEVER again have the QOL I have now.

My guess is that by the 40s, most regional pilots figure out that success and QOL are not measured by only looking at one's paycheck. And, they certainly don't worry about measuring up as a pilot solely by the size of their chosen aircraft - especially as they enjoy their beer from a lawn chair, on a holiday weekend, while watching 'heavies' fly overhead.

 

[amcnd]

Back in the day.. (no rj's) the max you could make was 50-60k at a good company. (so most people had to move on)...Today (RJ) its easy to break 100K. Live in base, Ski 3-4 days a week in the winter, bike ride in the summer... It's hard to think of commuting to JFK and give most of what i have up for years, before it starts to come back..

 

[Dumb Pilot]

The "Golden Handcuffs" are very difficult to get off, specially when at the age of 40+ you have a family and kids going to college etc. I don't think that there are many opportunities for low time guys abroad, just about every gig out there requires experienced pilots and the competition for those jobs is intense. You can't really speak in general terms because every individual situation is different (Wife has a good job, retirement from another source such as the military, a side business etc.) but the older you get pass the age of 40 the more your regional 10+ year seniority will become your career because to be able to go to a major at that point means that you have to subsidize that move with another source of income or make a huge sacrifice of savings/retirement funds. In my case I landed a pretty good opportunity and I'm happy with my choice but would I have left to go to UAL, CAL at the age of 43? difficult to say but I think it would have been unlikely.

 

[blott]

I skied 53 days last season...

B

 

[wuberoo]

OK, so if I understand it right from your replies, a new pilot at the age of 40 ish could be pretty comfortable after as long as he can stay w/ his Regional for some time instead of leaving after 7-8 years to a major because of the seniority? Is there somewhere on the site that would show a typical work schedule? And can anyone tell me what the new FED. Regulation really means w/ a 3 year window for training?

Thanks

 

[buscap]

So let's see here. Given the pay difference between a ten year legacy pilot and a Southwest pilot; is a legacy pilot a stupidly lazy inferior pilot, if he does not quit his legacy job and start at the bottom of Southwest?

The answer is obvious, but there are scenarios in which the move would make sense, but it is definitely the exception. We simply can't paint one another with the broad brushes usually employed on this board by legacy pilots..

While I know such criticisms have not surfaced on this thread yet, I just wanted to give everyone something to think about.

 

[wuberoo]

Let me clarify my question, I am 41 and am starting over w/ this career and I have no problem w/ flying overseas or having a regional position that would eventually pay something besides minimum wage. I just want to make sure which way to plan for.

 

[jeroom]

Interesting to see an interesting post with interesting answers on here... Been a while.