Pay and lifestyle

[wilky10]

One of my former instructors can get me on with skywest. Is this a better regional than any other. Also, is it worth taking a huge pay cut for the first year. Is the second year as hard. How is it one the family life if you don't live at a hub. How long does it usually take to commute. I work full time in aerial application as a mechanic. They will be breaking me into spraying in about a year. The problem: no benefits for my family and all night flying 10 feet off the ground around obstacles. Would an airline accept someone with an accident. Most people won't that I hear. With all the growth in my area taking all the farm fields I just don't know how promising crop dusting will be in 5 years and I'm in my mid twenties. I also fly for people on the side in my spare time. Just wanted some of your guy's thoughts. Thanks in advance

 

[Flyer1015]

and all night flying 10 feet off the ground around obstacles. Would an airline accept someone with an accident.

I'm thinking if you have an "accident" during night time flying 10 feet off the ground with an obstacle, you're gonna have more to worry about than wondering if an airline will hire you...

How long does it usually take to commute.

Depends where you commute to/from. JFK to LAX? SFO to PSP? It all depennds.

Also, is it worth taking a huge pay cut for the first year.

That's for you to decide. You have a realistic figure for what you'd make your first year at a regional? Can you live on that very low amount with your wife and kids? Sit down and figure out your expenses and financial situation, and then see if you can 'live' with 1st year regional pay.

Is the second year as hard.

Pay for second year at Skywest (on the RJ) is significantly higher compared to first year pay.

How is it one the family life if you don't live at a hub.

Depends on how long your commute will be. In general, most people agree that commuting sucks.

 

[wilky10]

I'm thinking if you have an "accident" during night time flying 10 feet off the ground with an obstacle, you're gonna have more to worry about than wondering if an airline will hire you...

The 2 pilots that I work with have had at least 5 accidents a piece that I know of. They also have more than 40,000 hours combined doing this type of flying.

 

[goahead]

WOW five a piece; time for you to do something else. I say go for it but yes not living in dom suxs and probably wouldn't be worth it for your family.

 

[V-1]

Sounds like you're planning to have an accident. You haven't already typed that part onto your resume yet, have you?

 

[wilky10]

No, I'm not planning on having an accident. Just something I have thinking about. It is hard flying and turbine time which is hard to get.

 

[Flyer1015]

I'm thinking if you have an "accident" during night time flying 10 feet off the ground with an obstacle, you're gonna have more to worry about than wondering if an airline will hire you...

The 2 pilots that I work with have had at least 5 accidents a piece that I know of. They also have more than 40,000 hours combined doing this type of flying.

5 accidents apiece? They definitely belong in an airliner!

 

[Edge540]

5 accidents apiece? They definitely belong in an airliner!

It is almost impossible to find a lifer crop duster who has not crashed or flown through power lines at least once. One of the most experienced pilots I have met, 28K hours, had crashed 5 times. Once into a barn, but most were due to power lines. And to top it off, he became a fed and gave 135 checkrides.

Now I have never seen a duster do aerial applications at night. What kind of psychotic person would want to do that. What in the world would you be spraying that you could not spray during the day?

 

[Gr82Aviate]

I'm thinking if you have an "accident" during night time flying 10 feet off the ground with an obstacle, you're gonna have more to worry about than wondering if an airline will hire you...

The 2 pilots that I work with have had at least 5 accidents a piece that I know of. They also have more than 40,000 hours combined doing this type of flying.

They should be able to get on with Go-Jets with only 5!!

 

[wilky10]

Now I have never seen a duster do aerial applications at night. What kind of psychotic person would want to do that. What in the world would you be spraying that you could not spray during the day?[/quote]


We grow about 90 percent of the nation lettuce in the winter time. We have so many field workers and farmers in the fields during the day. Because of distance regs, you can't spray the fields during the day. In the summer, you can burn the crops spraying them in 120 degree weather.

 

[rickair7777]

Accidents are a fact of life in dusting, no one would hold that against you AFTER the investigation is complete (no one will hire you with an open investigation).

SKW, or almost any other other regional) would provide better QOL than dusting, ESPECIALLY with a family...I would worry too much about the risk.

Single-engine turbine time is not really career enhancing as far as airlines and corporate go, they are really interested in turbine ME.