"Pilots don't mind making $16,000 per year because it's a stepping stone."

[kf4amu]

...and have job stability...and not be forced to work until age 65 because 2 or 3 furloughs and starting over at the bottom does wonders for the retirement

Oh wait, I forgot the 20 days off a month.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

ASA Aviator-

You're not paid to fly the normal stuff...you are paid to handle the non-normal stuff. I would think with your experience you would recognize that difference. You started this career from a previous one that made a decent amount of money (based on your comments). That is quite different from those of us that went to college and then worked our way's up to where we are today. Perhaps if you looked at it from the point of view of not starting with money, you might have a different opinion.

I understand that we are paid for the non-normal stuff. With excellent training and being diligent with staying current, we should be able to handle the non-normal stuff.

I realize that my comments aren't popular. I wish we made more money too. I believe that we deserve it, but that doesn't change the fact that it is an easy job, and we are already pretty well paid. Look at the average pay in the US...

We are paid to be away from home for 3-4 or more days per week. I get that. We are paid to get up early, and go to bed late for 3-4 days in a row. We are paid to deal with scheduling, not be able to plan our lives more than 30 days in advance, not know if we are going to attend our own weddings until the 24th of the prior month, etc. I know this. But I still love my job, and wouldn't go back to my previous career where I had more flexibility, more money, and more responsibility. Does that make me have SJS? I don't think so. I think it means that I am in the right job! After all, some people LOVE scooping up bat crap and feel the way about their jobs that I do about mine.

My main point is that we shouldn't complain so much. If you hate your job, LEAVE! It would create more opportunity for those of us who do. But, you don't leave, and I believe the reason why is that you realize how great this job is, even though you love to complain.

To those of you who responded with actual good points, thanks. The rest of you need to grow up.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

The ROI on a $100k investment will not be very good in this industry.

I did the local FBO route and had paid off my flight training by the time I was flying checks. At the regional where I worked, I knew guys still paying $500 per month, I don't know how they did it.

This job is harsh enough economically without carrying that kind of debt around.

Agreed. It shouldn't cost so much to get into the industry.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

You're funny.
My airlines CEO recently met with the pilot group and one of the fo's was complaining to him about the low pay. The CEO responded with somthing that reminded me of your statement. He said "Where else can you make what you already make, only working 1/2 the year." He then said "If you want to earn more money, get another part time job".

You shouldn't accept substandard wages because you're lucky enough to only work 3 days per week. It's not a trade off.

Define substandard? I agree though, you shouldn't accept substandard wages, but currently that is the only option if you want to be a pilot. After all, being union, didn't WE make the first year pay what it is? Why don't we knock the top pay for the captains down a few notches, knock down the top FO pay a few notches, and give the first year guys $30,000.00/year? Riiiight, that's gonna happen.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

It does suck that you have to "start over" when you go to another airline, but until the unionistas get rid of the seniority system, that ain't gonna change. If "quality" really concerned the unions, they would get rid of the seniority system, and adopt some sort of seniority/merit based system of advance. (They also would stop getting people's jobs back that didn't deserve to get them back.)

 

[zasca]

You can not have a merit based system. Not possible. Define how one would work, without making us laugh, and I'll give you a dollar.

Most of the guys that aren't bitching are most likely unmarried, and/or without kids, and/or not commuting, and/or not at their 3rd airline, and/or not in debt, and/or not on reserve. I know it's great, I'm one of those guys. But to say we don't deserve to have our pay keep up with inflation over the last 30 years is asinine. What changed? Why are we the only industry of professionals that have to put up with this?

 

[ASA_Aviator]

You can not have a merit based system. Not possible. Define how one would work, without making us laugh, and I'll give you a dollar.

Most of the guys that aren't bitching are most likely unmarried, and/or without kids, and/or not commuting, and/or not at their 3rd airline, and/or not in debt, and/or not on reserve. I know it's great, I'm one of those guys. But to say we don't deserve to have our pay keep up with inflation over the last 30 years is asinine. What changed? Why are we the only industry of professionals that have to put up with this?

Doctors have seen a huge decrease in the amount they earn over the past 30 years.

 

[JustaNumber]

To say that our job is easy is to say that firemen have an easy job. After all, they spend the better part of most days playing poker and barbequeing, right? Same deal. Although we are much more fatigued on a regular basis, we have to pay the equivalent of a small house to get qualified, we can lose our entire careers on any given day for a moment's inattentiveness, and, oh yeah, we spend many years making less than firefighters. But you're right, it's mostly an easy job.

 

[kf4amu]

To say that our job is easy is to say that firemen have an easy job.

Firemen get paid for their training after they get hired. OR at smaller departments, it is usually free paid by the state.

And I can speak from experience that while physically demanding at times, the job of a firefighter is much much easier than a pilot on a daily basis.

Oh yea, and plus you are respected by the people you serve and the supervisors above you. That's priceless.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Oh wait, I forgot the 20 days off a month.

Nah...you didn't forget, because you know that the 20 off a month only happens with seniority there's a very good chance you'll never get to enjoy.

 

[JustaNumber]

Firemen get paid for their training after they get hired. OR at smaller departments, it is usually free paid by the state.

And I can speak from experience that while physically demanding at times, the job of a firefighter is much much easier than a pilot on a daily basis.

Oh yea, and plus you are respected by the people you serve and the supervisors above you. That's priceless.

I think you missed my point. Being a fireman is easy until you come close to dying every once in a while. Kind of changes your perspective of "easy job".

 

[ualdriver]

It does suck that you have to "start over" when you go to another airline, but until the unionistas get rid of the seniority system, that ain't gonna change. If "quality" really concerned the unions, they would get rid of the seniority system.........

So the seniority system in the airline biz is due to the "unionistas?" Could you please list in your response to me the non-union airlines that don't have a seniority system? The ones where "quality" really concerns them and they'll hire a 10,000 hr. furloughed pilot and place him in the Captain's seat ahead of the guys on their non-union list with seniority accrued?

 

[waka]

To those of you who responded with actual good points, thanks. The rest of you need to grow up.

Oh? Just because most of us has disagreed means that we have to "grow up"? News for you Junior, Not everyone in your life will agree with you. It is you that needs to grow up.....and grow a pair while you're at it.

 

[tomgoodman]

Can of worms?

If "quality" really concerned the unions, they would get rid of the seniority system, and adopt some sort of seniority/merit based system of advance.

One reason that "merit" has not been adopted as the standard for advancement is that people can't agree on who will award the rankings. Should it be Management? Sim instructors/check airmen? Crewmembers who fly with the guy frequently? Clerks who track on-time/fuel burn stats? If the answer is "all of the above", what weight will be assigned to the order of merit produced by each source? I can foresee infighting, campaigning, and even corruption in such a system.

 

[ualdriver]

One reason that "merit" has not been adopted as the standard for advancement is that people can't agree on who will award the rankings. Should it be Management? Sim instructors/check airmen? Crewmembers who fly with the guy frequently? Clerks who track on-time/fuel burn stats? If the answer is "all of the above", what weight will be assigned to the order of merit produced by each source? I can foresee infighting, campaigning, and even corruption in such a system.

Bingo!