Regional FO's Depressed

[Flying Dog Doc]

Shroom,

Don't feel too badly. A lot of veterinarians are in your shoes. Most veterinary schools require a college degree for entry. You then pay close to $50,000 (or more) for your "technical" education. If you pursue a specialty, you have to endure an internship (many are not paid positions and involve 80 or more hour work weeks for a year to two years), then a two or three year residency program (paying on average $20,000 per year). Before you can be hired as a specialist, you have to sit for boards which usually require about a year (earning a grand whooping total of $0) of studying for successful completion. Then, and only then, you can start earning some money.
Even though I chose not to pursue specialization, I still had to work two jobs (a day and a night job) after I graduated to make ends meet. Some weeks I probably worked close to 100 hours. I've finally reached the point after 5 1/2 years that I make a fairly comfortable living and don't have to work as many hours. It's been hard, but if you keep your chin up, you'll make it.

Doc

 

[acaTerry]

The next one I hear say "Livin' the dream" is gonna get their a$$ kicked!
But I love WHAT I do...I just hate who and what I do it for. There's always Powerball too....

 

[mesaba2425]

Livin' the dream, man. Livin' the dream.

 

[atrdriver]

There are plenty of people out there who enjoy their jobs and are fairly compensated. We are basically victims of the free market.

Yeah, I know people who "enjoy" their jobs. I don't know anyone who loves their jobs like pilots. I don't know anyone who can't wait until the next time they get to do what they get paid for. That's an advantage that we have over most others in this world.

 

[DetoXJ]

These "Depressed FO's" make it sound like they are in prision and can't get out. If you are so Depressed and disgruntle...PLEASE find something else to do. A LOT of people love this job and the lifestyle/living INCLUDING many FO's that I fly with. If you are so upset that your peers are out preforming you then why keep subecting yourself to the daily misery that you do. I get a kick out of all of the pissers and moaners that we have at Mesaba and yet they continue to show up to work everyday. If you are in this for the $$ you will never be happy.

 

[Mike man]

I own a house...I bought it while I was a CFI, making only slightly less than I did my first year as a F/O. I have tons of friends who work for GM, Accenture, PeopleSoft, etc. and so on. They didn't start out making 60,000-100,000 a year, most started in the high 20's or low 30's depending on where they worked, and location. But now they make 60,000-100,000 a year or more in a few cases, but they work 5 days a week and sit in rush hour traffic every morning and every night. I don't ever sit in rush hour traffic...I have 14-17 days off each month...my friends have 8 days off a month. If you don't like it you should quit and go work at a desk in a cubical every day for the rest of your working life and listen to Sally repeat "corporate accounts payable, please hold" over and over and over and over...and don't forget the cover letter on your TPS report.

 

[belchfire]

Depressed regional FO's???

Try being a regional CA that is making
less than any 3rd year RJ FO...and when
my ship does come in, I'll probably be
in some damm airport!

 

[PacoPollo]

Ask any 6year+ FO at Eagle how does it feel.....

 

[Panda]

Maybe your brother should have to do six month and year checks to keep his job as a doctor. You know, operate within tolerances or he is either demoted to nurse or terminated, all up to the hospital, of course, and the mood of the examining doctor. Maybe a week back to med school for a little recurrent training. I am also quite positive that your doctor brother spends 300 hours a month in completely different states than his family and friends. Tell me, flyNhawaiin767, how many written tests, and multi-phase interviews did your brother go through to get his current job. Not to get his license, but his current JOB.


Just having some fun with ya hawaiin man. Please don't call me a loser.

Doctors go through annual courses called CMEs (Continued Medical Education) among other certification requirements. They are on call for extended periods of time and get little sleep at times. Getting into a Residency program is highly competitive, let alone Medical School. Anytime a Doc changes jobs, he/she undergoes a rigorous interviewing and testing process (depending on the State.) And oh, by the way, they can get sued in lose everything in a mal-practice indicident. Yes, Docs can be terminated, they can lose their license to practice medicine and to top it all, they can lose the ability to be insured. And no, they don't have a union to protect their 8+ yrs of medical education.

 

[shroomwell]

I own a house...I bought it while I was a CFI, making only slightly less than I did my first year as a F/O. I have tons of friends who work for GM, Accenture, PeopleSoft, etc. and so on. They didn't start out making 60,000-100,000 a year, most started in the high 20's or low 30's depending on where they worked, and location. But now they make 60,000-100,000 a year or more in a few cases, but they work 5 days a week and sit in rush hour traffic every morning and every night. I don't ever sit in rush hour traffic...I have 14-17 days off each month...my friends have 8 days off a month. If you don't like it you should quit and go work at a desk in a cubical every day for the rest of your working life and listen to Sally repeat "corporate accounts payable, please hold" over and over and over and over...and don't forget the cover letter on your TPS report.

That is what we call being complacent. If you are happy with your pay and don't think you deserve better, then I don't know what to say to you. Talk to the Eagle guy who has been making 35K for six years.