Regional Pilots, Worth it?

[propjockey]

Hard to say. Although I love my job, and was frequently bored when working in an office before I got my break into flying, I've also been feeling pretty depressed lately about my choice to fly. That being said, I'm going to stick it out, because I'm optimistic that it can't suck forever. And the more people senior to me who get depressed and bail out, the better.

Like many others, I expected to have been flying for a major for more than a year already by this time making about $100,000/yr. Instead, I'm in first-year pay at my second regional because (sad as it is) it is a lot better than the regional I came from in many respects, not the least of which is pay.

I've already been through an 11-mo furlough and had to sell my house or face foreclosure. If someone with a crystal ball had shown me all the turmoil my family and I would go through to get where I am, I don't think I would have done it. It has become heart-wrenching to leave wife and children on non-commutable 4-day trips to come home and find that the children have grown up without me. And MAYBE three years from now I'll be making what I was four years ago. I don't care about the money so much. It's still a fun job, and if the money is sufficient to feed the family and pay for a modest house and cars, I can be happy. The time away from home is what's killing me lately. I have plans to change domiciles and move the family to the new domicile. This should improve OUR quality of life (me and my family) significantly. For any who doubt it, let me repeat what you may have heard: COMMUTING SUCKS!!!
Even for those younger, single, and unattached, I encourage you to think LONG and HARD before embarking on this career. It is NOT what it used to be!!!

 

[ClearRight]

I definately LOVE my job! I would rather have no other career. I worked as a mechanic in various maintenance jobs and hated every minute of it- just not my forte. I'm a 4th year captain at a regional- my 2003 W-2 came in at $59,723.75. That was a year on reserve not picking up too much open time. I have a wife who does not work and three small children. We survive just fine- comfortable in fact! Granted, the first couple years were a struggle, but it's been worth it for me.

I'm generally a positive person. While we all have different expectations on what our airline job should provide for us, I have a hard time seeing how anyone can let the downsides of this industry turn their passion into depression. BUT I've never been furloughed or taken a paycut. I hope and pray I'll never experience what others have sadly had to go through.

 

[rundu]

Luchini,

I hate to be the bearer of crummy news, but the job just isn't that great. I'm a Captain at a decent regional, 36 years old and have a two year old baby at home. The money sucks, the work rules are ridiculous and if you think a regional airline is an organized work environment, well, you might want to put down the pipe. I don't mean to knock the career, but it's not really a career anymore. It's more like a shi##y part-time job. I know, I know, there willl be those who say just quit, which is exactly what i'm in the process of doing. I think i'm worth a hell of a lot more than 40K and i think my family is as well. I humbly ask that you think of your future. Right now, a wife and kids might be the furthest thing from your mind, but just wait, in a couple of years you'll be changing diapers and calling your wife to tell her that you've been extended and aren't going to be home anytime soon. What about the instability. But that's just the little stuff. I'm more concerned with not being able to provide for my family in an era where everything is becoming geared towards the rich. I come to work to work. I come to work to earn money. I have my fun on my time off. I think that's how it is for most of us. If pilots loved their jobs so much, why are we always racing to get to the next destination, to get out of the plane. It's fun to wear the uniform, but let's face it, nobody really thinks you're cool. Go to school, get a high paying job in a secure industry, bed hot chicks and retire early. Fly for fun and on the side. Buy your own plane and do aerobatics or touch and gos or whatever you want. Don't kid yourself, flying from the middle of fukc all to Podunk-Podunk isn't that exciting. Don't bankrupt your life to sit in an airplane eating fritos. Besides, by the time you make it to the majors all the money will be gone. Best of luck. Learn from our mistakes.

 

[mooser]

ClearRight;


What company do you fly for???

Mooser

 

[ClearRight]

Skywest.

 

[Caveman]

Pay does suck if you are flying a Saab, Brasillia or 1900. But it's quite a bit better in an RJ. A lot of 3 and 4 year RJ FO's make what a 1900 or Saab Capt does. All the CRJ Capts are making $50K+. most are making over $60K, a lot are over $70K and some are even making 6 figures. The QOL at major airlines flying RJs is a lot different than hustling a 1900 in and out of LGA for Colgan or busting your butt in a Saab at MDW for WindyCity. No offense meant or intented to the turboprop guys.

If you can get on with any of the RJ operators the money and pay isn't too bad once you survive 1st year pay and probation. As an example, 2nd year FO's at CMR are making around $40K (incl per diem). The other major RJ operators pay similar wages and most places have reasonable work rules. Sure, we'd all like to make more and work less but my experience has been that it isn't as bad as some folks would have you believe.

I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. Go fly. It beats working a 9-5 gig for a living.

 

[blueridge71]

I am a regional FO with just over two years seniority.

My current bid pack contains only 5 lines out of 132 that give more than 15 days off. I currently spend approximately three weeks a month on the road.

A typical hard line is 4-5 four-day trips (depending on the number of days in the month). Typically we have 2-3 days off between trips. For commuters some of this time off often must be used to get to and from work because trips are often not commutable on the same day. Our contract gives us 11 days off.

I made $21,000 last year. It rises to $28,000 if you count per diem. That situation has increased a little bit since I got a pay raise to the CRJ scale this year, but I'll probably still only make $30-35K. I support a wife and child on this income.

As I sit in my hotel room, I wonder if I'll regret missing so much of my son's childhood when I'm old and gray.

On top of that, I expect to be furloughed early next year. The bright side to that is that it probably won't be for longer than 18 months and when I come back, it will be to a low fare carrier instead of a regional.

On the other hand, the flying is great. There is nothing in the world like flying a jet. It really is awesome. I love the repsonsibility and the challenge. I can't imagine going back to an office job.

However, if I knew then what I know now, I don't know if I would have started an airline career in the first place.

I love the flying, but I hate the sh-- that goes with it.

 

[roadrunner]

PBR--

Koolaid?? Yeah right. I'm one of the first guys to b1tch when mgt pulls their normal bs. I've voted NO on both pay packages since I've been employed here. Voted YES to the Union this year, and when we have another drive, I'll vote YES again. Yes, I did make over 40g last year (including per diem), and no, I VERY RARELY work on a day off, as I have better things to do. The lines I bid average 90+ hrs per month with 14 or 15 days off. If the 80 hr credit lines had 18 days off, I'd bid them but they dont. You can have 14 days off and get 80 hrs, or work the same # of days and credit 95. Tough choice, if I'm at work, I go for the bucks. I also fly really really slow when enroute to one of those long breaks. I guess all the kool aid drinkers do that too. But all in all, like I said above, it's a pretty good gig and I'm happy to be here.

 

[roadrunner]

Lucini,

Yeah, the money fine and I'm comfortable with what I'm making. That being said, I do think regional pilots are grossly underpaid and overworked. In 5 years? Well I hope I'm still not at SkyWest. It's a good place to work, I dont have to commute, and I have many friends here, but the difference in earning potential at a larger carrier is too great to stick around. It's too hard to say where I'll be in 5 years, this industry is too volatile. I did my flight training the hard way, trying to pay as I went. It took me 8 yrs to go from private to CFI. The GI Bill helped I guess, as did some student loans in college. I was lucky enough to get a job at the right time, lots of hiring. I'm not so sure that will continue. I question the economics of the RJ and I think the days of big orders for 50 seaters is over. 70 - 100 is where the growth will be and I hope it's not at the regionals.

 

[nimtz]

I question the economics of the RJ and I think the days of big orders for 50 seaters is over. 70 - 100 is where the growth will be and I hope it's not at the regionals.

Unfortunately the precedent has already been set at the lower end of the 70-110 seat market. It will only be a matter of time before the mainline guys bend over and either the fly the 90-110 seats for 50%+ less then what they made on the 737/DC9 or the regionals are allowed to have it. We have collectively screwed ourselves by agreeing to fly bigger equipment for the sh*t wages we are paid on the 50 seaters. Hey it's made by Canadair, so that means we can't make real pilot money!!!

 

[Luchini]

Most of the responses appear to be extremes from both sides. Some love it and some hate it. Doesnt appear to be very many in betweens.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Most of the responses appear to be extremes from both sides. Some love it and some hate it. Doesnt appear to be very many in betweens.

A survey would tell all:
How many pilots with more than 5 years in the industry:
Love it, Hate it , Indifference
How many pilots with less than 5 years in the industry:
Love it, Hate it, Indifference
I think my Indifference is turning to Hate it after 6 years in the industry, don't worry all you wanna-bees, you can have this mediocre-at-best job soon enough, just remember keep telling yourself "that sunset/sunrise sure is kool", then write a quick narritive onto something, take it home and place it into the phone,electric bill instead of the usual check(that probably bounces), and wait for the disconnection of services. Kool does not pay the bills.
PBR

 

[CHQ Cpt]

5+ years at CHQ, I love the job. I make than my buddy who is an engineer and a year younger than me. I usually have 15 to 17 days a month off, fly about 85 hrs/mo, and haven't missed any house payments or beer calls even with my 401(k) maxed out. This is a job you HAVE to be able to work your life around. If you can't, and not everybody can, don't do it. You have to LOVE flying airplanes and be able to tolerate the same crap at work everyone does. It's kinda cool leave EYW make it to ELP in a day with other stuff in between...

 

[Luchini]

Are all reginonals as bad as pilots say they are? Are there any regionals you pilots that dont like your regional carrier would switch to if you had a chance? Maybe its not the regionals you hate but just your current employer.

 

[AAsRedHeadedbro]

I've worked for a regional carrier for 13 years and, for the most part, have loved it. I can not imagine any other line of work. Personally, my wife and I have adapted to the airline schedule of 4 on/3 off and accept it as business as usual. I was hired in 91 - right at the beginning of the airline downturn of the early and mid 90's. Life was pretty rough for quite a few years. Frequent base and equipment displacements resulted in many years of commuting and the pay was poor. Thank God my wife worked because our dual incomes allowed us to own a home with a pool in the Ft. Lauderdale area of Florida. Through all the hardship, though, I still loved the job, at its core. I flew with great people and really enjoyed myself. I did not get into this business in order to get rich. I got into it because I loved, and still love, aviation. It is in my blood.

Obviously things have improved for me over the course of my tenure here. I'm flying the EMB-145 out of the LAX base, which is only an hour's drive from my home in south Orange County, although I could be fairly senior in the CRJ-700 in ORD if I chose to commute (which I will not do if given the choice). I'm on pace to make 80K this year. My wife is on pace for 60K and therefore we have no complaints financially. Therefore, I'm happy. Yes, I am.

 

[Luchini]

How much a month can one expect to receive in diem each month? How many hours can one expect to fly each month? Are the 4 day flight schedules boring or not?

 

[miles otoole]

Great post AA.

 

[wheelsup]

Can anyone from a younger generation chime in? I'm on track to make it to a regional around the age of 24 - not the lowest age person I know, but I'm not a career switcher and haven't seen the high wages other people have seen. No wife, no kids. Just a serious girlfriend .

Long term goal is to go to ASA or comparable regional and go to Southwest/Delta...and before all the naysayers chime in - I know southwest has been hiring - and I can't see the majors NEVER hiring again.

~wheelsup

 

[ILStoMinimums]

Can anyone from a younger generation chime in? I'm on track to make it to a regional around the age of 24 - not the lowest age person I know, but I'm not a career switcher and haven't seen the high wages other people have seen. No wife, no kids. Just a serious girlfriend .

Long term goal is to go to ASA or comparable regional and go to Southwest/Delta...and before all the naysayers chime in - I know southwest has been hiring - and I can't see the majors NEVER hiring again.

~wheelsup

Not NEVER, but not for a LONG TIME.

 

[Anais Nin]

Yep..........you and everyone else out there!!! You think you've got it made until you start getting your resume out there and realize everyone is in the same boat as you are, and you're nobody special. It's a painful lesson to learn, and all for the chance to make squat wages! This job is not glamorous! It's just another blue-collar job!
And a tip, keep the girlfriend exactly that. Dont marry her, she'll start expecting you to be making much more than you will and it goes down-hill from there! Another tip....have a backup plan. This industry is way too volatile.

Can anyone from a younger generation chime in? I'm on track to make it to a regional around the age of 24 - not the lowest age person I know, but I'm not a career switcher and haven't seen the high wages other people have seen. No wife, no kids. Just a serious girlfriend .

Long term goal is to go to ASA or comparable regional and go to Southwest/Delta...and before all the naysayers chime in - I know southwest has been hiring - and I can't see the majors NEVER hiring again.

~wheelsup