SKyway looking better

[Justino]

Just think about this if you may:

"Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you represents determinism;
the way you play is your own will."
- Jawaharial Nehru

 

[Justino]

Nehru was a independant thinker which brought about secular Indian ideology in 1947 and aided in the creation of a separated Pakistan/ British India. He believed he could create a new nation . Why can't pilots believe and make a change in Payscales if this guy could change an entire landscape?

Just in an academic mode!

J

 

[248to2.8]

I agree that the pay is bad and complaining won't do any good. However, I am convinced that the solution to the embarassing pay scales we irrationally accept is not to just ignore them or stomp on those who call attention to them. All of the pilots from all of the carriers have to stop cutting each other's throats and agree to industry-wide standards of pay. What good are pilot's unions anyway if they can't get their members together to affect real change? How on earth did airplane tickets get to be cheaper than bus tickets? I know the public wants affordable transport, but they probably want their pilots rested and able to buy food too! This myth of the well-paid airline pilot either has to end, or become a reality. I've been in a number of industries, and you can only compare our compensation realities to one other group in society: starving artists.

That sounds pretty close to regulation. If that was the case, then why would we need multiple carriers? If they all payed the same then there would only need to be one huge national airline. Fares would be huge for the public and the pilots pay more than likely would be a lot lower then it is now. Not lower than starting out regional, but over all lower. Thats the beauty of capitalisim and the internet. You can see what everyone pays and choose where to go. If you don't have the time to go to Eagle or some place similar, you may go to a lower paying company like skyway or Lakes because they'll take you with a low time but pay you a low wage. There is nothing wrong with starting out at or slightly below the poverty level. Thats what food stamps are for. JK... The pay has been so low because up to recently the regionals were just a stepping stone to the majors. But now with the regionals flying aircraft that are pretty close to the size of a DC-9, and with pilots now retiring at the regionals. I think the pay will start to creep upwards and we'll see better retirement packages. Hell, in our last contract, there wasn't any retirement plan. Still isn't, but now the 401K program is officialy called the retirement package. hehehe. It's always good to have money, but I'm more concerned with the direction and goals of the company, if we have any... just my two and a half cents.

 

[SYXDude]

I agree that the pay is bad and complaining won't do any good. However, I am convinced that the solution to the embarassing pay scales we irrationally accept is not to just ignore them or stomp on those who call attention to them. All of the pilots from all of the carriers have to stop cutting each other's throats and agree to industry-wide standards of pay. What good are pilot's unions anyway if they can't get their members together to affect real change? How on earth did airplane tickets get to be cheaper than bus tickets? I know the public wants affordable transport, but they probably want their pilots rested and able to buy food too! This myth of the well-paid airline pilot either has to end, or become a reality. I've been in a number of industries, and you can only compare our compensation realities to one other group in society: starving artists.

Gotta disagree with ya here. We live in a capitalist society and what your suggesting is a return to regulation, just like 248 mentioned. If that were to happen, there'd be a whole lot less flying jobs out there and most regionals wouldnt exist. Is that what you want??? You may not be lucky enough to have an airline job in that scenario. The only way for regional pay to increase is to negotiate for that pay. Highly doubt its gonna just be given to us because we're "pilots and that's the way its always been".

You say, "raise fares" and that will fix the problem. Again, capitalist environment. Company can only charge what the market dictates. Right now, that aint much. This is a consumer-driven industry. Paxs are only looking for the lowest fare that will get them from pt a to pt b with mimimal fuss. YOu say, "all airlines should get with the program and raise fares so pricing is same across the board". Can you say "collusion" and "price-fixing" which is a little bit illegal??? Hate to say it but in the next 3-5 yrs, some airlines are going to cease to exist. And there will probably be a change in the banruptcy codes so bankrupt companies trying to reorganize cant have an advantage over other companies or being involved in predatory practices.

What the heck do I know...I just sit up front and watch the world go by.

 

[greenpickle]

True

If you've already been to class, I wouldn't worry a lick about currency from the company's standpoint. Make sure you're still legal as per the regs, but I find it a little ridiculous for a company that just furloughed you to say "Yeah, fly 50 hours a month."

For those who are in the pool or were promised an interview, well, then it makes a little more sense.

-brew3

True, you are in already, you wouldnt need to fly another hour between now and then. The real kicker is if you lose proficiency. Skyway and you wont care, but the sim will

GP

 

[pilotmyf]

Sounds like you want everyone else in the regionals to do the leg work on getting better pay before you'll apply. Its easy to sit on the sidelines and whine. If you want the pay to get better, why dont you get hired and try to improve the system from within.

I doubt the 20 just furloughed would like your attitude. At least they took the risk of coming here when the delta deal was still being negotiatied and nothing was finalized.

Do any of you read the posts leading up to a response, or just read one and go off? SKXDude, it sounds like you are angry and something I wrote struck a chord. I don't really get what the legwork thing is about, but it has a ring to it.

 

[SYXDude]

Angry? Thats pretty funny! Hardly. Just dont care for people who cast stones from the sidelines but wont become part of the solution. "Legwork" means getting hired at a place like skyway or any regional and then working from within to make it a better place.

As for my attitude regarding the furloughs, those pilots took a chance and came here knowing their job wasnt guaranteed because of the Delta deal.

I wasnt putting you down - just trying to get you to understand a different point of view. Sorry if that came across wrong - places like this arent the best sometimes when trying to express thoughts.

Wish you the best in your career.

 

[fam62c]

Too Many Pilots

The reason that pilot pay is so low is simple economics....supply and demand. There are too few jobs for too many eager applicants and that just drives the value of the jobs down. Flight schools and university flying programs are full of eager kids who have no idea what they are getting into. As long as there is a steady supply of willing applicants to work for a given wage, why would an airpline pay more? The wierd part is that, unlike other occupations, the low pay doesn't result in fewer people wanting the jobs and entering the field. If you payed accountants the same wages as regional airline pilots how many college kids would be majoring in accounting? I guess that people either really like to fly and are willing to accept the wages or they simply are not doing their homework and learning what the career path entails. I don't know what the answer is, in really good economic times with healthy airlines the unions have some leverage to affect change but that's not the case when the industry is failing. The current economic conditions in the industry may force a lot of pilots out of the profession who are simply unable to make a living doing this.

 

[Propsfullfwd]

Oh well back to the orginal post. I just stopped by SYX MX. The Dir. of MX is down there (S. Carolina I think) and taking down tail #'s among other things for the DoJets. This could be a good thing but who knows.

Props

 

[Justino]

keep the faith!

 

[Cstyle]

Brew3 & G.P.

Thanks for the advice. I plan to have my ass kicked in a FTD every month until we start again.


PilotMYF-

Didnt mean to insult you bro. I am not bagging on CFI's, I did it myself for several years. The bottom line is, I have plenty of total time. I am looking for Multi or Turbine time. If I cant do that I will go back to being a Cirrus Standized Instructor, the money is a hell of a lot better.

Good Luck to You

 

[crzepilot]

Go To PDT

Yeah thats right