So are the best days behind us?

[phishn@daves]

When I met my wife I was still an instructor. I had always thought I would eventually be an airline pilot, and that dream came true 6 months later, when I was hired by a regional. I had always planned on making a move to the majors after working at this regional, and hopefully making decent money as well, and I had told my wife what senior capts. get paid, and that made things feel really good for a while!

Things are still really good and my wife is not really concerned about the money so much as she is concerned with me eventually being able to upgrade to make a "livable" income. I keep telling her however, that those days are over, and I will never make 250k flying for an airline, and I may never even get there! If the age 60 rule passes I can almost bet that I and many others will never get there!

Besides the current situation, I know this industry is cyclical, but this is way different than any other time, is there any hope?

What do you guys think?

 

[banned username 2]

Well, like they say in the stock market...

"Past performance is no indication of future results"

 

[Sir Humpalot]

Well according to air inc and all the flight schools, there will be a pilot shortage in the coming years.

best of luck

 

[ace120]

Keep an eye on Comair. They are the industry leader. What they are doing today is far ahead of the others. If they cannot expand in the current economy they will lead the crowd with new fresh ideas.

ACE

 

[banned username 2]

Well according to air inc and all the flight schools, there will be a pilot shortage in the coming years.

 

[pilotyip]

years ending in 3

pilots were saying the same thing in 73, 83, 93 and now 03, wait until 08 things will be entirely different and you will be a the front of the hiring pack becasue of your experience, been there seen it.

 

[greyhound]

It does seem like the last few years of the past decades have been the best time for pilot jobs! (eighties, ninties,)

Coincidence?

 

[banned username 2]

Re: years ending in 3

pilots were saying the same thing in 73, 83, 93 and now 03, wait until 08 things will be entirely different and you will be a the front of the hiring pack becasue of your experience, been there seen it.

Lets not forget in the past years ending in 3, the world was quite different than it is now... Today we have terrorism, RJ's and LCC's... These three things have greatly affected the Majors... Remember, even back in 93 most "Commuters" were flying turbo-props and the only Low-Cost Carrier that was of any substance was SWA and terrorism was something that happened somewhere else...

 

[HAZ-MAT]

I say, smoke 'em if you got 'em, and I'm going to the store to get some steaks, some beer and a DJ.... and we'll be meeting over Falcon Capt's house for a real american grilling experience

 

[bigD]

I say, smoke 'em if you got 'em, and I'm going to the store to get some steaks, some beer and a DJ.... and we'll be meeting over Falcon Capt's house for a real american grilling experience

Yeeeeeaaahhh! Party at Falcon Capt's! I'll bring the women!

 

[HAZ-MAT]

sweeeeeeeet

 

[banned username 2]

we'll be meeting over Falcon Capt's house for a real american grilling experience

 

[NEDude]

Lets not forget in the past years ending in 3, the world was quite different than it is now... Today we have terrorism, RJ's and LCC's... These three things have greatly affected the Majors... Remember, even back in 93 most "Commuters" were flying turbo-props and the only Low-Cost Carrier that was of any substance was SWA and terrorism was something that happened somewhere else...

In 1973 we had Vietnam, mass hijackings, and a government in a serious constitutional crisis. In 1983 we had People Express, and the beginning of major affiliations with the turboprop commuters. In 1993 Pan Am, Eastern, and Midway had all gone out of business and Continental, USAirways and American West in bankruptcy. Everytime there is a slowdown, there are different dynamics. The industry changes a little bit, and then recovers.

Although there is some disagreement, there are many analysts think the age of the 50 seat RJ is coming to an end. The LCC are flying mainline size aircraft with some nice ammenities (ie TV) against these 50 seat RJs. The majors will not survive long if customers have a choice of $350, free TV and a large airplane, as opposed to $1000 and an RJ.

Will the industry ever be the same as it was in the late 90's? Doubtful. But then again the late 90's were nothing like the 80's, 70's or 60's. The industry will recover and there will be good opportunities in the future, they just may not be in the places you might think.

 

[Bluto]

Well-said NEDude. I couldn't agree more.

 

[banned username 2]

Will the industry ever be the same as it was in the late 90's? Doubtful. But then again the late 90's were nothing like the 80's, 70's or 60's. The industry will recover and there will be good opportunities in the future, they just may not be in the places you might think.

I also agree...