what kind of people....

[cynic]

So I've been telling friends and family I have killed my long term goal of being an airline pilot and I’ve turned down the opportunity to work for a regional. I explain that the starting pay is about 20K a year, if I'm lucky. Then I explain that after about 4 years I will pass 30K a year and if I'm lucky and the industry holds out; in 6 to 10 years I might find myself at or above 50K, and then if I'm lucky again; I can crawl towards a major airline. Of course I'm 30 now, so I might find myself at a livable wage by the time I'm 40. IMHO, a livable wage is 40K a year or more.

They have all responded in disbelief and most say something to the effect of "Well I'm never getting on a regional jet again, what kind of people do you get for those wages?"

The whole industry reminds me of the Moron Factor. Lets make milkshakes out of horse dung and ground up pig butt and whoever drinks the most gets the job. Why? Well that’s the guy that stuck out the worst for the longest (AKA paying dues). And that is what is most important. Ability, intelligence and everything else is second at best.

Ah well, good luck to those who can stick it out! There’s one less pilot clawing at the few descent jobs left. I’m off to the fantasy world of a university and I suppose I'll have to be happy flying around my own little Cessna Cardinal. I’m actually not in the least bit bitter, if I had to do it all over I would. I instructed and flew a Baron for a little over a year and it couldn’t have been more fun, although the pay made eating difficult….. I still love flying, but perhaps flying for a living just wasn’t meant for me!

To those of you entering the industry here is my advice…..

I thought for a long time that no matter what I wanted to be a pilot. I was 100% positive that was my career and you’d have been hard pressed to convince me otherwise. Fortunately, over the last 10 years I obtained a BA and a Masters degree and worked to maintain a plan B that I was sure I’d never use.

Now that I’ve changed my mind I realize that having a plan B left me with the OPTION of not taking the next job.

My advice in short is… you don’t ever want to be in a position where you have to fly for a living and it’s the ONLY option you’ve got.

 

[banned username 2]

There are other opportunities beside the airlines...

My third year out of school I was making $33,000/year (in 1993 dollars, which is about $43,300 in today's dollars (considering 2.5% annual inflation) by 1995 I was over $48,000 ($59,950 in todays dollars)... This was after 5 years in the industry and all before I landed my Corporate job... After 10 years in the industry I was over 6 figures...

I have never paid for my own training (beyond my primary training and CFI certificates, that was the last training I paid for)... Never signed or been asked to sign a training contract... There are opportunities out there, too many people focus solely on the airlines and forget there is a LOT of money to be made elsewhere...

 

[Ralgha]

Had I gone the industry that my degree is in I could have been making ~$50,000 right out of school. I just don't see myself sitting in a cube all day long, so I went the pilot route. Making enough to live on, but not much more than that.

 

[Timebuilder]

In an environment of declining wages and a large pool of qualified candidates, an experience like Falcon Captain's is not the norm, when compared to the typical pilot who is trying to earn a living by flying as a low timer. Certainly, if you started back when he started, you have established sufficient experience that shows you are a proven commodity.

If however, you started later, you may be in the unenviable position of having made a large investment in a flying career that has a very limited upside potential in this market and for the forseeable future.

Always have a Plan B. Use it if it's the right thing to do.

 

[Snakum]

I guess I should consider myself lucky, in that flying professionally was my Plan B.

I may never go beyond flight instructing part-time at some local goat track, but I'll smile every d@mn evening as I drive over to do it.

Minh "Flying Again Soon" Thong

(I still hold out dreams of a King Air or Citation. )

 

[Timebuilder]

That's how I look at it, too. I may instruct, which I'd enjoy, but I may just buy a plane for myself to show houses to clients. Other times, I may fly to TEB to go into Manhattan for a voice over job.

The best part is I get to decide when, where, and why. I get to be the boss, not the bossed.

I like the sound of that.

 

[niteflyr]

My advice to anyone who asks me about going into this line of work is and has always been, if you are doing it for the money don't do it. Most of them never make it too far anyway if that is their primary motivation. I do know one thing though, everytime I rotate and point skyward I am thinking - Man I love this job!

 

[enigma]

I do know one thing though, everytime I rotate and point skyward I am thinking - Man I love this job!

And yet, your current position (according to your profile) is BentOverbecauseHereItComesAgain

Now I'm really confused

enigma

 

[labbats]

I went from selling medical supplies with a 4-year degree to starting all over as a pilot. Let me just say that there are no easy roads to over $50K a year. Everyone earns it the hard way, pilot or not.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

"liveable wage" of 40K?? -- gotta love the regional mentality..

jeeesus...where?? a trailer in Iowa??.... AT 40 YEARS OLD!!

Gonna have a family?
a house?
a college fund?
a retirement?

not on 40K.

there are other routes to respectable livings folks...