what the regionals should be

[SkyBoy1981]

If it isn't for the "exotic airline pilot life" as you put it, why are you flying for a regional for such sh!ty wages?

Because its where my interests are....and its simply what I love to do. That doesn't mean I have unrealistic expectations of what the job should be like, or that I agree with doing it for nothing just because its what I love. So, from your responses, I gather that either:

A) You enjoy flying for a regional so much that the McDonald's wages are sufficient for you.

B) You really agree with the concept, but just get a kick out of arguing with people.

After taking a second to look through your previous posts on these boards, I'm leaning towards B. Take a look at them for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Have a nice night.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Look through your previous posts on these boards, I'm leaning towards B. Take a look at them for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Have a nice night.

Actually, I knew what I was getting into before I started flight training. Anybody diving into a long career path should research their field and have a good understanding of the direction they're heading. I am willing to stay at the company I'm with for quite a while until I am competetive at the airline I want to work at for the long haul. I'm not bitter about the wages I earn because I knew what they were going to be long before I took this job. In fact, I knew what they were going to be long before I started training on my private certificate. So based on your ignorant response, I can tell that you are an ignorant fuK who is just bitter that his career hasn't turned out the way he wanted yet. I'm sorry you didn't do the research to understand what you were getting in to but that is your own dammmed fault and not anybody elses. Since you said earlier that you've wanted to be an airline pilot since you were 12 years old, it's a shame that you are so shocked at how much money you're making right now. You've obviously had enough time to learn about the industry and the fickle wages that we all endure. And about your comments about the "reality show about airline pilots and then maybe people would realize the 'house is burning down." If you really feel that way. Maybe you should become a martyr for all of us stupid regional pilots and you should quit your job in the name of fair wages. Lead the way thy holy one!

 

[100LL... Again!]

So how about ALPA organizes a class calles Airline Reality 101, and gets line pilots to volunteer to talk to starry-eyed college students?

I would volunteer, though I would probably end up screaming like Sam Kinison in "Back to School".

 

[FlyingFarmer]

TOOoooo Funny!

I would volunteer, though I would probably end up screaming like Sam Kinison in "Back to School".


AHA!!!!!!!! Oh man good morning and thanks for the belly laugh! I couldn't have said it better myself! I read about the thousand hour wonders who think that they "have it good, living the dream" only they're too stupid to realize they contributed to the dreams demise! Of course at the end of the day, we basically have Woerth and Babbit to thank for all of it. They are the guys that signed the contracts. Of course the pilots are the ones that voted on the contracts, or took a job at TAB or Kraphstream...... of course we can also blame radical Islam, and the Clinton administration, but when you really get down to it, who's fault is it really?

WELL I'LL TELL YOU WHO'S FAULT IT IS!!!!!!! IT WAS ALL YOU STUPID LITTLE MAGGOTS WHO WANTED TO BE PILOTS SO THE GIRLS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT TURNED YOU DOWN WOULD THINK YOUR COOL. AFTER ALL YOU IGNORANT LITTLE TERDS!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS FLYING WHEN YOU WERE STILL WETTING THE BED, I'M IN THIS POSITION NOW BECAUSE OF YOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!

OOOOOOHHHHHH OOHHH OOHHH OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH

SAAAAAAYYYYY IIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTT
SSAAAAAYYYYYYYYY IIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT


OOOHHHHHHHH OHHHHHHHHHHH OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

sorry, you'd would have to have Sam Kinison on video to get it!




-FF

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Actually, I knew what I was getting into before I started flight training. Anybody diving into a long career path should research their field and have a good understanding of the direction they're heading. I am willing to stay at the company I'm with for quite a while until I am competetive at the airline I want to work at for the long haul. I'm not bitter about the wages I earn because I knew what they were going to be long before I took this job. In fact, I knew what they were going to be long before I started training on my private certificate.

Talk about blowing things out of proportion. And to be honest, I'm not bitter at all.....I'm just stating the obvious. I've known how low regional pay was since I was a teenager in High School. The reality was that back then the regionals were a place to stay for 2 or 3 years and go elsewhere to make a good living. Thats not the case now, and living on the slave-like wages has become a 5+ year expectancy. If we all had your attitude though, the union could just hang it up. I mean, after all, we all knew what we were getting into, and spending 5 years or more struggling on a ridiculously low salary is okay because of that...right Dirk? Why don't you tell that to your MEC? With your attitude I'm sure you're well liked by all of those at your airline that are fighting to make things better.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Things are alright at my airline. I'm sure you'd be envious of our contract even after the concession we gave.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Please...enlighten me of this airline in which you work. If its Comair, or any of the other very few regionals with a decent contract, it sure didn't come about because of your attitude. Did you tell the guys in the picket lines that you "weren't bitter about the wages because you knew what you would be making when you took the job". Heh....riiight.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Do you get pleasure out of being miserable? That's the only explanation I can find for why you b1tch and moan so dammmed much. Get a hobby!

 

[SkyBoy1981]

If you'll look at my previous posts on these boards you'll see that I'm generally not one that complains often at all. I'm actually quite content with my position in the industry. Its just the fact that you get a thrill out of taking the counter opinion of what others say just for the purpose of trying to rattle their chain. Well, looks like I finally rattled yours. As I saw someone else posts on these boards a few days ago and got a real kick out of:
"Thanks for playing!"

 

[DirkkDiggler]

Why don't you start posting comments on the regional airline board once you get a job with a regional! Thanks for playing.

 

[suupah]

DUDE. The simple fact is, we all knew what the pay was at the regionals. What we didn't know is that we were going to make them home for a long time. So, now that we know they are more of an apartment then an extended stay motel, we want some amenities.

This sucks, but i have only been in this industry for a little while and i have learned that, we have no idea what is going to happen week to week. So who knows whats on the horizon.

 

[100LL... Again!]

I b!tch, therefore, I am.

 

[DirkkDiggler]

DUDE. The simple fact is, we all knew what the pay was at the regionals. What we didn't know is that we were going to make them home for a long time. So, now that we know they are more of an apartment then an extended stay motel, we want some amenities.

This sucks, but i have only been in this industry for a little while and i have learned that, we have no idea what is going to happen week to week. So who knows whats on the horizon.

To use your analogy. So you rented an apartment for "x" dollars a month and you've decided to stay a little longer than you originally planned. Does that mean that you should insist on management renovating your apartment and cutting your rent at the same time? I mean it's only fair right. You didn't plan on living there more than a year or two. Somebody owes you. I agree that the regionals used to be a stepping stone and now they definately play a long term role in our careers. I also wish I made more money too. But just because I want it doesn't mean it's necessarily right for me to ask for it. Especially when there are thousands of people out there who wish they had my job for half what I'm making. Too many pilots want to have their cake and eat it to. Out of one side of their mouth they're saying how awesome their job is and they could never do anything else for a living and out the other side they're complaining that they aren't compensated fairly for what they do. Well who's the idiot for taking a job that isn't fairly compensated. Would you take out the trash at McDonald's for $2 an hour. Hell no. Would you do it for $100 an hour. Maybe, it's still McDonald's! Long story short, you took the job because it's a great job. You knew what the pay was prior to getting the job (I hope). Now you're stuck with the job a little longer than you planned. Welcome to the aviation industry where plans change quicker than the weather in Milwaukee. I'm in the same boat as all of you. I'm just tired of hearing people b!tch incessantly about it and I can't stand it when people start talking about running a business from a union's standpoint. Go to school and learn something about business and economics. Companies don't give a fukk about what their unions want. They just want to make money. Who can blame them. Isn't that what we all want too.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

What flavor kool-aid have you been drinking?

 

[FlyChicaga]

The simple fact is, this industry is setting itself up for the perfect storm. Low prices, high fuel costs, too much capacity, in a fight-to-the-death struggle. The majors are looking for concessions left and right to stay alive. Cost cutting it the name of the game. Plus, in the regional sector, a massive amount of airlines are fighting for companies to feed. New companies are springing up every day. In a time where, sadly, it seems some carriers need to die for the survival of the rest, you have upstarts like low-cost Virgin USA stepping up to the plate.

The industry, and the nation, as a whole is in a complete mess. Be honest with yourselves: We are fighting to keep our jobs. While I, like everyone else here, would like to make more money and have better benefits (and deserve it!), right now it seems our primary focus should be on keeping a job.

I think we just need to ride this out for a while longer, and when things pick up, then we will have the opportunity to move pay and benefits to where they should be. "Short-term pain for long-term gain" if you will.

Right now it seems as if we are all kids asking Mom and Dad for a new car, when they are close to selling the house.