Toonces
Well-Known Member
So I was reflecting on the direction that the airline industry has been headed for the last 7 years. It doesn't appear to be getting better ever. I would say it has probably been going downhill for much longer than 7 years; I wasn't paying attention to it before then though. Management continues to find new and creative ways to screw us, and like a bunch of buffoons (to include myself) we whine and complain but keep showing up to work every week.
I was thinking about what is going on at Midwest. I could totally see outsourcing being the norm for the majors in the not too distant future. I see no reason for management to not peruse this. We have already proven time and time again that we are willing to work for less. I was not shocked by the fact that Midwest management did what they did. I am only shocked that it didn't happen sooner. ALPA has again proven to be completely impotent in this matter. Parading a few pilots with their little signs in front of HQ probably only causes the big wigs to piss themselves with laughter as those poor bastards freeze their cans off walking in circles. I realize they are doing all they can to save their jobs and I truly feel sorry for them, however it's a lost cause. There are literally thousands of people lined up to do their jobs for less. The same is true for the rest of us.
Now to the point of the thread. What is it going to take for you personally to walk away from this profession? When will the pay be too low for you to justify being gone half the year? How can you stand knowing that you are one furlough, or bankruptcy from being back to day one FO pay and seniority? I love my job. I am proud of what I have accomplished in this profession. I am however embarrassed by our pay. I am sickened to know that a friend of mine who dropped out of high school and has smoked more pot than Cheech and Chong makes more money as an electrician than I do flying jets. I can think of several people whom I grew up with that either didn't go to college or only have an associate’s degree from a community college and they all make more than me. It's f***ing embarrassing to be just barely scraping by while people who either spent nothing or next to nothing in regards to higher education excell. To top it all off we have a never ending supply of student pilots and CFI's who think 40k a year is a lot of money. To all of you who think 40k is a ton of money for flying a jet, please never tell me that to my face if you meet me. I will be in jail for sure for ripping your arm off and beating you to death with it.
No friends, (both of you) the laws of supply and demand for pilots will never be in our favor. I have come to terms with that. I know for a fact I will not be doing this til 65. It's so not worth it. Of course nothing I say will change anyone’s minds. The guys who want to fly for peanuts always will and the starry eyed wannabes who will eventually be where I am at won't realize the realities of this business until long after the flight academy owners have taken your money and bought a new boat. For those of you who have managed to "make it" in this business; you are the minority.I know that minority is just loves to chime in and try and convince us it's all worth it and if we just try hard enough we will be just like them. Bullocks. Most of will never be a 777 captain. Most of us will never be a Doug Taylor or DE727UPS whatever his name is. More than likely, most of us will be furloughed a few times and have to start all over again at a s***ty airline. Most of us will spend a significant portion of their career making sub par wages at or near the bottom of a seniority list.
I can't wait until the day I can afford to start my own business and get out of this lost cause some call a profession. Unfortunately I only make just enough to make my loan payments and keep myself off food stamps. That is 3rd year FO pay, I can't believe I wasn't on welfare during first year pay. When the time comes that I can afford to get out, the guys junior to me can enjoy the bump.
Rant over
I was thinking about what is going on at Midwest. I could totally see outsourcing being the norm for the majors in the not too distant future. I see no reason for management to not peruse this. We have already proven time and time again that we are willing to work for less. I was not shocked by the fact that Midwest management did what they did. I am only shocked that it didn't happen sooner. ALPA has again proven to be completely impotent in this matter. Parading a few pilots with their little signs in front of HQ probably only causes the big wigs to piss themselves with laughter as those poor bastards freeze their cans off walking in circles. I realize they are doing all they can to save their jobs and I truly feel sorry for them, however it's a lost cause. There are literally thousands of people lined up to do their jobs for less. The same is true for the rest of us.
Now to the point of the thread. What is it going to take for you personally to walk away from this profession? When will the pay be too low for you to justify being gone half the year? How can you stand knowing that you are one furlough, or bankruptcy from being back to day one FO pay and seniority? I love my job. I am proud of what I have accomplished in this profession. I am however embarrassed by our pay. I am sickened to know that a friend of mine who dropped out of high school and has smoked more pot than Cheech and Chong makes more money as an electrician than I do flying jets. I can think of several people whom I grew up with that either didn't go to college or only have an associate’s degree from a community college and they all make more than me. It's f***ing embarrassing to be just barely scraping by while people who either spent nothing or next to nothing in regards to higher education excell. To top it all off we have a never ending supply of student pilots and CFI's who think 40k a year is a lot of money. To all of you who think 40k is a ton of money for flying a jet, please never tell me that to my face if you meet me. I will be in jail for sure for ripping your arm off and beating you to death with it.
No friends, (both of you) the laws of supply and demand for pilots will never be in our favor. I have come to terms with that. I know for a fact I will not be doing this til 65. It's so not worth it. Of course nothing I say will change anyone’s minds. The guys who want to fly for peanuts always will and the starry eyed wannabes who will eventually be where I am at won't realize the realities of this business until long after the flight academy owners have taken your money and bought a new boat. For those of you who have managed to "make it" in this business; you are the minority.I know that minority is just loves to chime in and try and convince us it's all worth it and if we just try hard enough we will be just like them. Bullocks. Most of will never be a 777 captain. Most of us will never be a Doug Taylor or DE727UPS whatever his name is. More than likely, most of us will be furloughed a few times and have to start all over again at a s***ty airline. Most of us will spend a significant portion of their career making sub par wages at or near the bottom of a seniority list.
I can't wait until the day I can afford to start my own business and get out of this lost cause some call a profession. Unfortunately I only make just enough to make my loan payments and keep myself off food stamps. That is 3rd year FO pay, I can't believe I wasn't on welfare during first year pay. When the time comes that I can afford to get out, the guys junior to me can enjoy the bump.
Rant over