surreal1221
Well-Known Member
Well, I'm glad there are guys/gals out there that DO focus on the things that could be improved.
Thanks
Thanks
Regionals arent that bad
- Thread starter buffalopilot
- Start date
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
I mean I've gotta admit, my quality of life shot through the roof when I stopped working 6 days a week, spending 2 weeks out of every month in the back of an FTD and the other 2 weeks doing BUR-PMD-WJF-VNY-BUR every night at 2:00 a.m. That's not to say there were not some absolutely great parts about that job, but 12 days off a month is kickin' the crap outta that QOL-wise right now.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
It's all a crap shoot, guys. Lloyd happened to land at a regional that treats their guys like human beings. Sorry to bust your bubble, man, but if you were at Pinnacle you WOULD be reading your contract. It wouldn't be to maximize your pay, it would be saying "What? Can they really extend me into ANOTHER day off?" I have a hard time believing even your positive attitude would last long around here considering some of the stuff they do. It's tough to say "I want to help the company succeed" when they keep extending you into days off, screwing with your paycheck and threatening you when you call in sick despite the fact your hugging the toilet. Now, if they'd follow the contract both sides agreed upon instead of telling scheduling "Well, they have to fly it now and grieve it later, so do what you need to do to get the flying covered," then I'd be all for going the extra mile to help them succeed. It's the lack of thanks we get after we've gone 10 extra miles along with the kick in the balls afterwards that makes us say "Okay, when is it MY turn?"
surreal1221
Well-Known Member
Don't question Lloyd's positive attitude. . .you're just being negative Steve!!!11 
Get back to loving flying 100% and never asking questions! What's wrong with you!!!11 x 2.
Get back to loving flying 100% and never asking questions! What's wrong with you!!!11 x 2.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
Don't question Lloyd's positive attitude. . .you're just being negative Steve!!!11
Heh. The odd thing is I don't really have any complaints personally about my schedule right now. When I upgrade, it's gonna be a whole new ballgame, though. Back on reserve for a LOOOONG time here in MEM, and that's not fun. I also talk to the contract compliance guys a lot, so it's unbelievable some of the things I hear management trying to slide by. Sure, you get a comp day if they force extend you into your day off, dropping you below 10 for the month. Then when you try to get that extra day off the next month you get "denied due to staffing." Part of the problem is the wording in the contract.....the dreaded "best of the company's ability" and "operational necessity."
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
I'd have somebody's head on a stick if I had a day rolled and didn't get it back by the end of the bid period, and they can't give it back to us in the middle of a block of reserve days, either.
HeyEng
Well-Known Member
Very interesting persepectives out there. I know of a guy who was at a regional for MANY MANY MANY years (still is in the training department I believe due to age 60 rule) who loved the job. When I met him in 1991, he was considering going to a mainline but decided against it because they had flight attendents...and hated FAs. He stuck it out with the regional carrier and last I talked to him, he had no regrets and was living the dream. I have also met (and work with) a whole mess load of mainline guys that were furloughed after 9/11 and hated the job...some went back, some haven't and won't. It's all about what makes it for you. I know at my age, I will most likely never get on with a legacy (I have no real desire to do so), and if I did, my grandad would kill me (EAL Victim). There is NO SECURITY in this field of work...you gotta make the best of it. So, just because someone is ACTUALLY happy at their chosen employer...woo hoo to them, and don't bag 'em for it!
Tram
Well-Known Member
Why would your grandfather have an issue with you getting on at a legacy carrier and him being an EAL victim have anything to do with each other?
HeyEng
Well-Known Member
They have everything to do with one another. Eastern was one of the largest carriers and because he gave everything to that company...many years of "living the life" and in the end got bent over and *%$##$. That's why.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
huh?
HeyEng
Well-Known Member
Holy crap, am I making no sense at all? My granddad worked for Eastern for 30+ years and we know what happened to Eastern. All I was saying was that he would ring my neck if all I wanted to do was get on at the "greatest legacy carrier ever." Point being that airlines come and go; big ones and little ones, so don't put all your eggs in one basket. Sorry if this was all so confusing...lots of turkey leftovers and no sleep...
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
Whether you work at a big carrier or small, aren't you putting all your eggs in one basket?
HeyEng
Well-Known Member
I was imparting my opinion that a mainline carrier may not be the end-all-be-all in this profession. Many people have bought into this logic only to be burned...my grandfather being one of them. He sacrificed A LOT in his life for that "golden opportunity" and it was all for naught. It is recognized that regional flying isn't for everyone and yep, the small carriers come and go...but the mainline isn't a guarantee either. As for me, I won't put all my eggs in one basket. I will retire from the AF and have a pension for the rest of my life (until it is taken away to shore up social security), will have a master's degree in something that I will be able to do part-time consulting work with (or full time if needed) and will still have a side business for the "lean years." So yes, big carrier, little carrier, they are ALL risky and I would hope that anyone wanting to get into this line of work have other "baskets."
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
OK I gotcha. My father retired from the AF w/ a pension about 15 years ago. I figure his pension check is about the same as having $1,000,000 in the bank when he retired. Quite significant...kinda made me wish I had done that route too, although I'd be over in Iraq right now most likely, and wouldn't be flying.
HeyEng
Well-Known Member
It certainly isn't a free lunch. If I were to go back in time, I wouldn't do it again although I have had an absolute blast!!! If I live to be 78 (not at this rate though!) my retirement will be worth about 2.4 million cumulative. Sure can make those "lean years" a bit more palatable. There is no way I'd jump into commercial flying if I didn't have back-ups. I just can't roll that way. :laff:
ya know, i can understand where he's coming from and all but if you ask me, you're sacrificing more when working in regional field than on mainline. Regionals are still *supposed to be* considered stepping stones for the most part...PLUS having all your eggs in a regional basket is a lot riskier than having those eggs in a mainline basket because a regional will furlough faster than mainline simply because of the constant contract wars.
so technically, your eggs aren't safe anywhere once you get into this field.
just my 0.02
but here's a question....are you in a sense saying that your grandfather would have been better off if he had not gotten into flying or if he had not gone for "his" golden egg?
Van_Hoolio
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I just noticed this.
So flying a DME arc to a non-precision approach in a non-radar environment in actual IMC and celebrating later that night at some pirate club and looking at the ocean view from your hotel room the next morning is not real international or even cool? Come on now....
Not everyone wants to work for a get-your-time-and-get-out regional airline like yours. You might as well enjoy your time at the regional level and make some decent money while doing it before you move on to the next step. People looking at the regional path should consider holding out for one of the "better" regionals if possible. That's my honest opinion.
Mike
So flying a DME arc to a non-precision approach in a non-radar environment in actual IMC and celebrating later that night at some pirate club and looking at the ocean view from your hotel room the next morning is not real international or even cool? Come on now....
Not everyone wants to work for a get-your-time-and-get-out regional airline like yours. You might as well enjoy your time at the regional level and make some decent money while doing it before you move on to the next step. People looking at the regional path should consider holding out for one of the "better" regionals if possible. That's my honest opinion.
Mike
