Great Lakes F/O DEN-STL 750TT

Ever since I began flight training, my dream has been to fly into my hometown (as a pilot) for a 121 operator. Great Lakes is the only air service and the pay is so bad I'm foregoing my dream unless they raise pay. It's ridiculous. :banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
mojo6911 said:
It shouldn't be for anyone. People who take jobs like this screw the rest of us.
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I disagree.

Flying 19 seat t-props to destinations that would not be served by other carriers isn't really taking much away from anyone. The pay is minimal, however look at the amount of people moved/speed/distances.

Lakes is represented by the same Union as Republic, Horizon, and a few others (yes including Gulfstream however) the pilot group does work hard to keep annual pay-raises and better QOL. I have never heard of any other airlines having any beef with lakes, or any trouble jumpseating, most actually enjoy talking about the Beech and buying you a coffee :)

All just opinion.
 
The 1900 is gettin long in the tooth, apply at your own risk. If Lakes is all you can get then it might not be bad, ie you're from DEN don't go if you're from another timezone not worth being in a 18 month contract.
 
Milesar said:
I disagree.

Flying 19 seat t-props to destinations that would not be served by other carriers isn't really taking much away from anyone. The pay is minimal, however look at the amount of people moved/speed/distances.

Lakes is represented by the same Union as Republic, Horizon, and a few others (yes including Gulfstream however) the pilot group does work hard to keep annual pay-raises and better QOL. I have never heard of any other airlines having any beef with lakes, or any trouble jumpseating, most actually enjoy talking about the Beech and buying you a coffee :)

All just opinion.
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I am talking overall, big picture, sort of stuff. When people are so desperate to sit in an airline cockpit that they will take around $1100 a month gross, they lower the bar for all of us.
 
mojo6911 said:
I am talking overall, big picture, sort of stuff. When people are so desperate to sit in an airline cockpit that they will take around $1100 a month gross, they lower the bar for all of us.
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And are made to sign a training contract for that vast sum of money as well.......
 
Yep, this industry is going down the tubes. Ah, for the "good old days" when people with 2000TT/300-500 multi were happy to get jobs flying Jetstreams, 1900s and Metros for peanuts. Sweating through 2 summers or more in a Skyhawk/Seminole at 15$/hr (or less) or flying freight in dilapidated aircraft with minimal functional navigation equipment into barely "legal" weather was *so* much better than getting hired at 320/20 hrs into a 121 job flying pressurized turbine aircraft, with the possibility of upgrade at ATP minimums.

Don't get me wrong, there are days that...well, let's leave it at saying you're glad for the end of a trip. Also, I'm not saying that people getting hired at regionals at 350/25 is a good thing, either, generally speaking. But what I do find amusing is the fact that (generally) the people who are the biggest haters of places like Lakes are the people who have never done the things it *used* to take to get to places like Lakes, let alone the majors. Also, they're probably the ones decrying "SJS" and people not wanting to pay their dues. Hmm...?
 
I would love to fly a 1900 around Colorado, but its really tough to make those numbers work, even given the prospect of quick upgrade (which then gets you to about first year FO pay on an RJ).
 
I agree, would love to hand fly a 1900 around the rockies....but I am a little too old to be living with my parents.
 
A buddy of mine just started IOE with them this week. He went into Lakes with about 1600 TT after instructing for about a year and a half. He is a CFI and CFII and he (as well as others I know that either work there or have worked there), informed me that this was the hardest thing he has ever done in his life.

The training is the real deal. Probably more so than most. Yes, it seems rediculous due to the incredibly low pay to start. But to be fair, the pilot's all seem to like what they do. They all hate the pay, but they love the type of flying they are doing. It is phenominal experience. But as has been written, "I am too old to be moving back in with Mom."

He is able to do it (financially) because his wife holds down a good job and they were smart with money early in their marriage. For him, it works. And right, wrong or indifferent, as others are going out of business, they are picking up the lost routes. It seems like them and Cape Air as well.

Don't get me wrong, the pay is wrong. And there is no way I could make that work. But if you can, it is good experience.
 
High_Alpha said:
Turbine PIC
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I wish PROFESSIONAL pilots would smarten up a little regarding this. Turbine PIC will come to you soon enough. If one were to flight instruct to 135 mins (easily done in 1 yr or less), they would make much, much more than a GL FO. Next, go get a 135 job, and after a few months to a year they'd have a fairly good shot at turbine PIC time. Someone that chooses this route over GL will be so much further ahead financially.

The airlines may suck right now, but the career path I just listed is still going strong. If pilots would all just stop flying for these crappy wages!
 
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