If McDonalds has to do it. . .

surreal1221

surreal1221

Well-Known Member
This Month's Airline Pilot magazine said:
Capt. Dan Adamus, ALPA Canada Board President: “With the deterioration of the airline industry in the last six or seven years, kids coming out of universities are saying, ‘Why would I want to become a pilot?’

Look at northern Alberta, where they have found an absolute ton of oil in what they call the oil sands. Fort McMurray is absolutely booming right now.

“A McDonald’s restaurant up there had to shut down because it couldn’t hire anybody. McDonald’s has a rule that it could pay only so much, but the restaurant could not attract anyone at that rate. It has since reopened, but I understand that it has had to match the going rate for wages in that environment. Even then, it was unable to obtain a full complement of staff so has been forced to close its doors whenever its current staff reaches their maximum hours.

“How does this relate to the airline industry? Well, one of these young kids coming out of school can get into one of the trades out there—electrician, plumber, pipe fitter—and easily make $150,000 after a couple of years of apprenticeship. He can’t do that as a pilot.”
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Not in it for the money you say? Oooooooooooooookay. :rolleyes:

Just want to fly, because it's cool? Because it's better than driving a desk? Is that why?

I know why I'm changing careers, and it is for the money, better QOL, etc. Better pay than my previous career choice (ATC), and much better than my previous job (military meteorologist). Yeah, I'm in it for the money. . .and I want someone to defend my profession, and who would that be? An international union.

Game on. :sarcasm:
 
surreal1221 said:
“How does this relate to the airline industry? Well, one of these young kids coming out of school can get into one of the trades out there—electrician, plumber, pipe fitter—and easily make $150,000 after a couple of years of apprenticeship. He can’t do that as a pilot.”
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He can't do that as an electrician, plumber, or pipe fitter either...the highest level electricians, plumbers, and pipe fitters in Virginia top out around $60k, and those aren't the guys that just finished their apprenticeship.
 
In some areas of Canada that are expanding rapidly contractor type people like that actually can make a lot of money. Welders get paid very, very well in some areas.
 
JDMcFly said:
In some areas of Canada that are expanding rapidly contractor type people like that actually can make a lot of money. Welders get paid very, very well in some areas.
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I don't believe it.

The Plumber working in Alberta - Provincewide, Alberta now earns an average annual salary of 33,605. Half of those in this position would earn between 23,772 and 44,866 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
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The Pipe Fitter working in Alberta - Provincewide, Alberta now earns an average annual salary of 36,211. Half of those in this position would earn between 29,461 and 46,922 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
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The Electrician working in Alberta - Provincewide, Alberta now earns an average annual salary of 54,514. Half of those in this position would earn between 41,283 and 69,058 (the 17th and 67th percentiles). These numbers are derived from area-specific government survey data.
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*Maybe* if someone worked 90 hours per week, 52 weeks a year they might start to be able to approach those earnings...maybe. I dunno.
 
Well, I think the principle of the comment was rather simple.

Pay and benefits are not attracting ENOUGH qualified canidates, who are then seeking other lines of work.
 
surreal1221 said:
Well, I think the principle of the comment was rather simple.

Pay and benefits are not attracting ENOUGH qualified canidates, who are then seeking other lines of work.
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I agree with that.

Of course, that's true anywhere, in any industry ;).
 
wheelsup said:
I don't believe it.
.
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Believe it. My company does lots of business throughout Canada - I fly our execs up regularly. The oil/gas/mining/energy industry in Canada is bigger than lots of people think, and there are some very well-paid workers up there.
 
Looking4Lower said:
Believe it. My company does lots of business throughout Canada - I fly our execs up regularly. The oil/gas/mining/energy industry in Canada is bigger than lots of people think, and there are some very well-paid workers up there.
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I'm sure there are some very well paid people up there.

The government statistics don't back up that one can "very easily" make $150k as a plumber, pipe fitter, or electrician.
 
Yeah sounds like one of those "too good to be true" things. I mean, if it was that easy to make 150k quickly, wouldnt everybody be lined up to be an electrician, plumber, welder etc? Even with the reduced wages, the job of an airline pilot still ranks among the best jobs right now imo.
 
wheelsup said:
I don't believe it.
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look into welding/pipe fitting/whatever at the oil fields in the north. You'll work in some absolutely insane conditions for parts of the year and treated like a slave, but you'll bank a *lot* of cash. kinda like doing the offshore oil rig deal or the arctic crab fishing, there is risk involved and the conditions suck, but it can pay off.
 
Yeah I heard those crab fishermen make very good money. I love watching "The Deadliest Catch" on discovery. But man, that is some DANGEROUS work. I think insane was the right word to use.
 
Whenever I hear an outrageous $$$ quote like that, I wonder what people think I make as an airline pilot. And I realize it's probably not even close to true.
 
Surreal, the flip side of it is that there are a lot of people who are like me who will probably never make that jump to the airlines because of the pay and QOL. If you've got a good gig going, as I do, someone's got to make you an offer you can't refuse.

I'm sorry, but taking a two thirds pay cut the first year and 50 percent pay cut the second and being treated like crap by an employer is an offer I can't accept.
 
tonyw said:
Surreal, the flip side of it is that there are a lot of people who are like me who will probably never make that jump to the airlines because of the pay and QOL. If you've got a good gig going, as I do, someone's got to make you an offer you can't refuse.

I'm sorry, but taking a two thirds pay cut the first year and 50 percent pay cut the second and being treated like crap by an employer is an offer I can't accept.
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This is most depressing -- it also describes my situation so well.

-Christine
 
What E Dawg...I thought you made 350K a year, were off 37 days a month and had a girl in every port? If that isn't the case, then I don't want anything to do with this job...geez! oh yeah, just in case ---> :sarcasm:
 
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