Most junior NYC MD88 captain...

mmm

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Only if we could get legacies to do all the flying!
I think I would have liked that airplane.
 
Jokes aside it is scary the number of people I've run into that believe something to this effect.... SKW is a good company to work for but I just don't see the justification sometimes.

Oh, I know a LOT of guys that tell me this.

Hell, my parents worked a lot of holidays to put food on the table. But 40 years later your darling child is going to grow up rotten because you missed Christmas because you were a new hire? Puleeze.

Comfortable people become risk averse.

"Comfort" does not imply lack of risk or stability. It's an illusion.

You can be the top player for the Visalia Oaks, but it's not the New York Yankees.
 
I'm dying to move on, always have been. But at the same time I respect the opinion of those that don't wish too. Maybe they don't want to commute, or they're at an age where they just want to ride out the next few years in comfort, or they have a side business, etc. Whatever...

But to act like everybody that doesn't think like you is some kind of ignorant fool is strange and quite honestly pretty sad. I would have expected better from some of you...
 
There's a lot of weirdness out there right now. Hell, I've had RJ FOs scoff at Atlas. Of course, Atlas doesn't have Delta's contract, but you know, it's still a six-figure FO gig. But from a negotiating position, I'm glad they're passing.

If I was at the pinnacle of my career, right now, and things are amazing and awesome, I would not be satisfied. I'm a shark. I'm happy doing shark-stuff, but I have to keep swimming to live.
 
I'm dying to move on, always have been. But at the same time I respect the opinion of those that don't wish too. Maybe they don't want to commute, or they're at an age where they just want to ride out the next few years in comfort, or they have a side business, etc. Whatever...

But to act like everybody that doesn't think like you is some kind of ignorant fool is strange and quite honestly pretty sad. I would have expected better from some of you...

Not commuting for a career is an unattainable myth at a regional.

How many Eagle guys thought they'd retire on "The Rock"?
 
Trust me. Been there, done that.

"Congrats on the bus, Derg!"

"I'm already on the bus, idiot!"

"Wait, 320? Captain? already? whaaaaa?"
 
If I was at the pinnacle of my career, right now, and things are amazing and awesome, I would not be satisfied. I'm a shark. I'm happy doing shark-stuff, but I have to keep swimming to live.
To be fair, the "hunt" for new jobs when you've been through several airlines already gets very, very, VERY old. Not to mention, continually moving on to the bottom of a seniority list puts you at more risk in the longer-term.
 
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If I was at the pinnacle of my career, right now, and things are amazing and awesome, I would not be satisfied. I'm a shark. I'm happy doing shark-stuff, but I have to keep swimming to live.

I like to think of Derg as my brother from another mother, but in this case, I'm not a shark, but a sloth. If I had a million dollars, I would relax. I would sit on my a@# all day. I would do nothing.

Nice to hear. Hope you guys get to move up quickly!

Well, just a second there professor. This isn't really a case of growth or retirements. This has more to do with the relative level of unpleasantness.

That being said, if you had a grandmother that left you her rent controlled apartment next to the subway station, you'd be killing it in NYC and having a blast to boot. OTOH, I got a bro working for JB who lives in Queens, and he tells me the cost of living is absolutely crushing.

Richman
 
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Oh, I know a LOT of guys that tell me this.

Hell, my parents worked a lot of holidays to put food on the table. But 40 years later your darling child is going to grow up rotten because you missed Christmas because you were a new hire? Puleeze.

Comfortable people become risk averse.

"Comfort" does not imply lack of risk or stability. It's an illusion.

You can be the top player for the Visalia Oaks, but it's not the New York Yankees.

I agree with what you're saying 9 times out of 10, but I live in a base that is saturated by lifers. Some of them have plenty of money, and/or are running a side business, have another job (military etc.), or are married to a bread winner. To them the value of living in base and having a schedule that allows them their life style is much more valuable than a few extra dollars a long commute and no longer having to explain that Joe Schmoe Airlines isn't a scenic tour company for the area, but a major airline feeder flying all over the entire United States...

To these people it's not so much about the money. To some people having whatever days off they want, being home almost every night and making $150K while being able to drive to work is all they need or want in life. Good for them. To me that's just more opportunity for the rest of us who have a passion and desire to move on eventually to bigger and better things. To some people it may not always be better on rare occasion, but there are definitely some legitimate occasions that will result in a regional lifer.

I have also met lifers who it seems to be a comfort issue as you mentioned, @Derg , and they really don't seem to have a grasp on how negatively their long term decision may affect them 20 or 30 years down the road...

How many major airline pilots have we heard say "man I wish I stayed at my regional job, this job sucks!" ? Exactly... I haven't heard of any either... Keep those logbooks up to date. Polish that resume up. Network like there is no tomorrow, and be intentional and genuine with the people you meet.
 
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I agree with what you're saying 9 times out of 10, but I live in a base that is saturated by lifers. Some of them have plenty of money, and/or are running a side business, have another job (military etc.), or are married to a bread winner. To them the value of living in base and having a schedule that allows them their life style is much more valuable than a few extra dollars a long commute and no longer having to explain that Joe Schmoe Airlines isn't a scenic tour company for the area, but a major airline feeder flying all over the entire United States...

To these people it's not so much about the money. To some people having whatever days off they want, being home almost every night and making $150K while being able to drive to work is all they need or want in life. Good for them. To me that's just more opportunity for the rest of us who have a passion and desire to move on eventually to bigger and better things. To some people it may not always be better on rare occasion, but there are definitely some legitimate occasions that will result in a regional lifer.

I have also met lifers who it seems to be a comfort issue as you mentioned, @Derg , and they really don't seem to have a grasp on how negatively their long term decision may affect them 20 or 30 years down the road...

How many major airline pilots have we heard say "man I wish I stayed at my regional job, this job sucks!" ? Exactly... I haven't heard of any either... Keep those logbooks up to date. Polish that resume up. Network like there is no tomorrow, and be intentional and genuine with the people you meet.
"They don't need the money" but will quickly find out they do need that $150k when things start drying up or the airline shuts down, not specifically yours but regionals in general. The gravy train can leave at any moment. I've had a few guys in the JS lately from your airline I believe. One guy said he wants to leave but hasn't done ANYTHING outside of fly the line and go home, the other has the golden hand cuffs. Captain couldn't believe it after they left.
 
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Oh, I know a LOT of guys that tell me this.

Hell, my parents worked a lot of holidays to put food on the table. But 40 years later your darling child is going to grow up rotten because you missed Christmas because you were a new hire? Puleeze.

Comfortable people become risk averse.

"Comfort" does not imply lack of risk or stability. It's an illusion.

You can be the top player for the Visalia Oaks, but it's not the New York Yankees.

Right now I'm in the middle of being away from my family for 2 weeks. I FaceTime Emily and the kid pretty much even night, and you know what my kid says when I tell her I miss her? "Whatever Dad, I've got Mommy and CARTOONS! You're pretty cool, but we're having a party back home while you're out there unlocking new Captain Achievement Awards and we're having FUN! We can play when you get back home, right now I'm hanging out with MOMMY!!!!!"

AND SHE'S THREE!

Kids adapt pretty well to whatever lifestyle you put them in as long as there are people around who care about them and you provide them with structure. The structure of working at an airline might not be the structure of working a 9-5 at the local supermarket, but it doesn't matter, it's still structure. My daughter knows I'm going to go away for a few days, and then I'll be back for a few days, and we'll talk every day regardless. It's normal for her, and she's doing just fine.
 
There's a lot of weirdness out there right now. Hell, I've had RJ FOs scoff at Atlas. Of course, Atlas doesn't have Delta's contract, but you know, it's still a six-figure FO gig. But from a negotiating position, I'm glad they're passing.
Atlas is no doubt a huge step up, but it's a considerably different life then that of a regional FO, it may not be for everyone.
 
"They don't need the money" but will quickly find out they do need that $150k when things start drying up or the airline shuts down, not specifically yours but regionals in general. The gravy train can leave at any moment. I've had a few guys in the JS lately from your airline I believe. One guy said he wants to leave but hasn't done ANYTHING outside of fly the line and go home, the other has the golden hand cuffs. Captain couldn't believe it after they left.

I agree. I've seen people like that on our JS too. They "want" to move on, but have made no serious steps in heading towards the exit. Like I said though, they don't realize now how negatively their decision to be a lifer or not take steps to leave may impact them down the road 20-30 years later.
 
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