Rant from a regional FO!

statusseeker1

statusseeker1

Well-Known Member
I've been in aviation for 10 years. I started working at a regional airline last July and can honestly say I've had it. For those working towards a regional job, I wish you the best of luck. I've worked too hard and life is too short to waste it doing a job that makes you depressed.
Short story- I was happy as a CFI. Took a job at a regional after the interviewers said I could hold a line in a few months, be based close to home in one of their many bases in my state, and upgrade times are 6-9 months. With that information in hand, I decided to try it out and take the $25,000/year pay cut to "live the dream."
One year later, I am still not senior enough to hold a line. I am based in an outstation far away from my family. I spend all my time off commuting to and from work. There is no glimmer of an upgrade. I never see my family. The final straw- the company, in its infinite wisdom, is deciding to ship us off to a pilot mill flight school in a mad dash effort to get all the company FO's their ATP certificates in Piper Seminoles. What a joke.
The point of this rant? If you plan on working as a regional airline pilot, please consider the following: you will be making less than the person that gives you your coffee in the morning on the way to the airport, you better be single or be able to live in base or else you will never see your family, and your passion for aviation (i'm assuming we're all passionate here) will be compromised. I miss the hell out of flying small airplanes. I miss being able to fly where ever I want. I miss having days off where I don't have to get into uniform to commute.
Congrats to those below me in seniority- your number will be going up by one very shortly!
 
I can't say I'm surprised. I actually am surprised that more of our FO's haven't bailed prior to this ATP debacle. I would have.

I understand why your leaving, but let me say this: give a different regional a try. In terms of QoL where you are now is as bad as it gets. Good luck!
 
I think one thing people learn in the industry is how to embrace patience. Less than a year at a regional is not that long. I dont know anyone who upgraded in 6 to 9 months at any regional. You havent even hit 2nd year pay. What company told you all of this?
 
joethepilot said:
I can't say I'm surprised. I actually am surprised that more of our FO's haven't bailed prior to this ATP debacle. I would have.

I understand why your leaving, but let me say this: give a different regional a try. In terms of QoL where you are now is as bad as it gets. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I did....
 
statusseeker1 said:
I've been in aviation for 10 years. I started working at a regional airline last July and can honestly say I've had it. For those working towards a regional job, I wish you the best of luck. I've worked too hard and life is too short to waste it doing a job that makes you depressed.
Short story- I was happy as a CFI. Took a job at a regional after the interviewers said I could hold a line in a few months, be based close to home in one of their many bases in my state, and upgrade times are 6-9 months. With that information in hand, I decided to try it out and take the $25,000/year pay cut to "live the dream."
One year later, I am still not senior enough to hold a line. I am based in an outstation far away from my family. I spend all my time off commuting to and from work. There is no glimmer of an upgrade. I never see my family. The final straw- the company, in its infinite wisdom, is deciding to ship us off to a pilot mill flight school in a mad dash effort to get all the company FO's their ATP certificates in Piper Seminoles. What a joke.
The point of this rant? If you plan on working as a regional airline pilot, please consider the following: you will be making less than the person that gives you your coffee in the morning on the way to the airport, you better be single or be able to live in base or else you will never see your family, and your passion for aviation (i'm assuming we're all passionate here) will be compromised. I miss the hell out of flying small airplanes. I miss being able to fly where ever I want. I miss having days off where I don't have to get into uniform to commute.
Congrats to those below me in seniority- your number will be going up by one very shortly!
Click to expand...

Not every regional is as bad as Silver, and Silver isn't as bad as others too.
 
Well, I guess that's why you should never trust recruiters by their word alone, because they always make the junkyard look greener than how it actually is.

And I hate to tell you this, but there is little excuse for not knowing how long upgrade times generally range at most regionals, how long it takes to hold a line position and so forth. I'm only a ~500 hour TT pilot, and just by reading other peoples' frustrations who have much more part 121 experience than you do, I already know that I can await a whopping 6-10 year timespan to upgrade if I were to choose to go down the airline path. It doesn't sound fun to me in the slightest, but at least I know that by having done my research now sooner rather than later.

It seems as if the QOL has really stretched you to the breaking point, but if I were in your shoes, I would have to ask myself what other alternatives do I have. Do you have a backup plan, or is there some other aviation job that you can find? I work in retail right now, and all that I can think about every day is how much I hate it. Just my low $0.02. Good luck to you, hope it works out.
 
Get your ATP, then bail.

You've already made up your mind. But look at this. Money isn't everything, but look at the earning potential of even a regional pilot vs a flight instructor. Even if you remain at the worst regional for the rest of your career I guarantee you that you will come out ahead. As for quality of life, being on reserve sucks, there's no doubt about it. Even being a junior line holder is pretty rough. But it really sounds like you were fed some pretty bad information. Save maybe Silver and Commutair, no regional has seen time from hire to line holding to upgrade that you are talking about that. Recruiters probably aren't the best source of information as they are just trying to fill seats with people who have the ability to fog mirrors. You need to do your own homework to verify information before making life changing decisions like taking a new job.

While I don't subscribe to the "well so and so has it worse than you, so shut up and eat your pudding" logic. You really haven't had it that bad for this industry. The captain I'm flying with this trip has been on reserve for over 5 years. I was on it for 2.5 years. But eventually it gets better. I had 17 days off this month and still work 87 hours. This also is a pretty brainless job. Show up, look over the flight plan, stick it in the box, and go flying.

Bottom line, starting out at a regional sucks big balls. That is no secret at all and if you were expecting anything else, you need to pay more attention in life. But (and this is entirely up to you) you have to figure out what you want out of your career. If you're happy instructing for much less than you'll (eventually) make later in your career, that's awesome. I really enjoyed instructing, but I had more or less topped out at 25k a year. This industry hasn't moved along as quickly as any of us have wanted, but at the moment its more than likely the best way to go. This is evidenced by the number of people on this website who have declared "I'm never going to the regionals!" worked 7 different jobs, then finally broke down and took the plunge.

At the very least, stay until you get your ATP, then bail.
 
I've never understood what was so bad about waiting 5 or 6 years for an upgrade at any company... When you work for an office-type job, do they "upgrade" you to "office manager" or something of the sort within 1 to 2 years? Hell no. I come from an industry where things are done "old school". You may work 12 to 14 hour days 6 days a week for 5 years before being offered just an apprenticeship, and even that is not a guarantee. And yet I hear so many pilots complain about, "but they promised me a quick upgrade". Big whoop... Be smart and research the company/job you are taking. Talk to those who have worked, and currently work for said company. I dunno what to tell you bud... The mistake was yours to make. Maybe take a big picture look at life... Is another year or two as an FO really that big a deal in the grand scheme of things? If you were in such a rush, being a pilot probably isn't for you.
 
Derg said:
We were all made promises.

First lesson should be "There are no promises"

I was supposed to be a narrowbody captain in 6 years, widebody captain at 12 years and look at me now, 16 year widebody FO.

Welcome to the business. Pass the Cheetos.
Click to expand...


I should have been a 744 CA last year. However, 3 weeks after I got hired, the rules got changed. The 5 year pause was on....

To the OP: Welcome to the business. Pass me a beer.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin using Tapatalk HD
 
So its possible the CFI that teaching you in the little piper for your ATP is making more money than you at the airline your at?

What airline?
 
statusseeker1 said:
... and upgrade times are 6-9 months.
Click to expand...


tumblr_m4lidhFLaD1rn95k2o1_400.gif
 
statusseeker1 I am sorry but I want to ask you a question. Why Silver? I can guess but I want to hear from you. There are two other companies with FL bases(Cape Air and Eagle) that pay a whole lot more. I can tell you working at one I have not made less the double what FOs make at Silver. So why not Cape or Eagle?
 
From what I have been reading, it seems that people need to do their research before taking a job. Don't trust the recruiters, and get more than one opinion. I have set my expectations for QOL low for the first few years, so if I get lucky I will be excited, if not, I am not surprised by the crappy lifestyle.

Just my $.02
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top