Retired NWA pilot sums it up.

[ctab5060X]

lol wow, how much do you make dude? Looking at the ASA scale, forget about 1st year, assuming senior FO the most you will make is about 35K for being gone, or in your case, on duty on a couch for about 70% of the days of the month or 70% of the year. You friends will be home at the end of the night every night and will have stability that you will NEVER have along with the money. 35K is nothing unless you live in rural Mississippi very nice compensation for being gone most of the month and year and being a pro airline pilot. Man I got to join ASA when they hire again, must be some place................

I'm gonna call you on that one

35K in rural Mississippi is still piss poor.

 

[kellwolf]

I'm gonna call you on that one

35K in rural Mississippi is still piss poor.

Wouldn't go "piss" poor. It's not enough to live like I'd want, even in rural Mississippi. But it also depends on which "rural" we're talking about. You could do okay on $35K in Starkville, but not Tunica.

 

[ctab5060X]

Wouldn't go "piss" poor. It's not enough to live like I'd want, even in rural Mississippi. But it also depends on which "rural" we're talking about. You could do okay on $35K in Starkville, but not Tunica.

Actually, I think the 35K would be better off in Tunica and the surrounding area than Starkville.

The Delta is one of the poorest regions of the state, thus on 35K, you would almost be a king!

 

[kellwolf]

Actually, I think the 35K would be better off in Tunica and the surrounding area than Starkville.

The Delta is one of the poorest regions of the state, thus on 35K, you would almost be a king!

Anywhere but Tunica, and I'd agree. The casinos took Tunica from one of (if not THE) poorest county to one of the richest. Quick 30 second search has you getting a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment in Starkville for the price of a 2/2 in Tunica. I'm not even sure if you can search for "homes" in Tunica since everyone seems to live in Robinsonville. Might be b/c all the homes (or shacks as they were) were bought up and turned commercial in Tunica.

 

[ctab5060X]

Anywhere but Tunica, and I'd agree. The casinos took Tunica from one of (if not THE) poorest county to one of the richest. Quick 30 second search has you getting a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment in Starkville for the price of a 2/2 in Tunica. I'm not even sure if you can search for "homes" in Tunica since everyone seems to live in Robinsonville. Might be b/c all the homes (or shacks as they were) were bought up and turned commercial in Tunica.

That is why I mentioned the area around Tunica as well.

Tunica is a rarity in the Delta. Take a look at the other cities and towns.

 

[727to7400]

i like the line about hard work time in the air... flying once you get in the groove is so much easier than plumbing... id much rather be chillin at fl390 drinkin a coffee and reading a newspaper for an hour or two than slaving underneath a rotting kitchen sink...

Don't know what you're flying or who you're flying for, but I speak for a whole bunch of us who take this job seriously when I say this.

"put down the paper and pay attention to your job"

I don't care how much "chillin" you may think you are entitled to or how "cool" you may be since you're in "the groove," but the rest of us are not counting on ATC or the cockpit magic to you from running into us. That's why God gave each of us a pair of Mk. II eyeballs.

They work better when you use them outside the glass instead of reading the free copy of the paper you got at the hotel.

 

[KLB]

That is why I mentioned the area around Tunica as well.

Tunica is a rarity in the Delta. Take a look at the other cities and towns.

You and Kellwolf both can move to Cleveland, Ms. It's a college town!:crazy:

 

[Trip7]

I'm gonna call you on that one

35K in rural Mississippi is still piss poor.

I'm gunna call you on that one. While I absolutely believe that FO compensation needs to go up, 35k is not poverty. 1st year pay was a disgrace.

 

[ctab5060X]

You and Kellwolf both can move to Cleveland, Ms. It's a college town!:crazy:

What do you mean move???

Cleveland is my hometown! anic:

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Don't know what you're flying or who you're flying for, but I speak for a whole bunch of us who take this job seriously when I say this.

"put down the paper and pay attention to your job"

I don't care how much "chillin" you may think you are entitled to or how "cool" you may be since you're in "the groove," but the rest of us are not counting on ATC or the cockpit magic to you from running into us. That's why God gave each of us a pair of Mk. II eyeballs.

They work better when you use them outside the glass instead of reading the free copy of the paper you got at the hotel.

I'm betting that your copilots or captains tend to bid away from flying with you after the first trip of the month, huh?

I'm gunna call you on that one. While I absolutely believe that FO compensation needs to go up, 35k is not poverty.

Beg to differ. Yes, 35k was not poverty....in 1985. In 2009, it certainly is.

 

[kellwolf]

You and Kellwolf both can move to Cleveland, Ms. It's a college town!:crazy:

Drove through there when my wife rescued me from my 7 hour GLH sit. That was enough. I lived in Starkville for 3 years, and that about drove me nuts from sheer boredom. That was supposedly a "college town."

 

[SpiceWeasel]

I'm betting that your copilots or captains tend to bid away from flying with you after the first trip of the month, huh?



Beg to differ. Yes, 35k was not poverty....in 1985. In 2009, it certainly is.

I dunno man, I'm personally really tired of the no-personality CA's that swing the seat back and take off the shoulder harness above 10K with the AP on (well that's if they have the decency to wait until sterile to do the aforementioned things), and then crack open some magazine. I've found that I'm learning quite a bit, and passing the time without feeling "bored", by having the flight plan out, writing down fuels, times, speeds, and winds, and sending in position reports...

 

[ctab5060X]

Drove through there when my wife rescued me from my 7 hour GLH sit. That was enough. I lived in Starkville for 3 years, and that about drove me nuts from sheer boredom. That was supposedly a "college town."

Yeah, for college towns, both Cleveland and Starkville are both "lacking".

 

[kellwolf]

I dunno man, I'm personally really tired of the no-personality CA's that swing the seat back and take off the shoulder harness above 10K with the AP on (well that's if they have the decency to wait until sterile to do the aforementioned things), and then crack open some magazine. I've found that I'm learning quite a bit, and passing the time without feeling "bored", by having the flight plan out, writing down fuels, times, speeds, and winds, and sending in position reports...

Next time the CA does that, and you're doing all the other stuff, just start flipping pages back and forth, stare at the FMS, look at the gauges, flip more pages and say "Uh.....Um.....Uh oh." That'll get him back in the game.

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

I dunno man, I'm personally really tired of the no-personality CA's that swing the seat back and take off the shoulder harness above 10K with the AP on (well that's if they have the decency to wait until sterile to do the aforementioned things),

Man, you would have hated flying with me. My shoulder harness was off as soon as the gear handle was up. AP was on by 3,000 ft, usually, and the seat was back against the stops at 10k.

I've found that I'm learning quite a bit, and passing the time without feeling "bored", by having the flight plan out, writing down fuels, times, speeds, and winds, and sending in position reports...

It's good to do all of those things, but you can still take time to relax, too. I was one of the few guys who filled out the computer flight plan (not sure what you call it now that you guys got rid of WorldFlight) and did frequent position reports, but that never stopped me from enjoying the "business section of the FOM," if you know what I mean.

 

[surreal1221]

Man, you would have hated flying with me. My shoulder harness was off as soon as the gear handle was up. AP was on by 3,000 ft, usually, and the seat was back against the stops at 10k.

Ah hell, I released the shoulder harnesses once the gear was on it's way up as well.

Only required for takeoff and landing.

Nevertheless, I hand flew it up to cruise on most days, unless the weather sucked. Also hand flew it in the descent, unless the weather sucked. Otherwise I got bored.

 

[SpiraMirabilis]

If I'm PNF the shoulder harness is off is part of my after takeoff / accelleration altitude flow. If I'm PF I keep it on until I put the AP on, usually around 18,000ft.

 

[IrishSheepdog]

Wow, I must be one of "those Captains." I never knew. I try to pay attention and refrain from many distractions when I'm flying. Plus, I NEVER roll my seat far enough back where I can't reach the controls. I've heard enough first-hand accounts of major excursions from controlled flight to keep me on my toes.

In all honesty I am just a very strong believer in "relaxed professionalism." Part of that is maintaining vigilance in the cockpit, so I know what's going on in my airplane. I mean, it is my job...

 

[jtrain609]

Wow, I must be one of "those Captains." I never knew. I try to pay attention and refrain from many distractions when I'm flying. Plus, I NEVER roll my seat far enough back where I can't reach the controls. I've heard enough first-hand accounts of major excursions from controlled flight to keep me on my toes.

In all honesty I am just a very strong believer in "relaxed professionalism." Part of that is maintaining vigilance in the cockpit, so I know what's going on in my airplane. I mean, it is my job...

You're pretty much a bag of a captain.

And the Hawks suck.

You also smell like onions.

Does that cover it all?

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Ah hell, I released the shoulder harnesses once the gear was on it's way up as well.

Only required for takeoff and landing.

Nevertheless, I hand flew it up to cruise on most days, unless the weather sucked. Also hand flew it in the descent, unless the weather sucked. Otherwise I got bored.

Uh, taxi, takeoff, and landing.

I may have gotten a talking to from a check airman on OE for doing what he thought was that that short of the gate, after watching a previous check airman do it.