Actually, skywest is one of the few regionals that in anyway piques my interest (BLASPHEMER!) seriously though. If they paid a bit more than $22/hr on first year pay, it'd be halfway decent, because the bases are all places I find tolerable.
See below...
I agree, although $22/hr seems to be the going rate for a first year FO. Not only are most of the bases tolerable, they are pretty awesome. How does one live in a place like Santa Barbara, LA, San Fran, etc.... on that kind of pay? Sugar momma is the only thing I can think of. I'm not that lucky.
Well...
It's really not that difficult. That is, unless you decide to do this game without the proper financial planning.
Look, it's no surprise that the pay in entry-level 121 Jobs is not that wonderful. However, and this may be a problem for most 20-23 year olds, if you are a career changer or if you're currently flying in the part 91 or 135 realm, and you are entertaining the idea of transitioning to Part 121...then there is really no excuse that you can not properly set yourself up financially to deal with the 75 hours a month at 1st year pay.
We can argue all day long if that's even needed, but if you're wise about your money, there is no reason one can not make the transition to the Part 121 game without seeing a real hit to their quality of life.
So, Pat...the doors are open and I'm sure many of us here would do a great deal to get you hired at a wonderful company with a - largely - wonderful pilot group, but don't let the $22 an hour worry you (better yet, come help us improve it) when you can make wise financial decisions (saving, minimizing debt) before coming to work for such a company.
Granted, I have a working spouse, but I left a well paying CFI/CFII/MEI job making just about $3000 a month to get into the 121 game. Proper saving allowed us to keep up the same type of quality of life that I actually had when I was an E-4 in the Air Force, which was eating out two to three times a week, seeing a movie whenever we wanted to, paying cash for my PPL, and buying whatever it was that we wanted - while banking 36,000 in savings before I seperated. Keep building one's savings, and USE it when you need to (when you come into an entry-level 121 job).
Or...don't...keep sticking it out at that Part 91 or 135 gig that you're comfortable with, nothing wrong with that. But don't think that every 1st year FO making 22-26 an hour is hurting financially. You may be sorely disappointed.
The only thing I'd like to really say is this. For most of these guys coming out of ERAU or UND, or whatever big name Aviation School, with a largely useless degree in Aviation Management or Professional Piloting (lol), they are stacked with so much debt that they have the worst financial planning decision making ability in the world. Part of me feels a little bit of sympathy, but they made their bed (or their parents did) and now they're trying to crawl through their young adult professional life making absolutely no money while paying off that $100,000 education.
They are, largely, the ones you see complaining about the pay and not being able to make it. Because they can't. Not that I think professional pilots need a financial planning and decision making training to be successful, but it's a difficult concept for most 22 year olds who are graduating college with no real experience in managing their own funds until they enter into this profession.
And of course - yes - the pay is lower than what we all want. It will always be that way, no matter what seat, equipment, or longevity. We all can be paid much much more. It's up to us to negotiate for it. Give it time.
