Seggy
Well-Known Member
What happens if he gets the Beech?
Yes they need 'mainline' drivers but you never know in what plane they will put you in!
Which regional?
- Thread starter USMCmech
- Start date
What happens if he gets the Beech?
Yes they need 'mainline' drivers but you never know in what plane they will put you in!
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
To echo baronman, I make about $3800-$4000/month as a second year FO and get 14-17 days off a month.
You have to work twice as much to make the same amount.
And we'll even disregard the COL aspects.
Would I like to make more money - sure. I'm working on that. But all the corporate gigs I've come across all start in the $45k-$65k range, and I don't think giving up my dedicated schedule and ability to live where I want (if it came down to it) is worth the premium in pay. Of course, others have a different POV.
Trip7
Well-Known Member
Well put. Hehe, I just love how some people fixate on the first year salary and fail to notice the SIGNIFICANT pay increase in the near future lol. "Im a CFI and im making more money than a first year RJ pilot haha im cooler than you!":insane: Well guess what, a 5th year RJ captain is making more than a first year FO at DA majors!
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
Keep in mind, I think regional pilots also have a short-sightedness as well. They see an initially higher QOL working for a regional where as the freight guys see a quicker advancement to turbine PIC flying a variety of equipment that will help them down the line in the career job searches. Of course, the regional guy could get lucky and upgrade quickly, and the freight guy could get stuck for 5 years. It's all a crap shoot.
I dunno 777, I'd certainly study what's going on at Comair before deciding that you're going to spend 30 years anywhere in the business because the carrier you're subcontracting flying with constantly has to competitively bid for that flying. (example only) $60/hr sounds like a fistful of cash in 2007 to some of us, but $80/hr in 2028 might get you a 2 bedroom apartment in the hood 19 years from now.
And you can't forge a substantial raise because the company will tell you "TogoJets C is bidding on our flying! We're going to lose jets!" What do you think is going thru that senior Comair captain's mind as they're losing jets, attrition is peaked and their flying could be replaced by 3pm this afternoon with other carriers?
Personally, if you've got a career track over ten years, I'd look at the majors (pax and cargo) and corporate. Get at high on the food chain as possible. My advice only.
And you can't forge a substantial raise because the company will tell you "TogoJets C is bidding on our flying! We're going to lose jets!" What do you think is going thru that senior Comair captain's mind as they're losing jets, attrition is peaked and their flying could be replaced by 3pm this afternoon with other carriers?
Personally, if you've got a career track over ten years, I'd look at the majors (pax and cargo) and corporate. Get at high on the food chain as possible. My advice only.
ComplexHiAv8r
Well-Known Member
What's the advice if the career would only be 10-12-15 years? This it would just be better to say at a regional or Cargo and maximize the income?
Trip7
Well-Known Member
Lol I must have confused you on my previous post. My career goal is at the majors, UPS,Fedex, Delta or overseas. Im only using the regionals as a stepping stone to get there, and pay loans lol. In my previous post I teasing the "high money CFIs" who don't want to take the first year hit at the regionals for better days ahead. If a 5th regional captain making 60k had that same mentality they would say, "Im not going to XYZ Airline, they are only making 40k!" Not paying attention that in a couple years they will probably be making double.
Knowing what I think I know about you, I think you're in quite a different position than the average Joe because (I think!) you can weather the financial up and downswings and if a regional you're working at gets underbid and loses flying, you're not going to be sitting in front of Kohl's with a coffee cup.
There's going to be A LOT of movement in the next couple of years unless we have another major terrorist attack at which point it'll make 2001 look like a light spat.
Trip7
Well-Known Member
To me regionals is the way to go. Especially because of the travel bennies. I know my family are already planning their weekend getaways when I make it to a regional. Other advantages are the 121 experience, better captain pay, and you don't have to pay for your own charts.
OldTownPilot
Well-Known Member
Oh man, lemme tell you why they call it 'standby'...
"Stand" at the window and watch the plane go "bye"
I bet you have a few stories about that. Heck the combined membership could write a freaking book on Strandby stories.
ComplexHiAv8r
Well-Known Member
"Stand" at the window and watch the plane go "bye"
I bet you have a few stories about that. Heck the combined membership could write a freaking book on Strandby stories.
Oh heck, ask H46Bubba about the drama he saw go down in CVG a few weeks ago!
And the loads were wide open earlier and I've got about 10 years of seniority and a pocketful of S-2's.
Guess I have been out of it for two long, whats an S-2? It was fun flying with a seniority date in 1954! :nana2: What do you mean I don't get first class???
Trip7
Well-Known Member
Oh man, lemme tell you why they call it 'standby'...
"Stand" at the window and watch the plane go "bye"
I bet you have a few stories about that. Heck the combined membership could write a freaking book on Strandby stories.
Yea I know exactly what you mean. I was on standby thru my cousin at Mesa on US Airways from CLT to DFW. When I got to CLT from Detroit the lady said I would be waiting a while. I got to CLT at 9am and had to wait for the 9pm flight to Dallas. That sucked. The only reason I got on the 9pm is because 1 person didnt show up. Whoo! Hey Doug I hear the ATL-JAX flights are packed all the time, and Delta has a 767 on that route! How come its so busy?
Baronman
Well-Known Member
I'm buying that Ameriflight isn't one of the regionals, but I'm not sure if I'm following the part that you're paid better, treated better, etc. What are you basing that on?
As a 1st year FO (couple yrs back) I made $23,000 and I had't hit the line until Feb. Comparing that to what a guy on a Chieftan makes is apples and oranges. But to put it in perspective a Continental FO on a 777 makes 30/hr, I make more than he does now, and most would say that XJT has better work rules than CAL. So...am I in a better position? I would say no, he has better long term earning potential.
As far as XJT maintenance goes, we've had operations voicemails giving thanks to our MX for having as few as 1-2 MEL's in the FLEET (274 ac). Just saying crappy MX shoudn't automatically associated with regionals. That's good that ameriflight has a good mx program, we should all hope for this.