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Airlines Are Quietly Cutting Corners On Costs And Pilot Experience
Over the past couple of decades, the familiar landscape of the airline industry has changed dramatically. Now, smaller and lesser-known regional airlines carry roughly half of all domestic passengers for America’s “legacy” airlines. They supply the legacy airlines with a tremendous cost reduction. They do this by paying their employees only a fraction of what legacy airline employees make in salary. (dailycaller.com) Altro...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
A friend’s son was going to flying school in No. Dak., home for the summer he got a track maintenance job for a regional, railroad. He returned to school, learned from older students the money they were getting offered for flying jobs. Half what he was making on his summer job. About that time the oil boom was hitting No. Dak. He was referred by friends from home to check out the BNSF railroad, soon hired in as a conductor “first officer” equivalent and soon promoted to engineer, Captain. Making well into 6 figures, bought his own airplane and kissed flying as a career goodbye. Hours are similar but the money at his ‘legacy’ carrier, beats his onetime dream of flying.
While I've always loved aviation, my career path took me down the road of law enforcement. After nearly 20 years, I can tell you police departments have the SAME EXACT problem. The type and quality of person applying at departments has slid far down the hill. As a Field Training Officer, a majority of those that (barely) passed the academy, failed field training. Do they get washed out? NO! They get remedial training. When they fail that, they get more remedial training. I refused to put my name on them, so somebody else signs for them. I hate to say this, but if you truly knew the level of ineptitude and poor training many officers have, you would sleep with one eye open.
My experience exactly. Made me leave and pursue law. Today's circumstances in LE show up as front page news, with newer officers more of a community liability in many cases.
This article was written 30 years ago right?
If you think these pilots are low paid, imagine the talent regionals’ mechanics pay attracts.
Many junior mechanics also work the midnight shift. Much of the routine maintenance is done after the planes are finished for the day and everybody else goes home.
Not true for the freight and long haul flights that have a non standard schedule.
Not true for the freight and long haul flights that have a non standard schedule.
One needs to look at where this article was written. It's the dailycaller. Gotta have a great story to tell.
Most regionals are not regional anymore. They fly 70+ seat twin jets and go to the same airports as the major (legacy) carriers. They also fly to many cities with small airports that do not have the volume to attract a 150 seat jet.
The pay at a regional is really very good. The problem a new pilot has is the $$$$ for training and getting the 1500 hours. There are flying jobs out there, that a recent pilot graduate of a two year Associate Degree college flight school, can get hired and earn income while logging flight time.
Majors (legacy) carriers will hire from the Captain pool at a regional. Some have flow through which guarantees, after an interview, a regional Captain a spot in the right seat at the major. There may be a couple of years of lower pay but eventually, the pay is very good.
What I see in many young pilots is a burnout caused by money, lifestyle and inability to be mobile. You have to decide between marriage, living in the same town you were raised in, being close to your family, etc.
Either you make aviation your top priority or you decide to just do it here and there. I think you need to put your life on hold and decide which way to go. Aviation will take much of your time.
Most regionals are not regional anymore. They fly 70+ seat twin jets and go to the same airports as the major (legacy) carriers. They also fly to many cities with small airports that do not have the volume to attract a 150 seat jet.
The pay at a regional is really very good. The problem a new pilot has is the $$$$ for training and getting the 1500 hours. There are flying jobs out there, that a recent pilot graduate of a two year Associate Degree college flight school, can get hired and earn income while logging flight time.
Majors (legacy) carriers will hire from the Captain pool at a regional. Some have flow through which guarantees, after an interview, a regional Captain a spot in the right seat at the major. There may be a couple of years of lower pay but eventually, the pay is very good.
What I see in many young pilots is a burnout caused by money, lifestyle and inability to be mobile. You have to decide between marriage, living in the same town you were raised in, being close to your family, etc.
Either you make aviation your top priority or you decide to just do it here and there. I think you need to put your life on hold and decide which way to go. Aviation will take much of your time.