This is the problem created when piloting skills are placed on the same level as non-skilled labor, or lower. The skill sets, competency, and responsibility involved with being a pilot, whether left or right seat, warrants significantly more in the way of pay then airlines are offering today. If regionals fail to address this then they have themselves to blame for their demise and do not adequately value the training, time, and cost associated with becoming a commercial aviator.
I totally agree. I’m an ex-CFI and hold a commercial license as well. I couldn’t afford to meet the minimum requirements to be hired at a regional; it would cost $20-40k for me to add a multi-engine to my license plus get the minimum of 100 hours time. Then I compete to make just over McDonald’s wages for the responsibility of 50-70 lives every time I work?
That said, it’s often noted there has been no pilot shortage since Orville and Wilbur…(50% surplus then)
I was a Captain at an regional airline that went out of business. I was doing well with an annual salary around $80,000. Then the company went out of business.
What should I do? It’s a seniority based system which means I have to start all over again at the bottom for a regional airline, that means $20,000 per year. I can’t afford that with a wife and kids now so I work in technology.
I’m ready, able, and willing to come back. For me, I don’t see a shortage, there is a lot of us in my position, waiting to come back but we can’t. So there is no pilot shortage, only a shortage of those who are not willing or not able to be paid such a low wage.
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This is the problem created when piloting skills are placed on the same level as non-skilled labor, or lower. The skill sets, competency, and responsibility involved with being a pilot, whether left or right seat, warrants significantly more in the way of pay then airlines are offering today. If regionals fail to address this then they have themselves to blame for their demise and do not adequately value the training, time, and cost associated with becoming a commercial aviator.
I totally agree. I’m an ex-CFI and hold a commercial license as well. I couldn’t afford to meet the minimum requirements to be hired at a regional; it would cost $20-40k for me to add a multi-engine to my license plus get the minimum of 100 hours time. Then I compete to make just over McDonald’s wages for the responsibility of 50-70 lives every time I work?
That said, it’s often noted there has been no pilot shortage since Orville and Wilbur…(50% surplus then)
As said by Southern plantation owners in 1865:
‘There is a shortage of slaves.’
I was a Captain at an regional airline that went out of business. I was doing well with an annual salary around $80,000. Then the company went out of business.
What should I do? It’s a seniority based system which means I have to start all over again at the bottom for a regional airline, that means $20,000 per year. I can’t afford that with a wife and kids now so I work in technology.
I’m ready, able, and willing to come back. For me, I don’t see a shortage, there is a lot of us in my position, waiting to come back but we can’t. So there is no pilot shortage, only a shortage of those who are not willing or not able to be paid such a low wage.