JamesNoBrakes

Not as good as in years past, but it can be decent. Outright pensions and retirements have been replaced by 401Ks and contributions similar to what any company does these days. Overtime is usually controlled and limited. Leave and compensatory time is probably the best benefit, as you can usually use your military time to credit towards a higher leave-bracket (hours of leave earned per pay period). Comp time is usually fairly allotted, you work over your regular hours, you have to be compensated for it in some way, none of the "well, you have to hang around the airport and if we need you, we'll pay you to fly". The Fed has to abide by federal labor laws (obviously) and that stuff is pretty tightly controlled. This is usually in stark contrast to some of the civilian employers. I don't know much about the controllers, but I'm sure the supervisors and fully certified controllers do well. Not everyone can "hack it", I go to the Academy and I hear the stories of the ones that can and the ones that can not. You have to be able to generate the mental image of where everyone is and be able to operate with that image as a "moving picture", as new planes come into it and other's land or move out of your sector. It has everything to do with natural ability, as some that study and want it very badly don't make it, while others get it just fine. But then again, that's piloting as well, the only thing is that just because you are good at one doesn't guarantee the other.

JohnBurke

A pilot who remains in the regionals remains there first and foremost because he or she elects not to go elsewhere. Movement is possible; movement is all but guaranteed vertically with seniority, albeit slowly, but there are many other avenues in aviation if one will avail himself or herself of them.

Rather than focusing on how to avoid being trapped in a regional, instead focus on taking opportunities that will give you the most experience.

A regional pilot is an airline pilot, just like the majors; we all fly in the same airspace, we all fly according to the same basic rules and regulations, and we all use essentially the same practices and procedures. Some avenues offer more opportunities than others, and each has both advantages and disadvantages. Regionals, for example, offer lower pay, sometimes less convenient schedules and options, and less vertical mobility options. They do offer, however, an early entry into turbojet equipment.

Something many regional pilots lack, however, is pilot in command experience...and second in command experience isn't worth much unless it's moving you into a PIC position. In former times, before the era of the 250 hour wonder, applicants for regional jobs had to have 2,500 hours or so, and gained that flying cargo, jumpers, banners, instructing, pipeline patrol, charter, and a host of other options. In more recent, less enlightened times, pilots have been in too big a rush to take the time to gain that experience, and instead signed onto a regional right out of flight school.

The consequence today is that many expect to be able to go to a regional job immediately. Recent regulatory changes mean that 1,500 hours (variable by education and training) is the entry threshold, and people are screaming bloody murder because they're expected to have (gasp!) 1,500 hours to get their first job.

Plenty of avenues, if people will search. Go fly the Grand Canyon. Fly skydivers. I frequent one of the busiest drop zones in the country, and they've hired people to fly the jump aircraft who have six whole hours of multi time. Not much cross country in there, short flights, but they're flying their butts off and loving it. Banners, traffic watch, instructing.

I've mentioned it here before; many years ago I was talking with a young man about his career options. I suggested that he apply to a local busy ambulance operation that was flying MU-2's at the time. He said no, he didn't want to do that. He knew too many guys who went there and loved it enough that they stayed.

I asked him what was wrong with that. "When they found something they really enjoyed, they lost their ambition," he said. "I don't want that to happen to me."

For the life of me, I couldn't understand that mentality. Regionals or bust, for him. Far better, I'd think, to be open to the possibilities. You may never know what lights your fire, or what presents a great option for you.

For me it was ag flying, initially, and I loved it. I've done a lot of years of different kind of utility flying, much of it seasonally, along with other jobs, and it's been good to me. Who knows what may be your avenue, or your niche.

Csy Mon

Took me 18 years to be a 747 Captain.
Enjoyed it and never thought I would end up there, but I followed my passion and took strange jobs to build hours and gain experience.
So yes, follow your passion even if this is an insane business..

CODs4ever

There are other jobs in aviation that also pay well. I flight test large UAS aircraft (UAVs or drones) for a defense contractor and make about 140K per year with salary and travel per diem. Not nearly as much fun as flying real "manned" aircraft, but I never work weekends or holidays. After flying in the military and also having time in the Part-121 world, corporate Part-91, and teaching as a CFI, I have seen a little bit of everything. I know that I could make more $$ if I were to be a captain at a major airline, but compared to F/O pay at most majors, I think am doing pretty well.

gringo

I for one ****ing love my job. Took a while to get to where I am, but now that I'm done with the scenic route I love coming to work. Easiest, most satisfying coin I've made in this career. Living in base makes all the difference in the world; more time off, less time on the road, and the time on the road for the most part is easy, (relatively) stress free and enjoyable.

The journey was fun, miserable, pleasant, torturous, invigorating and mind-numbingly dull... but the destination is awesome, and well worth the risks.

madmax757

Hey Cod's4ever,

Do those defense contractors ever hire civilians with no military service? When I came back a couple years ago I took a small UAV course and applied to all the contractors but no luck. I think it's because of the clearances needed. Any insight?

Max

gringo

I know one guy who already had a (current) security clearance, and a military background. But the others simply had lots of twin turboprop time. One guy was indeed prior enlisted, but never had a security clearance, but had about 4000 hours in a Dash 8. The other was former Great Lakes, no mil experience, with some BE1900 time. Apparently there are quite a few Great Lakes guys over in the sandbox, so that helped.

Basically, having a clearance helped, but having the right time in type helped mo bettah. So if you have King Air, 1900 or Dash 8 time, you're prolly better off.

Then again, this is all Secret Squirrel stuff, so who really knows?

CODs4ever

MadMax757 & Gringo,

While most of our UAS pilots are former military, we do have a handful of civilian pilots, probably 30-40% and they come from varied backgrounds. They all typically have at least 1000-2000 hours, also a commercial/instrument and second class medical is required as a minimum. Having a security clearance helps, but we hired a few guys with no clearance and the company pays for that.

While I like the work and it pays well, I do prefer flying "real" airplanes and would probably go back to that even though I would be taking a pay cut for 3-5 years, depending upon the airline. However, the long-term captain pay at a major is going to be more than I earn, as comfortable as I am now.

I have never had to go to the "sandbox" with this job (I am in flight test), only back when I was on active duty did I have to deploy to a war zone.

A330Pilot

Sky high
I'm glad you post here and tell others about the truth regarding this profession..Too many koolaid drinkers on here who lie and don't tell the truth on here..One thing I do have to say is that once you make it to a Major, then life is okay..its not that great as people make it out to be but it does give you a decent life..At the regionals, life is miserable for the most part unless you live in base, even then it sucks with the horrible pay..if I was young again I would really think hard about pursuing an aviation career if u do have half a brain..I would have definately gone into a high paying Wall Street career or medicine, probably medicine..being a pilot is for people who are normally textbook dumb n can't study, for these types being a pilot is good because it's probably the best job they will ever get..sky high keep up the good work and if you find intelligent people wanting to become pilots, by all means steer them away from this life, or lack there of

SkyHigh

I believe that our education system cuts against the grain of rational pragmatism and encourages the concept of self delusion. "Aim-High" is the mantra. The tide is changing however, as evidence I offer the supposed "pilot shortage". Seems to me more a lack of those who are willing to suspend reality.

Skyhigh