Ziggy

[QUOTE= (mike734)The question of whether it is too easy to become a pilot is still something that has to be addressed but the barriers to entry are still pretty high (cost).[/QUOTE]

I would say that it's hard becoming a pilot, especially now! Look at all the obstacles that stand in one's way? After getting a commercial ticket, you have to teach for another 2-3 yrs making below 1st year communter pay. Or donate the other kidney for pilot interships. After that get hired with a commuter and still not breaking the 20k a year mark until the 2nd year of senority. You might be lucky to break 30k a year in 3-4 years. During all this you have to make payments on any loans you accrued over the years. If anything I wouldn't call this easy.

SkyHigh

Many regionals are hiring pilots with less than 500 hours now. Just a decade ago it was common to have more than 3000 as a regional new hire. The cost of training can be financed. Back in the 90's the bank would laugh at you if you asked for a loan to fly. To me it seems shockingly easy to jump into flying now. One would think it to be difficult but yet they come.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

The world you live in must be something to see. Too bad it only exists in your head. Seems that these days I have to get in line in order to ALPA bash. Try reading other peoples posts once in a while. I know that you are my number one fan but branch out a little.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

I just finished reading on another thread where some in debt pilots were discussing ways to dismiss their pilot loans. One poster mentioned that she was 100K in debt and has little chance of paying it off. Becoming a pilot today isn't just easy its too easy.

SkyHIgh

Joeshmoe

Dude, you NEED to get a life. Ok, so being a pilot isn't so glamorous as it used to be..ok, its downright BAD. You sound like a whiney 5 year old with your "BOO HOO I was a pilot and now I'm not so don't even think about it." Just go away and cry to your book club.

Seaber

Interesting article by Schiff. He's so highly respected in our profession that his words will force the head-in-the-sand types to finally acknowledge that compensation levels are a faint shadow of what they once were, and are continuing to decline.

The "glory days" are gone forever, I'm afraid.

Schiff is dead wrong on one count, however. It's not that the hardships are more daunting than ever on the way to that fat paycheck and job security. It's that the "fat" paycheck at the top levels is a lot less fat than it used to be, and it's getting slimmer all the time. That's really the reality that's closing in all around us. As I've said numerous times, the industry is rapidly heading toward a compensation level where senior mainline captains will make around 100-120K... or about the same as senior big-city policemen. We are well on our way toward becoming a thoroughly blue-collar profession, like computer systems engineers or factory supervisors. The culprit: the cheap fare, which shows no signs of going away, despite what recent reports about high load factors would infer.

Typhoonpilot

I generally like Barry's articles and I hear what he is saying. There has certainly been a decline in the pay and working conditons of major airline pilots over the years. That doesn't mean there aren't still good jobs out there because I think they still exist. It is all a question of what you want. Fedex and UPS are certainly good jobs, as is SWA.

When I got into flying I didn't really care what the top level pay was going to be. All I want is to live a middle class life and have a decent lifestyle. If you think you'll get rich by being an employee then you need to have a wake-up call.

I'm having a good time at my present job and make decent money. I'm home 25 nights. I get treated quite well at work and on the road.

The good jobs and positions are out there. They aren't easy to find, but if you persist then you'll get there one day.

TP

atpwannabe

I concur. I really couldn't give a hoot if I don't become Senior CP of XYZ Air Line or of ABC Freighthaulers. I, too, am looking for a decent lifestyle and a middle class life just as TP has put it. In addition, having a two income household is something that I have been use to ever since I can remember and for me, I believe it sets a good example for children to emulate. JMO.

Btw, both my parents are retired school teachers and they did one helluva job working full-time, active in the community & church, active in their respective fraternity/sorority and raising five children and providing a safe and stable family environment.

atp

SkyHigh

The exception here is that you will be gone most of the time and when you are home they will be at school.

There are a few good jobs left however the way things are going they will be gone in ten years as well. To me it seems that even the better flying jobs have been frozen in pay and the rest of the world is overtaking. A decade from now I feel that only the best companies will pay their captains a middle class wage and everyone else will wallow in poverty.



SkyHigh

SkyHigh

If I recall Typhoonpilot works and lives overseas. If that is so then 25 nights at home each month doesn't really count. I don't think that most people would accept a foreign country as home. Working overseas has been an option but I never could do it. A large part of life satisfaction is living where
you want.

SKyHigh