Delta Ponders Pilot Sources
04-21-2011, 08:48 AM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 374
"One of the first goals would be to build an outreach programme focused on middle- and high schools in an effort to stir up enthusiasm for the pilot profession."
That's going to be pretty tough. "Stir up enthusiasm" for a 20K a year job where they treat you like $hit. Good luck.
That's going to be pretty tough. "Stir up enthusiasm" for a 20K a year job where they treat you like $hit. Good luck.
I've been in this industry for 15 years. Flight instructor, 135 night freight, regional, major, narrowbody, widebody etc etc. What do I make at Delta after all these years? Minimum guarantee of 70 hrs times $110. After all the deductions and taxes, I make around $5500 per month. What a f'n joke.
There are McDonalds managers making $50000+ per year. With deductions, taxes etc, they net $4000 per month. If I own/run a pizza store in a decent street corner, I will make more money than what I make flying 'heavies' across the Atlantic for Delta.
Delta is not the airline it used to be. There was a time when Delta attracted the best in the industry...why...because we paid the highest and had very good work rules. It all changed with the massive paycuts after 2000. Pilots used to be proud and loyal working for Delta. Now, I know of friends who left DAL for Southwest, Emirates, FedEx, UPS etc. I know a handful who will leave Delta for AMR when they open the doors just for the retirements. Hell...now Airtran drivers make more than DAL pilots.
With the current wage structure, Delta will not attract the best...not even close.
Last edited by freightguy; 04-21-2011 at 09:01 AM.
04-21-2011, 08:58 AM
#42
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.
Posts: 5,725
Exactly man. Enthusiasm...my a$$. Money talks.
I've been in this industry for 15 years. Flight instructor, 135 night freight, regional, major, narrowbody, widebody etc etc. What do I make at Delta after all these years? Minimum guarantee of 70 hrs times $110. After all the deductions and taxes, I make around $5500 per month. What a f'n joke.
There are McDonalds managers making $50000 per year. With deductions, taxes etc, they net $4000 per month. If I own/run a pizza store in a decent street corner, I will make more money than what I make flying 'heavies' across the Atlantic for Delta.
Delta is not the airline it used to be. There was a time when Delta attracted the best in the industry...why...because we paid the highest and had very good work rules. It all changed after the massive paycuts after 2000. Pilots used to be proud and loyal working for Delta. Now, I know of friends who left DAL for Southwest, Emirates, FedEx, UPS etc. I know a handful who will leave Delta for AMR when they open the doors just for the retirements. Hell...now airtran drivers makes more than DAL pilots.
With the current wage structure, Delta will not attract the best...not even close.
I've been in this industry for 15 years. Flight instructor, 135 night freight, regional, major, narrowbody, widebody etc etc. What do I make at Delta after all these years? Minimum guarantee of 70 hrs times $110. After all the deductions and taxes, I make around $5500 per month. What a f'n joke.
There are McDonalds managers making $50000 per year. With deductions, taxes etc, they net $4000 per month. If I own/run a pizza store in a decent street corner, I will make more money than what I make flying 'heavies' across the Atlantic for Delta.
Delta is not the airline it used to be. There was a time when Delta attracted the best in the industry...why...because we paid the highest and had very good work rules. It all changed after the massive paycuts after 2000. Pilots used to be proud and loyal working for Delta. Now, I know of friends who left DAL for Southwest, Emirates, FedEx, UPS etc. I know a handful who will leave Delta for AMR when they open the doors just for the retirements. Hell...now airtran drivers makes more than DAL pilots.
With the current wage structure, Delta will not attract the best...not even close.
04-21-2011, 09:16 AM
#44
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: 7ERB
Posts: 2,039
I've got north of 7000 hrs. A spotless record, no training failures, multiple jet ratings and nearly all my time is in jets. (RJ, and corporate). 10 years of multi crew flying, nearly as much "glass" time, hired at my first airline at 22 etc.. connections at many airlines. No DWI's, no criminal record, Dean's List type grades, easy to get along with and many interests outside of aviation.
and so far...nothing...
It's not all a matter of not being hireable..... Unfortunately many of us are from towns/backgrounds where we don't know multiple people at high positions at the majors (IE:my neighbors aren't UPS captains or Delta captains)... I know mostly FO's at Delta,SWA,CO,JB..they have very little pull because of their relatively short employment there. Right now the majors have their pick of applicants, and it seems that those with the multiple connections get the interviews. (which is fine), but they miss out on very qualified people that just don't have as many quality connections due to background or bad luck.
I think if the majors looked a little closer they would find many many qualified and eager applicants.
and so far...nothing...
It's not all a matter of not being hireable..... Unfortunately many of us are from towns/backgrounds where we don't know multiple people at high positions at the majors (IE:my neighbors aren't UPS captains or Delta captains)... I know mostly FO's at Delta,SWA,CO,JB..they have very little pull because of their relatively short employment there. Right now the majors have their pick of applicants, and it seems that those with the multiple connections get the interviews. (which is fine), but they miss out on very qualified people that just don't have as many quality connections due to background or bad luck.
I think if the majors looked a little closer they would find many many qualified and eager applicants.
Ten
04-21-2011, 09:22 AM
#46
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: 7ER
Posts: 183
One statistic, among current Delta applicants, that no one has touched on is currency. Delta doesn't seem interested in furloughed pilots. I believe you need to have flown at least 150 hours of turbine time in the preceding 6 months to be eligible. I don't think this is spelled out in the application but I believe it is something they look for.
04-21-2011, 09:28 AM
#47
HOSED BY PBS AGAIN
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,713
You are so right about that! It took me a LONG time to finally land that "dream job". Just remember, when a door opens you have to go through it as it may never open again. I've seen a lot of pilots bypass the opportunity to better themselves/upgrade, only to see years and years of stagnation passing them by. And don't think those "lowly" FO's can't help. I wrote seven letters of recommendation at CAL as an FO and five of them got hired..............one didn't have a college degree, and the other had been "blackballed" because his name was SIMILAR to a very disliked pilot (this friend actually got on with JetBlue so all turned out well). Keep plugging and it WILL happen.
04-21-2011, 09:30 AM
#48
Banned
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,222
Thanks, unfortunately I had gotten where I wanted to go. It lasted 2 years before the axe man came...... But it still would be nice if hiring would ramp up at some of the majors for more than a few classes here and there.
One guy said 5500 apps for 148 spots...The percentages are just not in the average guys favor without some serious connections. Same with SWA. I would have gladly tried to get a 73 type but not for the few weeks of the window being open only to hire a 100 or so out of the 10000 resumes they received. It just does not make financial sense.
Botttom line is there are many many qualified applicants...And in a different time many of us would be easy shoe ins or would have been able to pick our major. It's just the post 9/11 drought that has made it incredibly difficult for some very qualified candidates.
04-21-2011, 09:38 AM
#50
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 374
To answer your question about leaving for greener pastures: I have already made adjustments to make my life financially better. I run a couple of ventures on the side. Ventures with way less responsibilities but ventures which pays more than my DAL pilot job.
The point is: I should not have to do a second job to support my family while piloting for one of the world's largest airliners. I should not have to come to work tired after running my side-business. But that is the reality.
In my ideal world, I want to quit my side business and just worry about safely transporting passengers for Delta. It is a hard enough job.
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