CE750

Ok, so I've got a great idea. Why not you and all the others in this VA fan thread leave your "Left seats" that you supposedly have on the 777's and 757's, and make some room for those of us who see it my way? Clearly you seem to really think VA is a great deal, and a net benefit to our profession.. Then we can all be happy! Sound good?

EK Birdcage

Don't forget about the other "Little" Virgin in Australia that just ordered the 777!! Oh and "ryane946", it is the -300ER.. You won't see one of those at UAL or AA even after you get your mulit-engine rating, they start hiring, and you have the 20 years senority needed for the right seat...

Skyone

Hey Alice, I would happily give up my left seat in the Middle East to fly at the same rates out of SFO, but I'm probably too old for them. You want it-lots of hiring of DECs around the world in big jets. Come on, with all of your vast airline experience in the MD11 you would be welcomed with open arms in the Middle East, India, Japan, Afirica. You want big jet left seat time? Have at it. So I will gladly give up my "supposedly" left seat to make room for you.

Or let's see, start at the top at around 93/hr or go to a legacy for 35/hr for a year, then, what-60/hr the next year and maybe get furloughed the next. Or maybe fly three years in the left seat of a 320 for that same three years. One more example-the guys that started at the "scab" airline (some called it) New York Air in 79 and 80, where are they today? Senior CAL ALPA captains flying the left seat on the 777. Same with People's Express. Some have never spent two minutes in the right seat.

VA hasn't even turned its first wheel with revenue pax onboard and many are saying it is a ****** airline. And yes, it may turn out that way. But it also may end up a darling like SWA. Only time will tell.

Just keep in mind one thing, to all those, "I won't ever let them js on my plane", "they are all bottom feeders", "could never get a real airline job". If there is one thing predictable about this industry is its unpredictability. Unless you are at a cargo carrier and have no plans on leaving it, that guy that was trying to get home to see his kid's soccer game, or that guy that you insulted in passing, just might end up being your boss one day, or your captain one day or your LCA on an aircraft you are struggling with. Memories are very long.

Enough said, time to go dust off the sand that is covering my car.

CE750

I suppose this is going nowhere.. cause on one hand we have me saying that we don't need to add to the supply of crap jobs in aviation, and on the other hand we have some saying that a crap job is better than no job..

I think that my talents are worth more than $80K/yr and 18 days a month away from home (first year pay-scale not withstanding).. so we'll just leave it at that.

skualo3

My 0.02 Cents

I am on call 25 days a month. I make mid 70`s on the left seat of a light jet 135. I would love to go to Delta/Continental/United/Ups, but they have not called yet. I am not too happy with my lifestyle (immagine that!). I don't think another 1000/1500 hours PiC on my current plane are going to make too much of difference (it will still be a light jet 135). Should I:
1 Apply to the Spirit/JB/VA, get a type, learn a new plane and 3 years from now be more competitive for the Legacy and enjoy some kind of a schedule if it take 5 years to get a call
or
2 Stay at my present job, keep being unhappy with it and hope that the phone starts ringing?

I think i am worth as much at the next guy, but i also think that sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward.

CE750

Bro, you get to a point in this career where it's not "what you know.. but who you know" (unless your a woman or something). If you're logging PIC Jet in that what ever it is... keep doing it. Move to another job ONLY if it pays better and gives you more QOL.... don't do it as a "career" move unless its a job you want to keep.

I got hired into an MD-11 not having flown in 3 years with "light" jet PIC.. Citation V and X and some 121 ATR PIC.. so quality of time is more important than quantity. If JB is your cup of tea .. then apply. If you want to hold out for an ALPA / APA carrier.. then keep doing what you're doing, and network, apply, and continue to update your apps.

Skyone

Agree....to a point. If a legacy is what you want in the long run, only move for another PIC seat. But if you are unhappy doing what you are doing, then go to the right seat on a Bus or Boeing. Kind of contradictory, but fast forward three years and imagine where you will be by not changing jobs. Good luck. I have done this for 27 years and it has been a good ride. But what you read here by some.......remember, no one has a crystal ball on what this industry will bring or what any carrier will look like in four or five years, never mind 25 more. What pig looks pretty today may be sausage a couple of decades from now. Or some bottom feeder may be the darling of industry. Who knows.

skualo3

Quote
"If a legacy is what you want in the long run, only move for another PIC seat. But if you are unhappy doing what you are doing, then go to the right seat on a Bus or Boeing. Kind of contradictory, but fast forward three years and imagine where you will be by not changing jobs"
My point exactly. I think there are a lot of pilots in similar shoes that consider those terms less then Ideal, but see the move as a good way of improving their chances for a legacy job.

CE750 I respect you for getting what you wanted, a collegue of mine got an interview with SW after 10 Years of doing what we do, i have been doing it for 3 and already feel like a tiger in a cage....

A330Checkairman

I resent your comments about "non-union idiots" on here. OK, so you have some good points about the industry, etc, but who do you think YOU ARE?

Did you hire into the MD11 at a Legacy/Major? I don't think so. So which bottom feeder are you flying for?

If you want us to believe that you got MD11 F/O at FDX as a new hire, I really think you are stretching it there.

If you did get on at FDX, then GOOD FOR YOU! You are at one of the best flying jobs in the world. So you think that everyone and thier first born are not trying to do the same?

It amazes me how one day, you (and others like you) are flying corporate/ATR's/1900's/RJ's and when you get the BIG JOB you CRAP all over everyone else who is trying to survive out there.

I think you should think twice about calling ANYONE an idiot.

A330

A330Checkairman

YOU REALLY should not be calling anyone an idiot. My opinion only.

BTW....How do you like the MD11? I heard it is an awesome machine to fly. I pass by them on the 'tracks" and they looks awesome up at 390.

Cheers,
A330