How much more $ do FO's need to make per year
05-26-2009, 05:29 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: Happy FO
Posts: 504
What the REGIONAL airlines should do is have their own apartment complex at each hub and provide housing to pilots who want it. Almost like a college dorm. I am not saying that it would be fun for those who lived there. But imagine if you made $15,000 your first year and you didnt have to worry about your housing. I instructed at ATP and lived right at the airport underneath the office building with another instructor. Was it fun? No. Did I get the experience I needed to move on? Yep.
05-26-2009, 06:09 PM
#22
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Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,498
05-26-2009, 06:31 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: 1986 LeBaron Convertable
Posts: 439
FOs are worth whatever the other guy is willing to work for. Check out regional payscales from back in the 70s and 80s. Guys were making more than what they are now - flying pistons! Check out Calm Air up here in Canada. $41,000 1st year on the Saab 340.
05-26-2009, 06:57 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: O-2 pilot
Posts: 123
I think 35K per year should be the minimum starting pay for any airline pilot. I think the fact that pilots are worth that much is self evident. Besides that, though, I think it's the minimum amount that a pilot needs to keep themselves in a healthy and rested condition. By that I mean things like be able to have a place to stay, or pay for a motel room to avoid sleeping in crew rooms, parking lots, etc. and being able to eat right, etc. The same goes for being able to provide for One's family. I think 35K per year is what's basically needed to keep a family off food stamps.
I'm also I believer that first officer pay should be two thirds of captain pay. If a first year captain makes 60K, then a first year F.O. should make 40K. If a 20 year captain makes 100k, then a 20 year F.O. should make 66K. Two thirds makes it simple.
I also believe that a 1500 hour ATP should be the minimum requirement to get hired. I think that that alone would cause F.O. pay to rise, plus it would take away the whole argument that "250 hour wonders" should be happy with crappy F.O. wages.
Besides just the pay issue, however, I think some quality of life issues could be adjusted to make it easier for guys who are stuck on the bottom forever in this day and age. I don't think that 10 or 11 days off per month, sitting reserve, was intended to be a long term life style either.
I'm also I believer that first officer pay should be two thirds of captain pay. If a first year captain makes 60K, then a first year F.O. should make 40K. If a 20 year captain makes 100k, then a 20 year F.O. should make 66K. Two thirds makes it simple.
I also believe that a 1500 hour ATP should be the minimum requirement to get hired. I think that that alone would cause F.O. pay to rise, plus it would take away the whole argument that "250 hour wonders" should be happy with crappy F.O. wages.
Besides just the pay issue, however, I think some quality of life issues could be adjusted to make it easier for guys who are stuck on the bottom forever in this day and age. I don't think that 10 or 11 days off per month, sitting reserve, was intended to be a long term life style either.
05-26-2009, 07:07 PM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 737 Capt
Posts: 1,166
While the regional pay is terrible it will never improve until guys are not willing to work for peanuts. As long as there are guys willing to basically fly for free because they "love it" there will be low salaries..... The regional level used to be a stepping stone to the majors. But with todays majors shrinking and regionals growing or at least holding steady the likely hood of ever making the leap to a major is diminishing daily.
05-26-2009, 08:07 PM
#27
A Second Past V1
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Assumed
Posts: 743
Have year 3 FO making $45k at a minimum.
That was the direction I was headed.
05-26-2009, 08:17 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 711
While the regional pay is terrible it will never improve until guys are not willing to work for peanuts. As long as there are guys willing to basically fly for free because they "love it" there will be low salaries..... The regional level used to be a stepping stone to the majors. But with todays majors shrinking and regionals growing or at least holding steady the likely hood of ever making the leap to a major is diminishing daily.
05-26-2009, 08:49 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 737 Capt
Posts: 1,166
Actually the pay has gone down since I worked for a regional (back then they were called commuter airlines). My starting pay back in 87 for flying a 19 seat turboprop was equal or greater than todays starting pay to fly a 50-70 seat jet, plus I got full insurance coverage for me and my family. Now if you factor in inflation guys are starting out now are working for less than 1/2 what it was when I was the same place! One of the differences was back then it took at least 2500TT and 500ME to even get considered for a job.
05-27-2009, 12:54 AM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Self employed
Posts: 3,048
We'll be back to 200 hour wonders within 5 years. And when they absolutely can't fill a now 100 seat aircraft FO job, only then may the pay go up.
My prediction; There will be "emergency" rule making for a US multi-crew license before anybody gets paid more. Less than 100 hours in the right seat. Just like in the rest of the world now.... except they get paid more than the US.
My prediction; There will be "emergency" rule making for a US multi-crew license before anybody gets paid more. Less than 100 hours in the right seat. Just like in the rest of the world now.... except they get paid more than the US.
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