Carson Air recent posting

[LegoMan]

I think I'm going to find a niche in the aviation market, buy a couple planes and have my pilots pay to fly. I'll have very little overhead since I can just charge everything to the pilots who will do my bidding and call me master. Hmmm... brilliant...

[UKPilot]

I think I'm going to find a niche in the aviation market, buy a couple planes and have my pilots pay to fly. I'll have very little overhead since I can just charge everything to the pilots who will do my bidding and call me master. Hmmm... brilliant...

Well unfortunately this is already happening. The reason I'm coming back home is I've been flying the 319/320 over in Europe for the last year but I've basically been underbid to fly. When I first started I was given the type rating and a decent contract. Since then the contract has changed three times with the last one just recently. They've now reduced my pay by 20% and taken away many basic perks of flying for an airline. All of this has come about because they've now realized that people are not only willing to pay for their type rating, but they're willing to pay the airline to fly for six months of 'line experience'. There's no need to pay people like myself a decent wage when they have a virtually unlimited supply of people willing to pay them for the privilege.

[LegoMan]

and thats one of the reasons why I got out of it. And am happier for it. Make amazing money, because I dont have many expenses I am investing my money in small projects and businesses that I started which have surprisingly done really well. This is going to be a $100k year for me for sure!

[human garbage]

Rowdy made a good point. This isn't just a low paying job, it is a low paying job with brutal hours. Split 14 hour duty days five days a week. No way you could hold another job if you wanted to.

I'd still go with instructing for that level of pay if I had to make the choice. It least instructing you wouldn't have to be bonded like at Carson. I think it should be an either/or for that type of pay. A bond and poverty wages is just adding insult to injury...

[Kitababy]

You guys are funny... there are suckier jobs! Have you ever watched Dirty Jobs?? I am trying to get into the industry, as mine has issues as well, they all do... same $hit different pile.. at least there are some perks for you guys, get to visit some pretty cool places even if it's for a short time! It's better then my pale walled cubby & crappy florecent lighting! I am very willing to leave a $50k year job to be a flight attendant!

[Rowdy]

Yes, there ARE suckier jobs than being eaten alive by mosuitos, cleanin cabins, movin shithouses, gettin yelled at so you can fly a bit in 5 months making peanuts, that DONT require 50k worth of licences.

As much as I dont care for the bitching on here, it fries me when guys say "oh come on you've got it great.. theres worse out there" or what have you. Lets play in reality. There are good ops and there are bad ops. Make some informed decisions and dont work for the shitty ones! Pretty simple

[100LL81]

I think I'm going to find a niche in the aviation market, buy a couple planes and have my pilots pay to fly. I'll have very little overhead since I can just charge everything to the pilots who will do my bidding and call me master. Hmmm... brilliant...

Well unfortunately this is already happening. The reason I'm coming back home is I've been flying the 319/320 over in Europe for the last year but I've basically been underbid to fly. When I first started I was given the type rating and a decent contract. Since then the contract has changed three times with the last one just recently. They've now reduced my pay by 20% and taken away many basic perks of flying for an airline. All of this has come about because they've now realized that people are not only willing to pay for their type rating, but they're willing to pay the airline to fly for six months of 'line experience'. There's no need to pay people like myself a decent wage when they have a virtually unlimited supply of people willing to pay them for the privilege.

This is disturbing!!

[iflyforpie]

<Sigh>.

You have to ask yourself what you are doing all of this for?

Are you doing this for the joy of flying? My answer is yes. I love flying. And I don't care what kind it is. I get lots of kicks bombing around in a 172 just taking people for rides or in the 206 spotting wildlife or the 337 looking for fires. I don't think flying a Metro is a 'step up' in the fun factor for the type of flying I do (though a Beaver, Otter, or Twotter would be. )

Are you doing this for the experience? I myself don't really care at this point. For those who do, to what end? To get enough multi/IFR/turbine experience to get a 'real' job in aviation. This while larger carriers cut wages and benefits, discount carriers and regionals don't pay for the experience, and most are under looming threats of layoffs or bankruptcies?

Are you doing this for the money? Certainly at 19K/yr you aren't. If it was in hopes of someday making the $300K/yr major captains used to make, it is a long shot by far. What if halfway through your slog you lose your medical? Lose your job? Lose your life working for shady operators? Nothing is worth putting yourself through that IMHO.

Money now is worth a lot more than money later and most people don't get this. My lowest T4 as a commercial pilot was around $37,000, and that was a really tight year. Years where I couldn't get this much I stopped flying. Sure I supplement it with wrenching (hence the reason I wear five bars ) but....

-I still get to fly.
-I get a decent schedule.
-I get more money now.
-I work for a reputable operator who doesn't skimp on safety.

I will stay in pistons for the rest of my life as long as the entry level for turbines is below $50k with a terrible schedule. Am I asking too much? This is what my wife makes working in healthcare fresh out of school.

[Randleman]

I will stay in pistons for the rest of my life as long as the entry level for turbines is below $50k with a terrible schedule. Am I asking too much? This is what my wife makes working in healthcare fresh out of school.

Whats wrong with 45 or even 40 K? (I can understand if you live in the lower-mainland but lets assume somewhere else).
I've never even had a job that pays 30 K a year in my life, so I'd be happy with that.

[Invertago]

What is the difference between a large pizza, and a flight instructor?

Box of pizza can feed a family of four?