So You Want to Be a Regional Airline Pilot?

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:51 pm

This is a pretty funny video about the pay scales of various regional airlines in the USA. You might be able to get hired with one of these airlines with minimal time compared to Canada, but those salaries are absolutely ridiculous!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RayMaswju1A

Subandriyo · Post by **Subandriyo** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:46 pm

Ya that is all first year figures for regional. I have a good friend that flies for a regional in the states. The wait to upgrade is not what that video portrays, and the salaries do go up. The key is to get out of the regionals asap after you have enough command time. otherwise the temptation to stay rather than getting a pay cut to go to a legacy carrier will increase

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:14 pm

*YAWN*

What's the wage at a Major airline, like Air Canada, 32k/yr???

I don't know why anyone would want to work for so little, all of you stop applying so I get in sooner. =)

chief · Post by **chief** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 2:54 pm

Here is a hilarious skit with dean martin and foster brooks

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 4:46 pm

cyyz wrote:*YAWN*

What's the wage at a Major airline, like Air Canada, 32k/yr???

I don't know why anyone would want to work for so little, all of you stop applying so I get in sooner. =)

yr 1 37K
yr 2 42K
yr 3 47K

and up from there. that's if you stay FO Embrear for that long. I think that Jazz and AC starting wages are way too low, but after seeing the US regional's rates.....Makes Jazz look pretty good. Still though, my 60K/yr navajo/caravan job is better. with more time off.

abc xyz · Post by **abc xyz** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:38 pm

my girlfriend will make over 50k this year in an OFFICE job with another 15% to come over the next 3 yrs. This along with stock options and benefits. This was only her 1st full year. ie no medicals, no lives to deal with does 8 hrs and goes home.

Not trying to seem arrogant but living aint getting any cheaper and the market aint getting any better so if you wanna improve your lot in life its time to make a fuc*ing stand.

We all have a skill that is far more valuable than these types of ridiculous wages. It's just too bad we dont respect the value of the licence.

safe flying

Redwine · Post by **Redwine** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:22 pm

With fares like this http://www.ryanair.com how in the wolrd can we expect to make any more $$$.
Ryan Air/Easyjet are slowly bringing down everyones salary in the airline sector. What a sick company to work for. The latest is that their own employees are not even allowed to plug in their friggin cell phones at work to save on costs. Come on...

chief · Post by **chief** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:07 pm

Woops my link never showed on my last post. try this. its funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3UDCoQnXjA

RVR6000 · Post by **RVR6000** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 7:15 pm

This is sad, first year TTC drivers make more than 50K.

Kelowna Pilot · Post by **Kelowna Pilot** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:34 pm

Wages reflect supply and demand.

A lot of people want to be pile-its, and it's an easy field to get into.

It's that simple.

Who ever dreams about being a Rig Pig?

185/310 · Post by **185/310** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:15 pm

Chief, that was one of the funniest videos ive seen, and so true.

Lima Lima · Post by **Lima Lima** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 3:34 pm

Interesting post..While its definately true that Regional carriers in the USA pay so little that you qualify for food stamps; remember that this saves you money on groceries while scraping rent together in downtown Chicago. Consider this fact; for many pilots starting out in the states, these are entry level jobs. Many of these planes in the pictures are flown by people who have been hired with as low as 800 hours. Flying a jet for those numbers is considered low pay sure but what is the Airline getting from a new hire with that kind of time..someone with no experience. What would be a more appropriate pay scale? 50k? Sure Canada's regional carriers pay better but the bulk hires are 3000 hour Turbine Captains....trying to scrape together rent in Toronto.
I was on a Skywest flight and the brochure in the seat pocket was describing how passengers can rest assured that the flight crews are experienced with first officers having upwards of 1000 hours and Captains 2000 hours...I was instantly relaxed, thank you Skywest.
Compare this to flying piston or turbine prop planes North of the border...what do low time pilots make here? what are the 800 hour PC-12 and king Air fo's bringing home after the 1 or 2 year stint loading bags? i'm sure everyone has a story some more, some less...I have paystubs at home too from over the years.
So you take an RJ job in the states with low time, maybe see an upgrade in a few years as the payscale goes up. You finish off a 5 year start in the industry with lots of Jet and Airline experience then go somewhere nice like Southwest. You'll probably have the same shoes that you started out with and might have to quit your second job as a Wal-Mart greeter but you flew KORD to KJFK and never knew what an AWOS was or saw a Northern street gang walk across the runway while your on final.
Sure the contracts that the Regionals have are renewed daily but we're not too much better here, we've seen our share of it.
Flying in Canada is great and it's hard to tell if the grass is greener here or there.. I looked outside and all the grass is covered in snow..Just some food for thought, if I had my way we'd all fly DC-9's.