For Pilots, Dreams Run Into Reality

Amen, let the truth be told! I've been chasing the dream for 20 years, its cut throat, low pay,(most pilots qualify for food stamps), disrespect, no retirement, solitary confinement in cockpit (locked up; post 9-11) and long hours (min sleep). All the while, management keeps taking away. Why continue? It beats working for a living.

depends who you work for

I was an FO at NWA with 8 years seniority. i quit and bought a business. 40 percent paycut, loss of retirement, health insurance going sky high, schedule going in the toilet, airline getting hotels that really sucked and getting no time at home...gone from home 19 days every stinking month. At some point you have to say it just isn't worth it anymore. Now I sleep at home every night, raise my kids in person instead of via cell phone. I make the same money as i did before the paycuts. Life is good. I miss the actual flying of the aircraft but none of the other CRAP that was a flying career. I don't reccommend it to anyone. It is ironic that military pilots now make what an FO at a major used to make. It is a seesaw industry and it is in a long term down right now. I predict 10 years before an upturn of any signifigance. Peace

look at pilot pay.com If you work for FedEx, SW, or UPS you've got it make. The rest of the industry is just "plane" crap.

like I said it depends who you work for :)

My youngest brother flew for a major in the U. S. for many years and saw his wages cut and his retirement going down the drain and decided to follow a group of other pilots to Dubai and fly for Emirates. He took a $100,000 pay cut to make the move and was in the left seat at 12 months and is now making big bucks. All of his living expenses are paid for, except food, and his wife and kids love living in DXB. EK is growing so fast that they are looking for flight crews from all over the world, including the U.S.
My brother is flying the new 777-200LR and hopes to get on the 380 at some point in the future....great life!