I just got Michael Moore's blog today and he writes about meeting the pilot on the plane he was flying. Read this and then go here to check out the rest of the blog http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/must-read/mikes-blog-1-pilots-food-stamps. It is a jaw-dropper, at least it was to me. Maybe you all know this, but I was truly astounded.
By Michael Moore
We're on the descent from 20,000 feet in the air when the flight attendant leans over the elderly woman next to me and taps me on the shoulder.
"I'm listening to Lady Gaga," I say as I remove just one of the ear buds. I know not this Lady Gaga, but her performance last week on SNL was fascinating.
"The pilots would like to see you in the cockpit when we land," she says with a southern drawl.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No. They have something to show you." (The last time an employee of an airline wanted to show me something it was her written reprimand for eating an in-flight meal without paying for it. "Yes," she said, "we have to pay for our own meals on board now.")
The plane landed and I stepped into the cockpit. "Read this," the first officer said. He handed me a letter from the airline to him. It was headlined "LETTER OF CONCERN." It seems this poor fellow had taken three sick days in the past year. The letter was a warning not to take another one -- or else.
"Great," I said. "Just what I want -- you coming to work sick, flying me up in the air and asking to borrow the barf bag from my seatback pocket."
He then showed me his pay stub. He took home $405 this week. My life was completely and totally in his hands for the past hour and he's paid less than the kid who delivers my pizza.
To continue reading.... http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/must-read/mikes-blog-1-pilots-food-stamps
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 38
By the way, do you want to fly in a plane where the pilot is paid what your pizza delivery guy makes? Don't you see something a little wrong with this?
But to say an airline pilot would do a lousy job because of it would be "suicide", wouldn't it?
Likewise, in ANY job, if you did not do it to the expectations of the employer you would find yourself on the streets, regardless of how much you thought you were worth. Supply and demand ultimately decides the pay scale.
So, without those facts, we do not have the true picture or full story.
A friend was Captain for American Airlines and made over $100k per year. Like I said - too many unknowns.
Truth Linda, truth and facts.
BTW, Harvard Grad? LOL ...speaking of imagination.
They fly full time and have schedules that require them to be at work 56-90 hours per week. They are paid 70-75 hours per month depending on which regional airline they work for as they are only paid for flight time, not time at work.
Many do have 2nd part time jobs if they can pull it off and more than you want to know sleep at the airport.
It goes up to 30,000 the 2nd year though. check it out.
http://www.airline-pilot-career-guide.com/Pilot-Career.html
Regional s do half of the flying in the US under major airline names according to the Air Traffic Control Association. That number popped out of the media blitz following the Buffalo crash.
As a senior pilot, he's now making less than half what he started for.
Thanks Jerry, I thought there was something wrong here
He retired from there and flew a private jet (here locally) for the owner of Dad's Dog Food. Have no idea what that paid, but it was at least close to his home.
His worked for years out of DC, then transferred to fly out of Chicago - so he would drive to Pgh - take a plane to Chicago - and then fly his route.
He ultimately had to deal with major personal issues (mental), was let go, and was working at a pilot's school (in the south) when he died. My daughter showed horses with their son for many years.
The truth is, both Col. George and Michael Moore are true.
You can't just look at an average salary. Pilot pay starts at less than $19,000/year and after about 15 years hits six figures. Im guessing your hunting buddies have been at it for a while Col. George.
If you're interested, there is a guy(a pilot) I know doing a website for people interested in becoming an airline pilot.
He's still working on it, but there are several pages up on how the pay system works. If you are interested in this, it is a good overview. It's hard to cover everything, but he gives good perspective.
http://www.airline-pilot-career-guide.com/Airline-Pilot-Salaries-Annual.html
Linda, you make a good point about pilots finding other jobs. Many are. On the other hand, many can't.
They have 7 years experience doing one thing that does not transfer to many other jobs. In addition they can't just switch airlines because their experience will not carry over.
Pilots are paid by how long they are with an airline, not by experience. If Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger switched airlines, he would start over at the market rate for a new pilot at a major airline (~roughly $45,000 per year). It takes about 5-10 years to get from a regional airline to a major. He could skip those years and go straight to $45,000 per year.
If you ask me that is the root of the problem. There is no competition among the airlines for experience.
My wife has know her friends for over 15 years so yes they are up there with over 20 years of experience.
1st year as a regional first officer lists as $18,900 at an hourly rate of $21.
A new first officer is usually put on a reserve schedule. They work full time, but are generally paid in the neighborhood of 70-75 hours a month.
Pilots are only paid by flight time, not time at work. A reserve won't fly 75 hours, but is guaranteed that amount. When I was on reserve at a regional, I worked 5-6 14-15.5 hour duty days a week and paid 75 hours per month.
Michael Moore made a mistake in his post as he said the pilot was at a major airline. Many people make that mistake since regional airlines do about 50% of the flying a Major airline claims to do and the major airline name is printed on the side of the plane. Delta, for example, hires about 9 regional airlines to do 50% of their flying. A pilot has to spend about 5-7 years at a regional airline before moving onto a major.
At year 5-7, you might start at a major airline for......the site says $43,680.
your figure of 47k is a little high, but still close to ballpark. In any case, it is rarely a pilots first year unless they used to fly for the military.
In any case, there are plenty of airline pilots flying around at less than $19k/year with training loans north of $80,000
http://www.airline-pilot-career-guide.com/Pilot-Career.html
(I kid... I kid!) :)
This was scary. I hope it's not true. Yikes...
And yes, yikes.
And when has that meant anything to a liberal?
What a bullshit story....but then again, look at the source.
There are pilots that make that much. It is sad. There are also pilots that make over $100,000 per year. The difference is about 15 years experience.
The cheap pilots are at the regional level, which is about 50% of the flying in the U.S.
This website has a list of what pilots make from year 1 in their career to retirement. Check it out. It is fairly accurate.
http://www.airline-pilot-career-guide.com/Pilot-Career.html
All the stories you here about swanky pilot jobs with 18 days off and small fortunes per year are very senior airline pilots at major airlines. Not the majority of pilots