Pathetic Pilot Salaries

Bill Hale wrote:

So you can see his new book, "Structured IFR" which is a real
winner. He wrote that during his spare prof time.

You' talking about Eckalbar?

--
I don't accept any emails right now. Usenet replys only.

Trying for an aviation career is somewhat like trying to be a rock star.
Because of the "glamour" of the job and the big bucks you can make it you
make it to the "big time" airlines, people are willing to work for peanuts
to have a chance to grab the brass ring. But unlike artists, pilots not
only have to work for almost nothing, they also have to first spend lots of
their own money to gain the experience and ratings necessary to fly for pay.

--

B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
-

"Vic" wrote in message
m...
Hi,

I am a 35 year old software programmer thinking about a possible
career change into aviation. I am currently working on my PPL.
I've come to know some pilots who are currently flying for ASA and
Comair. Both of them made UNDER 17,000.00 last year. They are both
young guys without families, homes,etc.. so it's a bit easier for
them to ride this through. Anyhow, since I haven't made up my mind
yet, I would love to hear from any of you who have been in a similar
situation. Especially if you are around my age, made the switch from a
previous career, are married, have children and a mortgage. You get my
point. How do you pay continue to pay the bills? I will obviously take
a huge hit salary speaking, but I was shocked at how low the starting
salaries are!! With my wife, children and mortgage, I could qualify
for food stamps on that kind of pay. Also, since that would put my
family below the poverty level, would I even have to pay income tax?
Not to mention I will also have to make payments on student loans if
I choose to go ahead with this.

My CFI tells me to avoid the regionals at all costs. He suggests
flying corporate, but after some research the starting salaries for a
corporate pilot seem to be just as low. He also said that in a few
years there will be a pilot shortage. If there is a pilot shortage in
3-5 years, what does this actually mean for newly rated commercial
pilots who are looking for their first job? If anyone has any thoughts
I would love to hear them. Thanks in advance!

Vic

On 8/28/04 1:34 PM, in article _m3Yc.159179$sh.9794@fed1read06, "Darrell"
wrote:

Trying for an aviation career is somewhat like trying to be a rock star.
Because of the "glamour" of the job and the big bucks you can make it you
make it to the "big time" airlines, people are willing to work for peanuts
to have a chance to grab the brass ring. But unlike artists, pilots not
only have to work for almost nothing, they also have to first spend lots of
their own money to gain the experience and ratings necessary to fly for pay.

I'd say most artists spend more time learning their craft than pilots. I've
been drawing since I could hold a crayon and that doesn't seem to be
unusual. I remember drawing a caricature of my mother in the dirt as a kid.

It took a lot of money and time (I gave Uncle Sam 4 years in order to have
him to pay for college) to get to the point that people are willing to pay
me for my artwork, and it took a lot of experience (which cost me more
money) before I learned how to charge anywhere near what I'm worth.

But like flying, I can't begrudge a single moment of the work that it took
to get to this point. I have a talent that a lot of people envy and will pay
for, and it finances my flying. How many people have that opportunity?

It's a great time and place to be alive. I was born at a time in history
where piloting a private plane is (nearly) commonplace, the US lets me fly
virtually unrestricted, the internet gives me a global client base to help
pay for it, and technologies like GPS makes it so much safer and easier to
get from place to place I almost feel like I'm cheating when I use it.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

Jeff,
Appropos of nothing except I decided, after following your posts for some
time now, to check out your artwork. I'm a bit disappointed by the quick
registration. Only "Mr", "Mrs" or "Miss" are available title options.
Given your presence here, where's "Skygod" or "Pilot Extraordinaire" for all
your rap buddies?? :-)

Great work, by the way. You're right, too. I do envy your talent!

Shawn
"Wizard of Draws" wrote in message
news:BD565B98.1E41D%jeffbREMOVE@REMOVEwizardofdraw s.com...
On 8/28/04 1:34 PM, in article _m3Yc.159179$sh.9794@fed1read06, "Darrell"
wrote:

Trying for an aviation career is somewhat like trying to be a rock star.
Because of the "glamour" of the job and the big bucks you can make it
you
make it to the "big time" airlines, people are willing to work for
peanuts
to have a chance to grab the brass ring. But unlike artists, pilots not
only have to work for almost nothing, they also have to first spend lots
of
their own money to gain the experience and ratings necessary to fly for
pay.

I'd say most artists spend more time learning their craft than pilots.
I've
been drawing since I could hold a crayon and that doesn't seem to be
unusual. I remember drawing a caricature of my mother in the dirt as a
kid.

It took a lot of money and time (I gave Uncle Sam 4 years in order to have
him to pay for college) to get to the point that people are willing to pay
me for my artwork, and it took a lot of experience (which cost me more
money) before I learned how to charge anywhere near what I'm worth.

But like flying, I can't begrudge a single moment of the work that it took
to get to this point. I have a talent that a lot of people envy and will
pay
for, and it finances my flying. How many people have that opportunity?

It's a great time and place to be alive. I was born at a time in history
where piloting a private plane is (nearly) commonplace, the US lets me fly
virtually unrestricted, the internet gives me a global client base to help
pay for it, and technologies like GPS makes it so much safer and easier to
get from place to place I almost feel like I'm cheating when I use it.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

On 8/28/04 4:10 PM, in article ,
"ShawnD2112" wrote:

Jeff,
Appropos of nothing except I decided, after following your posts for some
time now, to check out your artwork. I'm a bit disappointed by the quick
registration. Only "Mr", "Mrs" or "Miss" are available title options.
Given your presence here, where's "Skygod" or "Pilot Extraordinaire" for all
your rap buddies?? :-)

Great work, by the way. You're right, too. I do envy your talent!

Shawn

Shawn,

Thank you for the very kind words, but I'm afraid you have me at a loss.
Neither of my websites listed below require any sort of registration.
I think you may have followed a link in error, especially given your mention
of the word "rap".
Can you get back to me on this? I'd be interested to know who or what you
are confusing my cartoons with.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

Jeff,
I clicked on the link to wizardofdraws.com and it brought me to a page
http://register.freeze.com/(myjkddvdvb5fvw552yjv1k45)/index.aspx?&pop=1&s=cl
ipartsample&f=19818
which had a registration on it for some free downloads, all of which I
assumed were your work. Is this not the right place? The reference to rap
was rec.aviation.piloting, the usenet group we're talking on here. Am I on
the wrong track?

Shawn
"Wizard of Draws" wrote in message
news:BD566BF1.1E42B%jeffbREMOVE@REMOVEwizardofdraw s.com...
On 8/28/04 4:10 PM, in article ,
"ShawnD2112" wrote:

Jeff,
Appropos of nothing except I decided, after following your posts for
some
time now, to check out your artwork. I'm a bit disappointed by the
quick
registration. Only "Mr", "Mrs" or "Miss" are available title options.
Given your presence here, where's "Skygod" or "Pilot Extraordinaire" for
all
your rap buddies?? :-)

Great work, by the way. You're right, too. I do envy your talent!

Shawn

Shawn,

Thank you for the very kind words, but I'm afraid you have me at a loss.
Neither of my websites listed below require any sort of registration.
I think you may have followed a link in error, especially given your
mention
of the word "rap".
Can you get back to me on this? I'd be interested to know who or what you
are confusing my cartoons with.
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
www.wizardofdraws.com
www.cartoonclipart.com

In article m, Wizard
of Draws wrote:

Thank you for the very kind words, but I'm afraid you have me at a loss.
Neither of my websites listed below require any sort of registration.
I think you may have followed a link in error, especially given your
mention
of the word "rap".

perhaps rap - r.a.p. - rec.aviation.piloting ???

--
Bob Noel
Seen on Kerry's campaign airplane: "the real deal"
oh yeah baby.

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 15:56:08 -0400, Wizard of Draws
wrote:

It's a great time and place to be alive. I was born at a time in history
where piloting a private plane is (nearly) commonplace, the US lets me fly
virtually unrestricted, the internet gives me a global client base to help
pay for it, and technologies like GPS makes it so much safer and easier to
get from place to place I almost feel like I'm cheating when I use it.

Thank you, Wiz, for the reality check!

They are all great times, if you approach them in the right frame of
mind, and this is indeed a great place to enjoy them.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
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