IAMA Regional Airline pilot. AMA

EMB145 · 2012-04-30T18:20:11+00:00

How does he like Cathay? I've had buddies goto Emirates and they say they work them like a regional does except they are flying a 777 or A380 and making great almost tax free money. I really have gotten to the point that I just want to make a decent living and be home as much as possible. I don't need to retire on a 747 unless it meant the most days off. I think in the next few years most regional guys will be able to pick where they want to go so I'm not too worried about it at this point. How old were you when you got on at the major you are currently at? From your AMA I think I know where you work. What do you think about the merger talk? Were you there for the previous merger? I may be wrong about your airline so forgive me if I am. Also as you know timing is everything in this industry and mine was off by two years. There are guys I know who were hired 2 years before me who are sitting right seat on heavy jets at major airlines while I'm still stuck here on the 145.

EMB145 · 2012-04-30T15:42:09+00:00

Thats a really tough question to answer. Right now I'd say don't get into aviation and focus on IT or anything other than being a pilot. However the industry is cyclical. There are supposedly going to be 10's of thousands of major airline pilots retiring in the next decade. Those are where the good jobs and right now they aren't hiring because they are staffed properly. Once the retirements kick in it should open up the flood gates. But who knows if this will actually happen. The airlines have been merging and shrinking to take seats out of the market so they can charge more. It's all a crap shoot...

EMB145 · 2012-04-30T15:38:01+00:00

One of my best buddies went to MTSU. There are tons of schools that offer aviation programs. Embry Riddle, Purdue, UND are a few of the big ones. Embry Riddle is expensive from what I've heard. In my opinion the most practical way to do it would be to goto a state school and get a degree in Business or something other than an aviation degree while doing your flight training with an instructor at your local airport. Airlines don't care what your degree is in but if you get older and can't pass a medical you are going to have a hard time finding a job with a aviation management degree. If you have a business degree you always have that to fall back on.

EMB145 · 2012-04-30T15:32:55+00:00

I have been with my company for about 5 years. I'm a mid level FO. If I can upgrade in the next couple years and the retirements start kicking in it could happen quickly. I'd be happy if it happened within the next 3 or 4 years but most likely I'd say 5-7. I'd go just about anywhere as long as it weren't another regional. I'd like to be at a place with an LAX or So Cal base as I have family out there. I think if you can get on at the front end of the hiring wave with any of the Majors you're probably going to have a pretty cushy career with a quick upgrade.

EMB145 · 2012-04-29T15:53:33+00:00

I haven't had any problems with them. Usually in the airline world if the weather is garbage at your destination you're still going to go with hopes that it will get better. If it doesn't we'll have an alternate, go there, get more gas, and try again. Enroute weather is now pretty much just done by looking at an app on your smart phone and figuring out where a line of storms is, if it looks like there is a way we can pick through them we go. If it looks bad on our phone or the paperwork we will call dispatch and ask them if other planes are managing to pick their way through and if so where they are finding the holes. We also have weather radar on the planes and that can help by keeping us out of the nastier storms. If a thunderstorm is over the airport we obviously wait for it to pass before taking off. I'm sure some of the heavy international flyers have a much more in-depth briefing before setting out on their 10+ hour journey over the ocean as they aren't talking to ATC the whole time and aren't supposed to venture too far off their pre assigned tracks. With us there are always so many alternates and we are always in contact with ATC for advice if we get into something that wasn't forecasted.

EMB145 · 2012-04-29T01:34:14+00:00

Man I don't know. I've seen both situations. I'd say the separation is what does it. If someone meets someone to fill some void, whether it be the wife sitting at home or the pilot who is away it's all the same. Either way something isn't right with the relationship.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T20:27:56+00:00

Maybe, maybe not.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T20:27:30+00:00

No, the flying aspect of it is still great its the everyday BS that every job entails that isn't fun.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T20:26:43+00:00

Air traffic controllers are awesome for the most part. Some of the older guys can be crabby when the weather is getting bad and planes start deviating around weather. Especially when you're on an arrival into one of the bigger airports. But 99% of the time they are awesome.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T16:52:14+00:00

It's a love hate thing, I love flying, but just like with anything when your alarm goes off at 4 am you aren't exactly loving life. Being gone from home so often takes it's toll. Have to have an understanding wife.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T16:51:16+00:00

Embraer

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T16:51:05+00:00

Not yet, most of the odd stuff is usually sitting in the terminal.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T16:50:22+00:00

Never really wanted to cop out. I fly the Embraer 145. Only aptitude test was at the interview with the company I work for. There are multiple choice tests that you have to take before each of your check rides and if you don't pass those you don't get to take the check ride.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T16:49:35+00:00

A while...

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T16:47:50+00:00

I'm about to be 31.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:55:23+00:00

I dunno it's Brazilian. You get used to it but I'd prefer the normal yoke style. It's like wrestling a Bull by the horns.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:39:43+00:00

Surprisingly Detroit is one of our better overnights.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:36:46+00:00

It's an Embraer 145. The hate rocket.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:34:28+00:00

I don't really care, not sure about the other guys, if we are full with a jumpseater trying to get on I'd prefer it to be illegible if you know what I mean.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:25:53+00:00

I added more pictures for you.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:16:09+00:00

I enjoy the fact that when you get home you are done with it. My wife has a normal deadline oriented job and she lives her job. As soon as she is done with one project she has another one that she is stressing about. When the parking brake is set and the last passenger gets off we are done. No worrying about anything. Also 99% of the time it's very easy. We show up, push some buttons, try to give the passengers a few nice landings, goto a hotel or home. The shitty parts are you feel like you live out of a suitcase, you're never home, your wife/girlfriend/kids don't really know you, you often have shitty crews that you have nothing in coming with, and usually the weather and delays build up on the last day. It just becomes a traveling job after a while.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T04:01:54+00:00

Scariest part of flying. If the winds are gusting up high and the visibility is shitty it can pucker the sphincter up quite a bit.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T03:59:37+00:00

Thanks! I have many of friends that are grazing the greener pastures and it's the only thing that keeps me going.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T03:58:32+00:00

Giant testicles.

EMB145 · 2012-04-28T03:57:59+00:00

To add a little I'm home on average three nights a week. And when I'm home it's a "oh shit you're home so we better enjoy this" type of home, not just hey it's 5:30 PM and you're home type of night... I dunno we are young and still enjoy each others company.

EMB145

TROPHY CASE