Much like our country, the Aviation Industry is following a course of disaster. It is interesting to note the parallels between the two. The rising income gap between the Left and Right seats is increasingly causing divisions among the Pilots. There are only two classes now, the haves and the have-nots. The Senior Pilots are barely hurting, so they maybe take one less vacation this year.. poor guys.
In recent years, the incomes of Captains and First Officers has dramatically changed. Lets say for example, you were a Captain making upwards of $200,000 per year, and now you are making $160,000 a year. Well your life will not be too bad at $160,000 per year.
Now lets say that you are a First Officer who was making half that pay, and you now take a 30% paycut. Who is really getting screwed? The First Officers get the shaft. The Captains don't give a shit about the First Officers so they vote yes to every bogus vote from Alpa because they are still doing pretty good. This is causing tremendous resentment on the part of the First Officers and is creating a great deal of tension in the cockpit. It does not matter how long the First Officers fly for the airline, they will never even come close to the Pay rates of the Senior Pilots, therefore many Co Pilots I know cannot stand the Captains that they were at one time commonly friends with.
You think this doesn't affect you?
Would you really feel safe on a flight if you knew that many of todays First Officers have only 250 hours of experience? This is what is happening as more and more First Officers leave the Airline Industry because they feel that it is a dead end job. So, now, if something, God Forbid were to happen to that unsym pathetic Well Paid Captain, you can rest assured that your new First Officer has a fraction of the experience of Previous First Officers.
Add to that Airline Fatigue, where Pilots are now flying record hours to make up for the HUGE salary cuts that they have been forced to take and you have a recipe for failure. It is not a question of if, but when. Look at the Comair pilot in Kentucky last year that took off from the wrong runway...He had been going for days on little sleep, and was also inexperienced. Do you think that would have happened with experienced rested pilots! Pilots have become Bus Drivers in a dead end profession.
Meanwhile there are Airline Fat Cat piece of crap CEO's who have made up to $80 million dollars in a year. This at the expense of other people's jobs and pensions! Those dirtbags make me sick. The only satisfaction I have is when I see them go down like the Enron execs. They cut your payand blame it on fuel, but then the scumbags buy other airlines a year after bankruptcy and make millions. But, as usual, the shareholders and employees get the shaft! Its time for action!
Just another reason to be angry. You can be sure I will be back with more..
In recent years, the incomes of Captains and First Officers has dramatically changed. Lets say for example, you were a Captain making upwards of $200,000 per year, and now you are making $160,000 a year. Well your life will not be too bad at $160,000 per year.
Now lets say that you are a First Officer who was making half that pay, and you now take a 30% paycut. Who is really getting screwed? The First Officers get the shaft. The Captains don't give a shit about the First Officers so they vote yes to every bogus vote from Alpa because they are still doing pretty good. This is causing tremendous resentment on the part of the First Officers and is creating a great deal of tension in the cockpit. It does not matter how long the First Officers fly for the airline, they will never even come close to the Pay rates of the Senior Pilots, therefore many Co Pilots I know cannot stand the Captains that they were at one time commonly friends with.
You think this doesn't affect you?
Would you really feel safe on a flight if you knew that many of todays First Officers have only 250 hours of experience? This is what is happening as more and more First Officers leave the Airline Industry because they feel that it is a dead end job. So, now, if something, God Forbid were to happen to that unsym pathetic Well Paid Captain, you can rest assured that your new First Officer has a fraction of the experience of Previous First Officers.
Add to that Airline Fatigue, where Pilots are now flying record hours to make up for the HUGE salary cuts that they have been forced to take and you have a recipe for failure. It is not a question of if, but when. Look at the Comair pilot in Kentucky last year that took off from the wrong runway...He had been going for days on little sleep, and was also inexperienced. Do you think that would have happened with experienced rested pilots! Pilots have become Bus Drivers in a dead end profession.
Meanwhile there are Airline Fat Cat piece of crap CEO's who have made up to $80 million dollars in a year. This at the expense of other people's jobs and pensions! Those dirtbags make me sick. The only satisfaction I have is when I see them go down like the Enron execs. They cut your payand blame it on fuel, but then the scumbags buy other airlines a year after bankruptcy and make millions. But, as usual, the shareholders and employees get the shaft! Its time for action!
Just another reason to be angry. You can be sure I will be back with more..
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