Originally Posted by
DirectAnywhere
Jee Ray, a new joiner on the 787, about 100k. Established crew on the 380/747 could easily earn 2.5 times that amount due to the differences in the contract. This is significantly more than a 737 FO earns who, incidentally, works much harder for the dough in terms of lifestyle and days at work. It’s been an aberration for ever and management wonder why pilots are unwilling to sacrifice both money - a lot of money - and time at home to move into the right hand seat. Most junior east coast wide body FO slot is running at about 15 years seniority.
There have been no promotions for so long at QANTAS that many S/Os are well into their 40s with kids and family commitments and have discovered there are MUCH more important things in life than a 3rd stripe. A number of 737 FOs have recently bid back to the 747 to spend more time with young families. Good luck to them. Management like to talk about “work-life balance” but this is the reality of what it takes to make it happen.
The 787 contract was an attempt to remove the incentive to stay as a SO but, guess what, management couldn’t even get that right. They had the contract in place but couldn’t get their training needs right so they had to bring in new joiners on the 747 and 380, further perpetuating the current system, at least after the new joiners hit 18 months.
Short story, there is no financial or lifestyle incentive whatsoever - in fact it’s negative on both fronts - to move from the back seat on the 747 or 380 to the right seat on a maggot.
It’s even questionable financially whether you would move from a comfy FO spot on the LH types to a 737 command but more pilots seem willing to take that step as it’s a command.
Oh, and all this is before you even consider the need to uproot your family and move to Perth or Adelaide at your own expense to take a pay cut. I think my wife said, “Get f$&ked!” or something similar when I raised the topic for discussion several years ago.
A bold few have ventured beyond the Sydney basin and farther afield than the Southern Highlands or a whining commute from the Sunshine State, and discovered there is actually life in Australia west of the NSW border. Some cannot fully overcome the security of that huge mortgage and commute to these far flung outposts, safe in the knowledge on days off, they can return to the serenity and peacefulness of the Eastern Suburbs or The Shire.
But there are some, who load up the wagon and venture west, modern day explorers, determined to find a life beyond the East Coast. They are dismissed as crazies by the two stripers, who cannot comprehend actually doing something for a living. You would have to be complete nuts to give up the monotonous drudgery of endless back to back LA's and find a place to settle that's not dependent on 30hrs overtime a roster.
Despite the mocking, many of these outcasts have found an inner peace. With their circadian rhythm back in check, they find they can do stuff besides sleep on days off at home. Energised and fitter, they actually leave their suburbs and find they can get to another part of their new city in under an hour. They no longer have to park 1km from an overcrowded beach and pay $5 per hour for the privilege.
The work is fun, the flying varied, busy, but time passes quickly. Conversation strays beyond superannuation balances and investment property values. Far from "head office", there is less gossip and rumours, less angst about management and office politics. At sign-off, they feel they have done something with their day. The bases are smaller, crew somehow friendlier, not as uptight.
Some long for a return to the East Coast. Others live content fulfilled lives.