Originally Posted by
KZ Kiwi
Actually that statement is complete rubbish. Having done a number of jobs outside aviation in the last 16months for minimum wage I can say that from my perspective 100K plus a year to be a SO above 20000ft is a very good wage.
Even pre Covid they were getting applications from some ex widebody Captains, lots of jet FOs and a flood of turboprop/GA pilots. All of whom knew the 787 rates and obviously were happy with them.
Some may think 747/380 SO rates with overtime should be the standard for a cruise relief position, the market thinks differently. There’ll only ever again be a small handful of SOs getting those legacy rates when a number of 380s return for a while, and then eventually none.
At the end of the day the job can be done by pilots with 250 hours and a bare CPL. It’s a lot of money for an entry level position. Those old school 747/380 rates aren’t ever coming back, regardless of how some wish for a career as a permanent SO.