ComeByChance
Whilst not for a minute disagreeing with the thrust of this thread in regard to the disgraceful pay conditions I should point out that USD$18,000 whilst not a kings ransom isn't all that bad given the relative cost of living in the US and the tax regime.
They do not all live in the style in the big cities we see on TV, on a %age of income the basics are, on balance, a fair bit cheaper and they are in an entirely different airline and regulatory environment.
We shouldn't confuse the issue thus.
AUD$21,000 is simply outrageous but hey, the cold hard brutal reality is that nobody forces them to accept it when in doing so they further cement the status quo.
It is not part of any requirement or rite of passage for an airline CV that they gain their hours at irresponsible and illegal rates.
Having said that I'll repeat here what I said on the subject on another thread.
Each and every young pilot who accepts "work" under those conditions should hang their head in shame and take their share of responsibility for the state of the industry.
They have no absolutely no right to complain about their lot.
I'll bet there is already a queue for the slots.
