My questions to all are
1) How can a co-pilot live off of a salary of $16,200 per year. Colgan in the Washington Post article says Captain pay is between $50,000 and $53,000 but still that is a low living standard. The co-pilot pay is about what a franchise fast food hamburger place manager makes here in Dallas.
"Under questioning from the board, Mary Finnigan, Colgan's vice president for administration, reported that Rebecca Shaw, co-pilot of the crash plane, drew an annual salary of $16,200 a year. The board also said that Shaw once held a second job in coffee shop while working as a pilot for the airline in Norfolk, Va."
2) Does low pay equate to low flight skills? Could a regular regional pilot, take up a simple thing like a glider and earn a FAI silver C badge (1,000m alt gain, 5hr flight duration, 50 Km declared flight), spin recovery, high approaches - 400ft finals over the runway numbers, or fly in a wave's rotor?
washingtonpost.com
Just curious