J3....a fair question near the end of your post and deserving of an honest answer.
1. Never worked for less than the award....I ALWAYS found a way around what employers were trying to do. Free endorsements on aircraft that weren't on the AOC, half hourly rate, half salary..., free MECIR, the list goes on.
2. Have worked on the management side. Made sure the guys I was responsible for didn't have to put up with same **** I did.
3. No free ferry flying....made sure I was paid....EVERY time....at the award rate or above.
4. Couple of thousand hours with most/all of the boxes ticked.
Have I missed out on work because I won't work for zippo...or won't break rules...or won't put up with sleazy operators...or fly ill maintained aircraft?
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! I figure my attitude has put me behind about 3 years of seniority....or about $400,000 in lost pay/super when I turn 65.
Do I regret that...ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
I wake up, look at myself in the mirror and am not ashamed of anything I've done in this industry. Pity about a few of the posters here.
