Airlines - The Future
Join Date: Feb 2006
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Your Father may have a high intellect and have good flying skill but that does not mean that because you are his son that you will necessarily become as good as him in his profession unless that you are motivated to
become a pilot in the first place. From my over 25 years aviation experience, I have found pilots with average intelligence with high motivation and a LOVE for flying turning out to be the best in this industry.
become a pilot in the first place. From my over 25 years aviation experience, I have found pilots with average intelligence with high motivation and a LOVE for flying turning out to be the best in this industry.
Now before some of us get told to lighten up how about we review the legacy of Virgin Blue. And it is not me who needs to bull$$$$s my wage on pprune or at the bar at the Hamo.
Virgin Blue's initial cadre of training captains were paid 100K. Well below half the incumbants. Another stinging legacy for future generations was the paying for their sub-standard 737 endorsement.
Virgin Blue pilots set a precedent that was followed by the likes of J* and Tiger. Sadly, despite a shortage of pilot experience, the new Virgin 777 operation is following suit- with the superb line of quoting salary including super. Perhaps Virgin management overheard the 737 boys sexing up their miserly wage. By including every ancillary perk, adjusted for tax, to come somewhere near the incumbant wage equivalents.
Virgin pilots have done OK over the last six years. But they put themseleves in the drivers seat by coming in at an incredibly low base. Smart? Possibly and some had NO choice. But there is a considerable legacy that has been paid for by future generations of pilots.
And yes it is not all about money. But a group that can't negotiate resonable pay will fall down in other areas and conditions of service. The real picture I get from blokes in VB is poor lifestyle and now average pay- a bar they set!
What happens next? Operators will wake up in Australia to take advantage of lifestyle desires of the 'pilot haves'. Future wage pressures and shortages will be softened by the new licensing at one end, and repatriating or extending retirment experience at the other. There are hundreds ( thousands really in a beyond 65 context) of pilots who will happily work, and can afford to, for a lot less then current rates. All they will want is lifestyle rosters.
Then the current generation will understand the notion of being undercut!
Virgin Blue's initial cadre of training captains were paid 100K. Well below half the incumbants. Another stinging legacy for future generations was the paying for their sub-standard 737 endorsement.
Virgin Blue pilots set a precedent that was followed by the likes of J* and Tiger. Sadly, despite a shortage of pilot experience, the new Virgin 777 operation is following suit- with the superb line of quoting salary including super. Perhaps Virgin management overheard the 737 boys sexing up their miserly wage. By including every ancillary perk, adjusted for tax, to come somewhere near the incumbant wage equivalents.
Virgin pilots have done OK over the last six years. But they put themseleves in the drivers seat by coming in at an incredibly low base. Smart? Possibly and some had NO choice. But there is a considerable legacy that has been paid for by future generations of pilots.
And yes it is not all about money. But a group that can't negotiate resonable pay will fall down in other areas and conditions of service. The real picture I get from blokes in VB is poor lifestyle and now average pay- a bar they set!
What happens next? Operators will wake up in Australia to take advantage of lifestyle desires of the 'pilot haves'. Future wage pressures and shortages will be softened by the new licensing at one end, and repatriating or extending retirment experience at the other. There are hundreds ( thousands really in a beyond 65 context) of pilots who will happily work, and can afford to, for a lot less then current rates. All they will want is lifestyle rosters.
Then the current generation will understand the notion of being undercut!
The exhaustion of supply of fossil fuels will destroy the commercial aviation industry.
Do a search on the internet using two words. "Biodiesel" and "Algae".
Sooner or later the fossil fuel industry lobbyists will lose the ear of the governments.
Here is one reference that is most interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algaculture
The corporations Chevron, Honeywell, and Boeing are starting algae businesses. According to Boeing's technology leader for energy and emissions, Dave Daggett, 'In the past two years, we have changed from algae skeptics to proponents'.
Last edited by Blip; 23rd Dec 2007 at 03:17.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Brisbane
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So you earnt $250,000 as a 737 captain and only did 650 hours to get it? I have a copy of the latest Qantas Agreement and I don't see how! Also the initial captains wage was $110,000 plus a $10,000 retention payment after 12 months. the Next years the Captains wage was $113,300 plus a $15,000 bonus. I don't know were you got the $100,000 salary from?
Last edited by fmcinop; 24th Dec 2007 at 08:53.
