Starting pay for new pilots?
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Starting pay for new pilots?
Just interested...
I'm working in IT for a fairly nice wad of cash each month, but would be happier flying for a living. I'm an awful long way from being in a position to realistically consider a career in aviation, but I'd love to know how much new pilots expect these days on jets, TP, instructing, etc etc
My other half is totally behind me in gonig for this, but I'll bet she'd change her mind if there was a major drop in cash
I'm working in IT for a fairly nice wad of cash each month, but would be happier flying for a living. I'm an awful long way from being in a position to realistically consider a career in aviation, but I'd love to know how much new pilots expect these days on jets, TP, instructing, etc etc
My other half is totally behind me in gonig for this, but I'll bet she'd change her mind if there was a major drop in cash
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In exactly the same position myself - IT cash helps get started in something you've wanted to do for years, but other commitments prevented. I'll watch this thread with initerest, but It's the hours required to get that all important first step that can be a real killer if it's a change in career
Good Luck
Good Luck
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Prof,
Mr Pandora brought home more in his bonus than I did in the whole of last year. I am an FO for BA. Mr Pandora is an IT consultant who works for a company contracts out to BA. You will never earn more as a pilot (unless you become a Delta captain
) as you will in IT. But lets face it, MS2000 is nothing like the real thing, and Mr Pandora doesn't get staff travel.
Do a PPL and thing about whether you could take a pay cut to about 20k (BA cadet salary after training deductions)
Mr Pandora brought home more in his bonus than I did in the whole of last year. I am an FO for BA. Mr Pandora is an IT consultant who works for a company contracts out to BA. You will never earn more as a pilot (unless you become a Delta captain
) as you will in IT. But lets face it, MS2000 is nothing like the real thing, and Mr Pandora doesn't get staff travel. Do a PPL and thing about whether you could take a pay cut to about 20k (BA cadet salary after training deductions)
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Do a PPL and thing about whether you could take a pay cut to about 20k (BA cadet salary after training deductions)
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Do a PPL and thing about whether you could take a pay cut to about 20k (BA cadet salary after training deductions)
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PPL thing is underway and I'm loving it, but perhaps that's where it might stop. Who knows, money isn't everything, but it is rather nice...
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I am currently with a well known regional airline, with just over 500hours and I feel to get paid in the region of £22K, is satisfactory, bearing in mind that I still treat this salary as training pay. Certainly I will reveiw this in approx 3-4 years, when either I will be eligible for left hand seat, or a substantially better paid F/O position with another airline. Just pleased to have the job and learning all the time.
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Well I used to work in the semiconductor industry before giving it all up to go and self fund my CPL.
I spent £32K getting the licence and then got a job after 2 years. I now work for a well known UK regional operator. I earn £22K per year slogging my guts out doing 6 sectors a day, 5 or 6 days a week and have virtually no time to pursue any leisure interests. The annual pay increments for FO's in my company are less than £400/year.
If I could wind the clock back I would have stayed in my very well paid electronics job and flown for fun in my spare time.
You must remember that being an airline pilot must be one of the most over rated jobs going. The money isn't all that good and its bloody hard work flying for the regional operators.
However only you can make the decision as to go for it or otherwise. Whatever you decide good luck.
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Hapiness is Vr at Fraggle Rock!
I spent £32K getting the licence and then got a job after 2 years. I now work for a well known UK regional operator. I earn £22K per year slogging my guts out doing 6 sectors a day, 5 or 6 days a week and have virtually no time to pursue any leisure interests. The annual pay increments for FO's in my company are less than £400/year.
If I could wind the clock back I would have stayed in my very well paid electronics job and flown for fun in my spare time.
You must remember that being an airline pilot must be one of the most over rated jobs going. The money isn't all that good and its bloody hard work flying for the regional operators.
However only you can make the decision as to go for it or otherwise. Whatever you decide good luck.
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Hapiness is Vr at Fraggle Rock!
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Hello to one and all! I just saw this thread and thought I might contribute. I am sad to hear that 'Fraggle Flyer' does not like his job - very few pilots would go back to what they were doing previously so you are definitely the exception. Chirpy pilot has it exactly right - good attitude to learning and an eye to the future. You will go far.
I am a training captain with a regional turboprop operator and earn just over £40,000 a year (no sector pay, duty pay etc). It was not that long ago that I earnt £18,000 a year as a First Officer. (I am married to the most tolerant wife in the world and have 2 great kids) It was very hard and it is only now that I feel financially 'secure'. I am just about to go and fly A320s for someone and will probably take a slight pay cut (to approx £38,000 total) until I get picked up for command again. That will almost certainly be several years away.
The bottom line is that flying is only for those willing to make sacrifices and if there are any doubts then don't do it. You will be competing against people who burn with ambition and drive, and frankly I hope they make it before you if they want it more. The final thing to say is - make sure you have what it takes. Now I am a training captain I get to see people who have struggled through training and sadly they will never ever be captains because they simply lack the ability. It is a tragedy for them and my heart goes out to them but it is so easily avoided by doing a PPL and IMC rating first to see if you are really up to it.
To those that really want it - I wish you every success. I personally am very grateful for the chance to go to work every day and do the job I love.
I am a training captain with a regional turboprop operator and earn just over £40,000 a year (no sector pay, duty pay etc). It was not that long ago that I earnt £18,000 a year as a First Officer. (I am married to the most tolerant wife in the world and have 2 great kids) It was very hard and it is only now that I feel financially 'secure'. I am just about to go and fly A320s for someone and will probably take a slight pay cut (to approx £38,000 total) until I get picked up for command again. That will almost certainly be several years away.
The bottom line is that flying is only for those willing to make sacrifices and if there are any doubts then don't do it. You will be competing against people who burn with ambition and drive, and frankly I hope they make it before you if they want it more. The final thing to say is - make sure you have what it takes. Now I am a training captain I get to see people who have struggled through training and sadly they will never ever be captains because they simply lack the ability. It is a tragedy for them and my heart goes out to them but it is so easily avoided by doing a PPL and IMC rating first to see if you are really up to it.
To those that really want it - I wish you every success. I personally am very grateful for the chance to go to work every day and do the job I love.
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Stick at it!!
I started with the same outfit as Mr Fraggle on 22k which was about half my previous earnings.Five and a bit years later my basic has about doubled with allowances etc on top, in other words I'm about where I was before plus a bit.The main difference is that I now enjoy work, have more free time and am a good deal less stressed.The regionals are a good start but unless you particularly enjoy the work, move on whilst you can.
Would I go back to my old job? would I F*** !
I started with the same outfit as Mr Fraggle on 22k which was about half my previous earnings.Five and a bit years later my basic has about doubled with allowances etc on top, in other words I'm about where I was before plus a bit.The main difference is that I now enjoy work, have more free time and am a good deal less stressed.The regionals are a good start but unless you particularly enjoy the work, move on whilst you can.
Would I go back to my old job? would I F*** !
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As long as I could pay my bar bill at the end of each week, I dont care how much I earn. I know some have other commitments which therefore has a presiding right over what career they choose, but I guess we all make the right decision in the end...hopefully.
Homer
Homer
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I agree with Homer, I currently work in Insurance and earn 14k a year. I would be more than happy to earn the same or even less (if it was not for family commitments) to work on the flight deck.
I appreciate that it is very hard work and sometimes very stressful however if you love the job what does that matter!
I appreciate that it is very hard work and sometimes very stressful however if you love the job what does that matter!
Genghis: Off the topic of pay, but is it more difficult for new pilots to catch on over there, partly due to much less experience for many, when they finally get hired by a regional? From reading Pprune in the past, and talking to an FO here, who left Cathay as FO a few years ago with the 744 and 777 type ratings, there seems to be so much more stress on the very deep academics in Britain/Ireland and Europe, Pac Rim, i.e. knowing how weather forecasting is done...
It leaves me wondering if too much extra academics could could confuse new pilots (and those from other flying cultures) make the "hands-on" training with the need for learning overall SA awareness more difficult than it needs to be? Pardon my questions about other flying cultures and traditions. Ours leaves a lot to be desired, especially from a foreign perspective.
Even in the US, pilots sometimes forget how so much book training can clutter the flow of cockpit procedures and cause too much analysis or second-guessing of what is built into company standardization, until they filter out almost all theory and simply remember procedures and develop "good judgement" and awareness.
[ 10 July 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]
It leaves me wondering if too much extra academics could could confuse new pilots (and those from other flying cultures) make the "hands-on" training with the need for learning overall SA awareness more difficult than it needs to be? Pardon my questions about other flying cultures and traditions. Ours leaves a lot to be desired, especially from a foreign perspective.
Even in the US, pilots sometimes forget how so much book training can clutter the flow of cockpit procedures and cause too much analysis or second-guessing of what is built into company standardization, until they filter out almost all theory and simply remember procedures and develop "good judgement" and awareness.
[ 10 July 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]
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PT,
I wholly agree with all that has been said so far. You have to really want to fly to succeed and all but a few who have succeeded have made sacrifices along the way. Unfortunately with me that included my marriage... something which I regret. I'm sure I am not alone. So make sure you have the support before embarking on a difficult path. It's costly and frustrating just obtaining the qualification. especially if you have to fit it in around professional & personal commitments. That is the easy bit. Getting a job is often tougher. I was successful on my first 2 interviews in the same month in 1999. I had job offers for a Jetstream on £18,000 gross (involving a change of location) and a Regional Jet on £31,000 (which was an increase in income and staying put). It was a difficult choice...
Sounds lucky doesn't it. What I had forgotten to mention was that I had been applying for jobs without a sniff of an interview from when I first qualified with a CPL/IR in 1989.
What did I do inbetween?
I continued with my previous career and instructed in my spare time gaining as much flying experience as I could. I persevered with applications and the end result you know.
Was it worth it?
For me yes. I realised a dream and would never have been happy if I had not been successful. I thoroughly enjoy it and would not go back to my previous occupation.
For you? Well if money is the motivation. Forget it! If flying is your passion and you have the support and commitment then 'Go for it'.
If you do go for it when it gets tough (and at some point it will) remember that 'When all else fails.. perseverence prevails'.
I wholly agree with all that has been said so far. You have to really want to fly to succeed and all but a few who have succeeded have made sacrifices along the way. Unfortunately with me that included my marriage... something which I regret. I'm sure I am not alone. So make sure you have the support before embarking on a difficult path. It's costly and frustrating just obtaining the qualification. especially if you have to fit it in around professional & personal commitments. That is the easy bit. Getting a job is often tougher. I was successful on my first 2 interviews in the same month in 1999. I had job offers for a Jetstream on £18,000 gross (involving a change of location) and a Regional Jet on £31,000 (which was an increase in income and staying put). It was a difficult choice...
Sounds lucky doesn't it. What I had forgotten to mention was that I had been applying for jobs without a sniff of an interview from when I first qualified with a CPL/IR in 1989.
What did I do inbetween?
I continued with my previous career and instructed in my spare time gaining as much flying experience as I could. I persevered with applications and the end result you know.
Was it worth it?
For me yes. I realised a dream and would never have been happy if I had not been successful. I thoroughly enjoy it and would not go back to my previous occupation.
For you? Well if money is the motivation. Forget it! If flying is your passion and you have the support and commitment then 'Go for it'.
If you do go for it when it gets tough (and at some point it will) remember that 'When all else fails.. perseverence prevails'.
