Well put !
For me it’s all about lifestyle, as long as I can work the least amount for the max pay then I will be happy . That gives me more time for precious things like actually being with my kids as they grow up and creating my business outside of Aviation .

LHS in a Northern base for EZY. Loads of opportunities to be based around Europe if that is your bag. Been here 17 years and pretty happy. As has been said, there are and will always be issues. Tell me an airline where there isn’t any? Money is good (high basic plus sector pay) with fixed pattern rosters and we are expanding the route network on a seasonal basis. In my own bed virtually every night. I have night-stopped only once in the last year for SEP’s. 6% pay rise this year, 4% Xmas bonus and loyalty pay of 15%. RPI pay rise next October and preferential roster bidding from April. Oh, and a bottle of champers as a thanks. We work hard, but the job is good. I have no plans to move on in the foreseeable future.

Today's 'Safe Space' is second on the left for those who need it. But from where I sit, life is not perfect, but it has a great view and far better than many others in this world.

I'm happy:). Retired with 57, major EU carrier. Pension scheme payed by company. Good old days....

Good luck fellows, but don't giveup to fight against the LoCos.

Go to work almost once a week which is mostly westerly and entails generally one night away in Caribbean or US city. Factor in return red eye and a day dealing with night shift tiredness then 3-4 days off.

I've worked in the low cost sector, and note the happiness from the orange segment of this segment of our industry, which goes to prove happiness comes in many forms.

My own version of happiness is based on the amount of time I spend at home and with family, the "reasonable" job security, a management team although constrained and directed by the low cost segment, and certainly not free from criticism, to ensure balance, do retain reasonable people skills and understanding. it is a different management style than the one I experienced in the low cost sector.

In addition the training team are capable, my colleagues are on the whole experienced, hence its a safe operation, and they are on the whole great company, plus the odd day on the beach at Barbados sipping the occasional rum punch isn't exactly a chore. (I do accept some would prefer to be in their own bed than taking a sundowner in Bridgetown) :)

It's a bit of a subjective question to be fair, as experience levels, involvement at various airlines, the ability to be consumed by an employers own company propaganda, and obvious life requirements differ for person to person. My kids have now left home. I'm financially in a reasonable position. I've experience on a number of aircraft types across several airlines. My view on happiness is viewed with depth and related to my current position in life. I'm hoping not to have to change too much before I hand my wings in in decade or so.

As a theme park hating colleague of mine once said after somehow being coerced into visiting universal studios on a layover in Florida, that you can generate happiness within yourself from seeing so many happy people.

Gearlever
Most of the positive posts on here are Pilots working for lowco's......

It’s interesting to see what the bench mark is ?
Years ago it would have probably been Brittania or Logan air . But now i assume its Easy Jet , I assume in another 10 years the bench mark will be small planet

Laker and Air Europe were two very happy airlines and the Ts & Cs of Air Europe were excellent for the time, sadly both gone now.

So out of the happy orange brigade pilots who honestly can see another 20-30 years flying 4 sector days? I think having a woman at the helm for a while has made easy a very human airline but the hard work will kill you. Starting with an airline with a less frantic schedule means starting at the bottom of the list again (in most cases).


In my case, was very happy until they decided to close my base down and offer peanuts for relocation. Good things don't last forever. Our management team is now very anti-pilot as a result of our recent strike action and it's turned the mood in the camp very ugly over just a period of 3 months.

I’m with the orange, LHS and happy. Home every day, pay is excellent, nice xmas bonus, 15% loyalty bonus, a regional base makes it a different airline to LGW and finally the crews are top people.

As for 4 sector days every day, I haven’t done a 4 sector day for a month. Tomorrow I just do a quick Paris, next day just a quick Glasgow and back. Most schedule short haul airlines will have some 4 sector days, the working day is no longer though than most charter holiday flights with the long flights to turkey etc, going to Glasgow is long enough. Schedule can be frantic at times in the summer and a few times I’ve looked at it and said that’s not going to work, but I don’t worry about it. If we are late we are late and I’m not busting a gut to achieve unrealistic block times.

I’m up to 740 hours rolling 12 months.

It’s not perfect, but it one of the best seats in the UK in my opinion. Would like to see the leave system overhauled a little, but a bidding system now comes into effect early next year for rosters.

Wouldn’t leave to join another short haul operation as there is no point, would only leave if I wish to go long haul, fancy it but not enough to risk giving up what I have.

In winter I hardly ever do 4 sector days, and when I do, they're not exactly brutal.

In December I've got a double GVA and that's it. I didn't have any 4 sector days in November, and only one in October.


In summer, the days that are 4-sector can be a killer, but again theres usually only 2 of those a block I find. And when we get Preferential Bidding early next year we can choose, to some extent, what we would prefer to do or not.

Summer is busy yeah, but if you need to, you call in fatigued. Not once have I ever had that questioned by management, I have total confidence in doing so. If it's a silly block of duties then I just won't do it, and I'm not worried that I'll have to justify it. I think they realise having to take one or two days off from time to time is better for the company than dragging yourself through and going long-term sick for 4 months with chronic fatigue.

Mr Angry, Would you say that there is a clear divide here between the "lowco's" [sic] that have proper union recognition and those that do not?

I have heard some talk of the airline industry's 'best kept secret'. Tried to book a ticket as a pax with them and couldn't find a way of doing so...

Currently not very happy at all. But then, i do sit at home (still paid) while my employer winds down its flight operation after it went into administration.

Would be extremely happy once i get positive news from the orange headquarter, by far the best offer out there for us in the formerly white/red middle east financed loss leader.

Larry lives.
 

Well have to say happiness is a state of mind and I have been in various states over many years. Health is the most important element in my opinion, once you have a roster that provides a reasonable timetable to not adversely effect your health then happiness can be considered. Aviation is a great industry to be involved in however all depends which company, which country which ...well one can go on and on. Money provides 90% of the real life desires but having little to none does not necessarily mean life is unhappy. Life is what you make of it. So yes I am fortunate that I am happy. Of course one can do with better flying and more cash, more holidays, better crew conditions but I can say I am Larry.

In December I have nine days with four or more sectors. Two of six, and two five-sector days. A month or two ago I was at 915 hours over the rolling year. Scandi flag carrier. Six sectors in winter, with 25-minute turnarounds and de-icing, plus snow and poor braking action. Not doing 30 more years of that!

What once were limits are TARGETS for HR/bean counters and other practictioners of black magic..Ironically these said individuals always manage to get Christmas, NYE and anything else that falls either side of a weekend 'free of duty'. You don't think their 'period free of duty' is 10 hours do you? Once upon a time remuneration closed the gap, but personal KPI opened it right up!

'Scandi flag carrier' - Doesn't your airline have a long haul fleet as well?

Good luck Denti. I'm where you probably want to be based (or nearby anyway) and things are good!

Yes, but I don't have the seniority yet.

Rated de
I once asked my DFO why aircrew got £500 pounds off for working one minute into a day off and i as a Manager working a 12hr shift at the weekend got jack :mad:
He replied "Go be a Pilot"
Therefore if you want XMAS and NY off - go work in the Office