Guys, like most things, it's not as simple as it appears. I salute the guys in the commuter ranks. They are underappreciated and underpayed.
Many of the commuter lines were making you pay for your own training not long ago. I don't know if that's still going on but it seems pretty low to charge a guy $12K for his Jetstream or Beech training and then hire him on for $16k the first year. Sounds like indentured servitude to me.
After 2-3 years he gets enough hours to be competitive for a "majors" job and he gets nailed with "probation pay" for the first year. Now he's working for a famous major and getting about $30K.
Probation pay is BS. They wouldn't have hired the guy if he wasn't the absolute best available and he has already PROVEN himself or they wouldn't hire him. Still, it's an industry "tradition" and they get away with it.
This is generally a guy who has gotten a college degree, general flight training and some time all on his own. Then the "indentured servitude" on the commuter for 2-3 years. In short, he's made a huge investment of time and money and proved that he is generally very responsible and accountable.
Now that he's at the major, Seniority is all. He moves up if the airline grows, stagnates if it doesn't.
Right now, it's the best of times. 5 Year Captains or newer at United. Life is VERY good. Not all airlines are the same. Right now "mainline" Captain at my airline is about 9 years.
However, it can lock up in a heartbeat. The oil prices ARE going to have an effect.
I was hired right before the ATC controller walkout/strike under Reagan.
It took my class 15 years to make Captain; we spent 6 years on the 727 Engineer seat. 95% of my class were ex-military. College Degrees, almost every one of us military instructors, 1500 hour fighter guys, 2500 hour multi guys. We made less than we made in the service for the first 3 years...it didn't get a whole lot better until we made First Officer around year 7.
In summary....if you have the ratings, NOW is the time! Get IN there! The feast is ON.
Just remember that it's a VERY cyclical business. It can grind to a five year halt with the turn of a valve on an oil pipeline!
