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Here
are two opinions on FlyingTypers coverage this week, "Voices
From UPS Flight 1354."
Since in many ways we are a family, FlyingTypers
people follow familiar patterns, including occasionally disagreeing.
You too are invited to join us.
What do you think? |
Every passenger flight
leaving the U.S. for Europe is essentially a night flight.
Last year I flew Vienna to Tel Aviv—a
4-hour flight that left VIE at 8:20pm and arrived TLV 01:30am.
Examples are numerous worldwide for pax flights operating during the night.
Yes, they also operate a lot more during
the day, but there's much night flying involved.
Same aircraft, same airports, not sure I
understand exactly where's the beef.
Conversations among crew members in the
cockpit often involve complaining about the airline executives and the
big bucks they make while the pilots work so very hard—all of 80
hours a month.
Many operations staff, flight planners,
aircraft dispatchers, flight controllers and so forth work around the
clock, also long nights and many hours, and don't make anywhere near what
a pilot earns, and while not observing the computers doing their magic
in flight, they bear significant responsibility for safe and secure flight
operations.
And they have no ALPA holding their hands
either...
Ted
I
basically agree with several points you make.
But to your words 'not making anywhere near
what a pilot makes,'—according to the Comair accident report, the
F/O made about $41,000 USD a year, which is not unusual when you work
for commuter airlines.
Now balance that salary against the fact
that a pilot must pay off his initial pilot training, which generally
costs between $150,000 and $300,000 USD, against a salary base driven
by the fact that almost nobody wants to hire a F/O with less than 1,500
flight hours.
Also a pilot must purchase expensive insurance
to cover against disability.
For example—if you fail your annual
medical rating, you're out of a job!
I spoke to a Ryanair F/O who said that he
earned 1,600 Euros gross a month and continues to live at home with his
parents, since his loan for training and initial B737 type rating costs
about 750 Euros a month.
In an interesting development, I also learned
that Ryanair has hired self-employed pilots that are paid a contract fee
all-in . . . netting about 4,500 Euros a month.
While that sounds like a lot of money, these
people that have chosen a flying career need to cover insurances, taxes,
and everything else, including their cost of living.
You are absolutely correct to point out
that load-planners, ramp agents, etc are seriously underrated (and underpaid).
Been there, done that, LOL.
Jens
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