anyone here a professional pilot

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

after ur an airline pilot for several years the pay can get up to $200k

It's a union step grade pay system. I believe it's 9 years to max pay. After that you are paid by position (co-pilot vs captain) and the # of people your plane holds. So a 737 captain with full pay at continental makes about 200k. However if he moved to a 777 and flew international with twice as many people on board he'll make more. Also continental is kinda on the low end of the scale. Delta signed a big contract in around 2000 that paid at the most like 360k! But that's part of what screwed them during the downturn...

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

It's a union step grade pay system. I believe it's 9 years to max pay. After that you are paid by position (co-pilot vs captain) and the # of people your plane holds. So a 737 captain with full pay at continental makes about 200k. However if he moved to a 777 and flew international with twice as many people on board he'll make more. Also continental is kinda on the low end of the scale. Delta signed a big contract in around 2000 that paid at the most like 360k! But that's part of what screwed them during the downturn...

definitely i think much of depends on wat airline u fly for

 

[bikinpunk 10+ year member]

It's a union step grade pay system. I believe it's 9 years to max pay. After that you are paid by position (co-pilot vs captain) and the # of people your plane holds. So a 737 captain with full pay at continental makes about 200k. However if he moved to a 777 and flew international with twice as many people on board he'll make more. Also continental is kinda on the low end of the scale. Delta signed a big contract in around 2000 that paid at the most like 360k! But that's part of what screwed them during the downturn...

So, any ideas on how to break into this field?

Do you suggest getting a pilot's license individually? As I said, I already have my BS in BS (aero eng) //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif.

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

So, any ideas on how to break into this field?
Do you suggest getting a pilot's license individually? As I said, I already have my BS in BS (aero eng) //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif.

Well the cheapest way would be to get your own licenses and ratings up to commercial with IFR and multi-eng ratings. Then you should be able to find work somewhere as a pilot where you can build time. Once you've built the minimum hours needed to apply to airlines it helps to know someone.

This is how both my brother (getting degree in aircraft maintenance shop admin or something like that) and father (only had AP&P) are doing it but there are likely schools where you could pay to get through your ratings....

Flying is very expensive though so finding work where you are flying makes it much cheaper

 

[AcidicDreams 10+ year member]

definitely i think much of depends on wat airline u fly for

and that is based mainly on your seniority. The higher ranking pilots gravitate to higher paying planes once their seniority allows them to hold reasonable schedules. If you are single and don't mind living within driving distance of your hub you can make good money moving to the big planes fast but be prepared to be on standby or holding shitty schedules (they are bid on and rewarded based on seniority)