Does low pilot pay lead to incompetent pilots?

Question

These pilots had there heads crammed straight up their buttocks. There is absolutely no excuse for taking off on the wrong runway on an instrument departure and any IFR pilot would have multiple cues about the runway their taking off on is the wrong one. Two pilots couldn't figure this out.

Comair is one of the lowest paying regionals out there. For all you non-pilots out there, "Did you know that your commuter co-pilot is sometimes making 19K per year? Do you really want a guy flying a jet that makes two grand north of the federal poverty line. What happens is the pool of pilots taking this type of job is "dumbed down". I mean these pilots are there because their families have money to support them. Compentency has nothing to do with flying for the commuters. It is about money! I hope this scam is exsposed that these commuters have a bunch of spoiled rich incompetent nincompoops flying their planes because they're rich! Comair, skywest, horizon, et al YOU MAKE ME SICK!!!!!

No I'm not envious because only losers fly for the commuters, I fly corporate. Navy pilot--You have your head screwed on right and thats why your Navy. Finally, I'd rather pay $450 to fly from NY to Miami, so the pilot doesn't have to eat dog food for dinner and be happy about coming to work.

Answer 1

I am one of those regional guys making 19k a year. And I agree. This forces anyone with any kind of talent or motivation to get out of the industry, leaving only those who have other means of making a living (daddy's credit card) at their disposal. Anyone with the intelligence could leave and go make their millions doing anything but flying airplanes. I have no rich parents or wife. I live like a pauper after devoting 10 years of my life toward my goal of becoming a professional pilot and flying for an airline.

I will defend a couple fo the companies you listed though. Horizon's starting wage is about 27k per year, and while SkyWest pays 19 to start, their second-year is about 35k, meaning that you CAN make it at those two companies.

At the root though, you are absulutely correct. this industry is currently dominated by spoiled rich kids who have not had to actually earn anything in their life. they don't know the meaning of personal accountability because daddy has always been there to pay the bills. They treat their job as a temporary situation on the way to a 747, and act accordingly. I know thie because I work next to these morons every day. I love to fly and could not imagine myself doing anything different. But when you pay wages this low, you frequently get exactly what you bargained for

Answer 2

Skywest Pilot Pay

Answer 3

No. A senior captain for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, who was also a pilot trainer, the poster boy for KLM ads, and who made around $300,000.00 a year once took-off without permission in his loaded B-747. It was a simple mistake.

But he crashed into another (Pan Am) B-747 and killed himself and 582 other people.

On Jan. 25, 2002, a China Airlines Airbus A-340 took off from a taxiway in Anchorage. The pilots averted tragedy by lifting off nearly 1,000 feet sooner than normal. The jet's tires struck a snow bank at the end of the taxiway, but the plane was not damaged.

• On Nov. 22, 1994, two people in a small charter plane were killed when they struck a TWA Boeing MD-80 on a runway at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The NTSB found that the pilots of the small plane had attempted to take off on the wrong runway. The crash prompted changes in the way controllers and pilots communicate about runways.

• On Dec. 23, 1995, a Delta MD-80 took off from the wrong runway at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. "Investigation has revealed a number of wrong runway departures" in Cleveland, an FAA report said. Cleveland has since redesigned that area of the airport.

• In January and March 1989, two airline jets took off from the same closed runway at Houston's William P. Hobby Airport. In both cases the jets struck construction equipment but did not crash.

In Taiwan, a Singapore Airlines jet tried to take off on a runway closed for construction. The jet broke apart after hitting construction equipment, killing 82 of the 179 people aboard.

Some of these low-paid pilots make 20 times the take-off and landings, fly in some of the worse weather, and fly into 30 different airports in a week's time compared to a highly-paid major international airline captain who may go 2 months without ever touching an airplane.

As for corporate pilots? Don't get me started. A corporate pilot (Part 91) needs only 40 hours to get a job. Look at their accident rates compared to a Part 121 airline.

Answer 4

This is both a bad example of your point, and really insensitive to the families involved.

Yes, in the long run, low pay will lead to less competent pilots because quality people will avoid the job.

No, pilot pay is not responsible for this accident.

While the accident is a tragedy, especially for those involved, the airlines you mentioned are still many times safer than travel by auto.

Answer 5

I agree with you on the point that this was most likely a preventable accident, and may put into question the competence of that particular flight crew. However, I don't think one can generalize that all commuter pilots are incompetent or just joyriding. This accident can not be blamed on remuneration, or lack thereof.

I personally know several fine commuter pilots, and they are every bit as professional and competent as the pilots I've flown with on the 747. They may be less experienced, but not incompetent.

Answer 6

What do you mean by "commercial." The airline pilots I know are doing very well. If they are not airline pilots but fly for a living then you are correct. The ones I know, say they are paid an okay salary for what they do. Show me another place where chauffeurs get paid that well. And I'm quoting a commercial pilot.

Answer 7

Nope! Pilots will fly literally for a plate of food. The one who truly loves it will fly even for minimum wage and do the same competent job as an airline captain flying a 777.

Answer 8

But you still want to fly round trip from NY to Miami for $150
you cant have it both ways!!

edit: by you, I mean the public at large ,not you specificly!

Answer 9

you have confirmed what i have told people for years!! many people like to harp on how overpaid pilots are, but then they think that sports figures deserve those millions they make???? when i fly i want the highest paid, well trained pilot they have,preferably an ex-navy pilot!!!

Answer 10

I don't think it leads to incompetent Pilots but more toward Pilots who just don't care.