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Flight Pay Changes

Brett327

Well-Known Member
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Super Moderator
Contributor
That worked when we were excited to be ENSes. I think it's lost its luster for many beyond the JO level.
In that case, TYFYS.

I get it. It's tough to serve these days and it involves a lot of personal sacrifice. The military will never be able to compete with the airlines or other civilian professions in terms of compensation or QOL. Nothing PERS does will ever change that.
 

ea6bflyr

Working Class Bum
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Super Moderator
Contributor
That may be, but that small incentive, coupled with the bonus incentive, pales in comparison with the pay and opportunity for pilots in the airlines these days. And while that will not entice many, it is enough to continue to pose a serious enough problem. Even the Air Force's massive 35K/year bonus still doesn't make up the difference in pay beyond year 2-3 at some carriers, and that's just money. Let's not forget the vastly reduced schedule, increased home-time, less BS to contend with (i.e. everything beyond flying), and the 16% automatic contribution to my retirement account over and above pay, and even profit-sharing in some cases.

But sure, rah rah, service to your country, something bigger than yourself, etc, etc. That worked when we were excited to be ENSes. I think it's lost its luster for many beyond the JO level. We've done our service, and now for many of us, it's about what's best/most advantageous for us and our families. And a couple hundred bucks a month and 25 grand a year for a couple years isn't cutting it for a job increasingly filled with bullshit and administrivia, far-removed from the war-fighting we keep getting punted our way from admirals who encourage us to stay in for something bigger than ourselves.
The grass is always greener.....but is it? I know former Navy Pilots that tell me that while their QOL is vastly better, their job satisfaction is just not there. No leadership required on the ground, basically AIRNAVs to and fro, No say in what the 'company' decides, and 'more' home time? Is being gone from home 14 days out of the month really getting more home time?

If you're in it for the pay, you've chosen the wrong profession. Expect nothing, and be thankful for everything you do get. I'll echo @Brett327 , TYFYS.

@Recovering LSO captures the heart of the problem. No one likes getting jerked around.
 

Python

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
The grass is always greener.....but is it? I know former Navy Pilots that tell me that while their QOL is vastly better, their job satisfaction is just not there. No leadership required on the ground, basically AIRNAVs to and fro, No say in what the 'company' decides, and 'more' home time? Is being gone from home 14 days out of the month really getting more home time?

If you're in it for the pay, you've chosen the wrong profession. Expect nothing, and be thankful for everything you do get. I'll echo @Brett327 , TYFYS.

@Recovering LSO captures the heart of the problem. No one likes getting jerked around.

14 days gone (if it is that many), is still better because of Skype, cell service, being within 3 time zones, etc. as opposed to what you get with the "goneness" of the Navy life.
Nothing wrong with AIRNAVs.
If you get job satisfaction from leadership on the ground, then that's great. Do not assume that that translates to everyone. Many people do not get satisfaction from that. They still do it the best they can because it's their duty to do so, but that doesn't mean it's satisfying.

Not saying that these views are universal, but the grass is greener. If I had to do it again I wouldn't change a thing. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was awesome. It doesn't keep the same luster at MSR that it does as an ENS.
 

ea6bflyr

Working Class Bum
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Super Moderator
Contributor
Awesome!

14 days gone (if it is that many), is still better because of Skype, cell service, being within 3 time zones, etc. as opposed to what you get with the "goneness" of the Navy life.
Nothing wrong with AIRNAVs.
If you get job satisfaction from leadership on the ground, then that's great. Do not assume that that translates to everyone. Many people do not get satisfaction from that. They still do it the best they can because it's their duty to do so, but that doesn't mean it's satisfying.

Not saying that these views are universal, but the grass is greener. If I had to do it again I wouldn't change a thing. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was awesome. It doesn't keep the same luster at MSR that it does as an ENS.
Good to hear.

Question to both of you (@Treetop Flyer & @Python1287): Either of you doing the flying SELRES thing? A bunch of our SELRES pilots at VTs fill their low-level jet flying itch using the reserve gig.
 

SlickAg

Registered User
pilot
Question to both of you (@Treetop Flyer & @Python1287): Either of you doing the flying SELRES thing? A bunch of our SELRES pilots at VTs fill their low-level jet flying itch using the reserve gig.
VTs are a good deal, but it also requires a time commitment well beyond that of a normal SELRES. The tradeoff is that we're currently protected from Mobs. When the fence is lifted, I think the VTUs are going to get a very rapid influx of personnel...

If Mobs weren't a factor I think most of my unit would rather just drill at their local NOSC if they did anything at all. Once you have your airline job and don't need the currency and/or extra income past the first year, it can sort of lose its luster.

The grass is always greener.....but is it? I know former Navy Pilots that tell me that while their QOL is vastly better, their job satisfaction is just not there. No leadership required on the ground, basically AIRNAVs to and fro, No say in what the 'company' decides, and 'more' home time? Is being gone from home 14 days out of the month really getting more home time?

I'll take the bait. My job satisfaction is just that, feeling good about trying to a good job to the best of my abilities. This month I'll work 13 days for the airline (really more like 11 days after one 2300 departure and one 0030 arrival, but they both count as full days worked). So I have 17 (basically 19) days off. I'm not exactly panicking that I won't be getting any "job satisfaction" on those days off. I'll be getting "husband satisfaction" and "father satisfaction" instead.

The only thing I miss is hanging out with the bros in the ready room. But I still get that in the reserves, and even better, I get to control (for the most part), how and when it happens. And no, I don't miss having ground jobs that require my leadership. My only regret is that I couldn't leave active duty sooner. In fact, if the Navy wants to save some bucks, they could finance a LOT of extra flight pay by offering guys an early out instead of paying their salaries for another year while they're on the ROAD program. The Navy had to keep paying me for an extra year knowing that I was getting out anyway, while making me more competitive to go to the airlines. Go figure.
 

FrankTheTank

Professional Pot Stirrer
pilot
Ok.. I’ll play.. I am content with my job satisfaction. As a 14 year widebody Captain making gold bricks for pay, I don’t know where your ‘friends’ work but it ain’t where I work. For the month of December (Our busiest month of the year) I spent one night on the road which was by choice cause I picked up a trip on a day off for some cash to buy another rifle.
 
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