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Regional carriers pay pilots an average of $27,350 per year, according to Paul Ryder, a captain at ExpressJet Airlines who is active with the ALPA. That compares with an annual salary of $103,390 at large airlines, according to US Labor Department data.
Aspiring pilots must pay between $150,000 to $200,00 to obtain their license, Ryder said.
Three years ago, US regulators stiffened the requirements on pilots following a 2009 Colgan Air crash near Buffalo, New York, that killed 49 people.
Commercial pilots must now have 1,500 hours of flight time before qualifying for their pilot's license, compared with just 250 prior to the rule shift.
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So if you want to be an airline pilot, which can be one of the most stressful jobs in the world with an awesome responsibility, you can look forward to being paid peanuts at the regionals.
As the article points out, the pay for regional pilots is atrocious. A pilot who was not former military or did not have a corporate aviation job must pay a small fortune out of his own pocket to get the hours that is required since the accident in Buffalo. That co-pilot made about $17,000 a year. Instead of increasing salaries for the regionals, the FAA and the airlines simply put the burdern of more flying hours required on the pilot applicants.
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That’s because over the past 50 years there’s been an abundance of pilots. I think a factor now is new pilots can go overseas and make much better salaries and benefits as well as free training.
One of my offspring left the Navy 10 months ago. A regional approached them and offered the low paying job of regional pilot. They said no and moved on. Another guy I know is making six figures flying for an emergency recovery outfit. !5 years US Army helo pilot.
“Regional carriers pay pilots an average of $27,350 per year, according to Paul Ryder, a captain at ExpressJet Airlines who is active with the ALPA. That compares with an annual salary of $103,390 at large airlines, according to US Labor Department data.”
That is because the regionals are populated with young pilots accruing hours and once they get the hours and experience they move on. . .hence the lower average salary.
1,500hrs is minimum hrs for ATP rating, a MUST HAVE ticket for the majors.