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Originally posted by VDub It is true that pilots make dismal amounts when they're starting out. Most small companies, PemAir (still in business?) for example, where paying their Beechcraft pilots only for actual flight time and it was around $20 an hour. This was about 15 years ago.. But when you're a die hard pilot with goals of that left seat on an airliner, you suck it up and work for peanuts at first... The end result is well worth the effort..

Agreed on the first point.

If only pilots could say "no" to low paying jobs, then the situation might be different. But sadly, some dont mind paying the company to fly.

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Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* How much would it cost for you to fly me from Toronto to Windsor? (Whitby to Windsor would be even better, but I could deal with Toronto).

Ive never flown to windsor before, but i estimate that it takes about 2.5 to 3 hours from brampton. I dont have the numbers with me right now, so i cant tell you exactly. All my equipment is in my locker at work. Anyways, going by $150 per hr, it will cost roughly 450 to 500 for the entire flight. Fuel price not included If your rich, then lets go... lol

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Originally posted by malek If you ever come to Montreal let me know, I want to do some aerial photography. Can windows be opened to let a lense through?

yeh the window can be opened. but you will have to sit in the front seat, and there isnt alot of room between the window and the frame, so bring a small camera.

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Originally posted by failsafe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RayMaswju1A To get to those level of jobs in Canada you're investing about 60k of your own money into training, which takes usually 2-3 years to complete. After which you'll work within the industry making almost certainly less than 15k for the next 3-7 years. And after your 60k investment and time suffering in pickle lake you'll start there in hopes of making it to an airline. 2-8 years at a job like that, and you'll be considered by airlines like Air Canada or WestJet. When I interviewed with Air Canada they were hiring 1/3 of interviewees. So after your decade of trying to pay off your 60k of debt while working well below the poverty line, you're looking at a 1/3 shot of getting a job that you want. If you fail at the interviews then you can write off the decade and a half you just spent getting there. It's a tough row to hoe.

Right on! I just wish pilots can stop accepting low salary jobs, maybe that will help the situation. That is my only pet peeve.

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Originally posted by djshan Right on! I just wish pilots can stop accepting low salary jobs, maybe that will help the situation. That is my only pet peeve.

yeah, but at least they can say they are a real pilot... that line works with chicks, no?

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Originally posted by djshan Ive never flown to windsor before, but i estimate that it takes about 2.5 to 3 hours from brampton. I dont have the numbers with me right now, so i cant tell you exactly. All my equipment is in my locker at work. Anyways, going by $150 per hr, it will cost roughly 450 to 500 for the entire flight. Fuel price not included If your rich, then lets go... lol

I've looked into flight from Windsor airport to Toronto before and that sounds about right $400-$500. I'm told it's only 45 minutes, but that could be at altitude.

I didn't know if your rates would be cheaper. Not cheap enough for a student like me to afford right now! lol

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quote:

Originally posted by djshan Right on! I just wish pilots can stop accepting low salary jobs, maybe that will help the situation. That is my only pet peeve.

High Salary jobs don't exist at the entry level. You of all people should know this. How much are you making a year instructing? Somewhere well below the poverty line. It's kind of funny to point the finger at other people, while doing the same thing yourself.

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Originally posted by failsafe It's kind of funny to point the finger at other people, while doing the same thing yourself.

I was called twice from two different companies. I turned down their offers. One wanted me to be a "volunteer"... the other one was not paying according to my needs (24 k). The reason Im instructing at 25/hr is for a few reasons. 1. I have my own work schedule. 2. It looks good on resume. 3. I have a passion to teach. 4. Im able to work other jobs on the side without any hassles from my boss. 5. And in addition to teaching, I get to build flight time (PIC). With instructing included with my other 2 businesses, i bring in $75,000/yr approximately. And i dont work on the ramp btw, that is not why i got a pilots license.

I beleive there are alot of good pilots out there who deserve to get paid more. This job is not mickey mouse, its a hard and stressful job, but also fun at the same time. If there was a less supply of pilots, then it would be easy to turn down low paying jobs. Theres more pilots than the number of jobs, and airlines know that. It doesnt make difference to them if you say no to their low offer. The gas prices are high, airlines need to make $$... Since there are alot of pilots, what would you do if you were an airline and wanted to make money? And dont get me wrong, I dont hate airlines. Sometimes i want to blame the gas prices for all the mess.

Unforunately, we are forced to accept low salary jobs becuase we get to fly!! I am expecting to take a pay cut as i advance up the career ladder. The good thing is, that the salary goes up after some time.

If i was harsh, I apoligize. but someones gotta so something. maybe its the fuel prices?

Last edited by djshan on Jan-25-2011 at 01:40

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Originally posted by Yohan yeah, but at least they can say they are a real pilot... that line works with chicks, no?

Some guys do it just so they can get chicks, they dont have any passion with aviation. So it all depends. haha... It never worked with me so far... All i heard was, " wow thats awseome " ... and that was all.

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Originally posted by *~LiSa-LoO~* I've looked into flight from Windsor airport to Toronto before and that sounds about right $400-$500. I'm told it's only 45 minutes, but that could be at altitude. I didn't know if your rates would be cheaper. Not cheap enough for a student like me to afford right now! lol

The way it works with me is that you pay hourly rate. The billing starts when the engine starts, and the billing ends when the engine is shutdown after arriving. So if the engine runs for 3 hours, then you pay for 3 hours. Im sure its cheaper to fly on air canada to windsor from toronto, and it takes 45 minutes because of the type of aircraft and its speed. The aircraft i want to take is slow, lol. The flights i was suggesting in my original post was just local 1 to 2 hour flights.... for example, flying over downtown toronto or niagra falls....etc.

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Originally posted by djshan The way it works with me is that you pay hourly rate. The billing starts when the engine starts, and the billing ends when the engine is shutdown after arriving. So if the engine runs for 3 hours, then you pay for 3 hours. Im sure its cheaper to fly on air canada to windsor from toronto, and it takes 45 minutes because of the type of aircraft and its speed. The aircraft i want to take is slow, lol. The flights i was suggesting in my original post was just local 1 to 2 hour flights.... for example, flying over downtown toronto or niagra falls....etc.

Ahhh, I see. I think I'll opt for the VIA Train (though still pricey!) for travel btwn Windsor and Toronto. And I'll keep you in mind if I want a leisurely flight in a smaller plane.

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Dude it's better that pilots make shit wages at the beginning. It weeds out all of the ppl who aren't passionate about flying...

And don't talk down about rampies...

There are A LOT of pilots who filled in their time and pay-cheques with ramp jobs...

With-out rampies, the aviation industry doesn't exist...

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Originally posted by chinamon chinamon is INCH MOAN. LOL so fitting.