Living as a pilot??

Question

Eventually, if I ever get hired by a regional airline (or even major in the future), will I be able to live here in New York? I am about a half hour away from JFK, I am near Republic, MacArthur, Laguardia. Is it possible to not have to pack up and move? Do most pilots have to move far away and get an apartment? How can you afford rent on a regional airline pay??

Thanks a lot... Girls/Guys Pilots....

Answer 1

Hmm. Cart before the horse here me thinks. Every job is going to be different in it's requirements. What you should be concentrating on is how you will contrubute to the company so they will offer you a job. Then you can work out the finances and determine if you really want the job. And the dollars that pilots make spend the same as the dollars that fast food clerks and doctors make so you shouldn't have to ask yourself about how to afford an apartment. It's simple math and either you can or you can't. If you can, and still can pay other obligations, then the job may be for you. If you can;t then the job isn;t for you.

Answer 2

Mike you seem to be concerned about being away from home or having to move out of the New York area. The airlines might not be the job for you. You may get on with an airline that has a base in the NY area but flying for the airlines (regional,majors) you will be away from home almost half the month but not at one time, usually 2-4 day trips. The good news is that you have half the month off.

You wouldn't have to move to another city if you are based away from NY (many pilots don't) you can commute to work but that takes away from time off and can add up to a big expense. The company you work for probably doesn't care where you live, just show up to work on time.

Some pilots I work with have "crash pads" living with 3-5 other pilots/fa's and sharing the expense of a cheap apartment but that has it's own set of problems-room mates sometimes can be annoying. Some just get a cheap hotel room for the nights they are in base but that too is expensive.

As for the being able to afford living expenses on regional airline pay, thats where a spouse with a good paying job would come in handy. In the old days the low pay was part of the initiation, just how bad did you want to work for the airline? Now it seems to be more of thats what the airlines can get away with paying. Supply and demand. My company started new hires off with $1000/month and had a statement in the operations manual that all pilots would keep their finacial business in order and having bill collectors calling the chief pilot's office would warrant a call to the office. Where there is the will there is a way. Good Luck.

Answer 3

I don't know but it sure wasn't for me.  I am stuck flying piston pounders, but I'm making almost triple what I would be making at the regionals.

If you can live at home with your parents, I would highly recommend it.  Ask for an allowance too, you will need it.

Answer 4

It is not at all likely in airline flying that you will get the base of your choice.

Rent is afforded by housemates splitting it 5 or 10 ways.

Answer 5

you will have to have some "stand by" shifts which means you need to be able to get to the airport usually within 90 minutes,,,so you cant live too far away from your base air port