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Originally Posted by bunghole  I can surely validate the above statements about how dismal the pay and hours are in the industry. Several of the regionals such as AE, Skywest, Horizon pay pathetic wages working 4x10s on graveyard. |
I have worked for both AE and Horizon. I wouldn't call the wages at either pathetic. They aren't great, but they aren't pathetic either. Definitely not bad for entry level work.
Schedules are largely dependent on base and department.
True if you go to Horizon Base MTX(Line mtx at the hangar) in Portland, graveyard is almost guaranteed for at least a couple years(with exceptions). However if you go to Seattle line MTX or Portland C-Check (aka Heavy Check), I can think of many mechanics who have never worked a single Graveyard shift.
At American Eagle I was on swing shift. In fact the bottom 5 at the base I was at were swing shift on 5X8s. Graveyard is pretty popular there because of rotating days off that give you as many as 5 days off in a row.
I prefer 4X10's because it gives me the chance to use the greatest airline benefit of all: Free travel. Its much harder to travel with only 2 days off. 4X10s on graves is even better if your young because you can almost stretch the time off to 4 days with some extra caffeine,liberal sleep and good flight loads with options.
Its funny you singled out AE, Skywest, and Horizon as they have the best pay scales and work rules you can get at regionals. I am unsure of Expressjet; but Comair,Pinnacle, Mesaba, Colgan, ASA, and the mother of all f@#& jobs: Mesa should probably be mentioned before those three.
I have turned down Boeing and US Airways, preferring to stay at Horizon. The pay may not be as great, but I do enjoy the company. At this point, I only see leaving the company for one reason in the next 5 years and one reason only. It is personal, but if that time comes, I will let everyone know.
All that being said, if you want to get rich, your in the wrong industry period. Go work for an industry that is in higher demand and has much more revenue.
If you want to make a decent wage, decent benefits, and work on the cutting edge of technology, your going to have fun.