“My worth is set by the collective of my fellow pilots”

[Colonel]

That was such a fascinating statement by Nark (sorry to call you out) i just couldn’t let it go.

What you get paid (as a pilot, prostitute or pimp) is really driven by the current supply and demand for that commodity, subject to market distortions such as government regulatory interference (eg rent control, minimum wage) and various price fixing schemes such as cartels and unions. All’s fair in love and money.

I might gently point out that while an MBA will teach you this stuff - I am surrounded by an amusing number of children with them - it’s kind of overkill. Just take a few courses in business such as finance, marketing, economics and accounting. That’s all you need to work as an ATP and understand the fundamentals of the commercial air service that you want to spend the rest of your life at.

Ok, we’ve talked about money, but that’s a lot different than your “worth” as a pilot. With all due respect your worth as a pilot is not determined by any living being, but rather what your airplane did during your last challenging experience.

To paraphrase my very distant cousin Von Richthofen, all else is rubbish.

[Nark]

I’m worth only what the union can negotiate. Then the group votes on.

Collectively we value scheduling flexibility more than per hour compensation.


Micro vs macro.

[Colonel]

we value scheduling flexibility more than per hour compensation

I think that's an age thing. To youngsters, it's all about the bucks and nothing else matters.

While $$$ is nice - don't get me wrong, it's really really nice - it's just part of the picture.