How broke were you?

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:26 am

Back in 98 I was an instructor working full time and I actually got a welfare check cause I made no money. I’m not kidding. I was broke, so broke I signed up with PC financial just to get the free bag of cookies and $20 in free groceries.
That was my lowest paycheck, $27.00 for 2 weeks work – and I mean 50+ hours a week.
I think I made something like $11000.00 for the entire year.
There are times I look back and wonder how I ever made it - thanks mom for the grocery money.

Cheers.

PS. the point of this isn’t to complain, but to let those who are in my old position see that things will get better.

. . · Post by **. .** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:44 am

I made $13 one month in the middle of the winter after sept 11th while instructing. I think I cashed it and bought a mickey. What the hell else are you going to do with $13? If you doubled my first years earnings it still wouldn't come near your 11K. I was lucky that my parents lived close to where I worked. If they didn't there wouldn't have been a chance in hell I could have afforded to live that year. Dark days for sure. It's been a very slow uphill since then though. I can only imagine the horror stories some of the guys on the west coast have. Regency, NavAir etc, dark dark years I can imagine.

bezerker · Post by **bezerker** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 1:16 am

Instructing can be brutal.

I flew about 130 hrs instructing one month, which meant at least another 100 hrs with the students, so a total of close to 300 total hrs at my place of work for the month. I was paid about $500.

I remember putting my card in the atm and just crossing my fingers that I could get another $20 Visa cash advance to get some grub. Good old Visa, every time I hit the limit, they would increase it. I still owe them for doing that to this day.

I found that the best value for calories vs. price was a Dairy Queen Ice Cream cake. If I only had $10 in my wallet, and payday was a week away, one of those babies would keep you going. You had to ration it though, too much would cause my digestive tract to run like a bullet train. Happy 40th Shirley!

The other good deal was bulk oatmeal. One cup of this stuff would swell up like a balloon. Unfortunately the money saved was probably wasted on asswipe.

One student owned a McDonalds, and would sometimes leave one or two free Big Mac coupons on my desk. He would never realize how much I looked forward to flying with him.

My ride was a sweet green Datsun 210, with rust holes that you could see through to the road, and the sweet smell of exhaust throughout. It wasn't much to look at, but the chicks dug it way more than the Norco I drove previously. I part timed at the FBO there, and one of the duties was to take fuel samples every morning. The Datsun ran like a dream on the 2 litres of 100LL I gave it on those days. One of the few times I ever picked up a hitch-hiker was in this car. The guy smelt like a dog turd floating is a glass of whiskey. He asked to get out of the car after about 5 miles.

Good times, good times.....

Juggs · Post by **Juggs** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:34 am

Yeah....good times... No paycheck. I lived in my tent for the first job that I had. Those were good times. Bust a nut and fly 150 hours a month, go back and eat the no name brand granoloa/nutri grain bars that you had in the tent, buy itchiban in the bulk if you could find it. The weekends were killer though, people would bring up some subway and you had it made. The beer that you would sometimes get around the campfire was the best though. You want a lucky? Uh.......yeah of course...it's free isn't it??? Do you have to ask?

Back then I knew what the hell I was doing. Now, I don't really know. I think I can be a civil engineer, what was I thinking?
Sometimes I wish it was that simple, I really do.

Cheers,

--Juggs

nightguy · Post by **nightguy** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:18 am

My god hearing you guys makes me think just how lucky I was in my first job! I worked the ramp at a small airline and was payed alright. I was a lucky guy cause before I was a pilot I had a few years of working in a job that payed $35 plus an hour. Respect to everyone who has had a rough time following their dream!!

Turd in the sandbox · Post by **Turd in the sandbox** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:24 am

Great post.....I always enjoy reading about your escapades.

Tell me, how much do you make now in comparison to the good old days??

Turd

Boeing Driver · Post by **Boeing Driver** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 7:40 am

When I worked the ramp and flew part time as a navajo co-jo, I would bring home cookies and granola bars from the inflight snack bins for dinner. The good ol' days. Made about 800 bucks a month my first year living in Vancouver. I know, I know......I wasn't out in the middle of nowhere, but if you don't have any money to buy food, it doesn't matter where you are.

Life's pretty good now, making 75K. No complaints.

Cheers!

bartbandy · Post by **bartbandy** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:09 am

I remember fondly back in my instructing days making a whopping $40.00 in the month of January. i must say, that was really a highlight. Especially since I was working all day every day during that time...wow, the respect and admiration I commanded back then.....

Northern Skies · Post by **Northern Skies** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:11 am

Juggs wrote: You want a lucky?

haha..... I think the best beer I ever had was an unopened lucky that I found in cowichan lake (van I.) last july, at what appeared to be the site of a may 24 party. We heeled up to the beach, and my float instructor found it in the water. A month in a cold lake is the same as a month in a fridge, right? It went down so smooth....

As for third-world food options I stick with rice. When I was in college I ate solely rice for an entire week while waiting for my sudent loan to come in. I thought: "if the chinese can do it, so can I." It's great stuff, you can buy immense quantities for very little money, and it can be cooked anywhere water can be heated: stove, microwave, kettle, coffee maker, open fire, engine block, solar still, etc.
A bottle of soy sauce goes a long way, too.

anyway, I've been through some really poor times, but they were so far the best days of my life. Hell, I probably have even poorer and better times ahead.

DriftWood · Post by **DriftWood** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:15 am

828 spaghetti dinners, 4000 bowls of cereal, two hold restrictions on bank accounts and a revoked visa card, and still going. I think I will just continue till I drop. Hahaha.

Good Luck to all.

pilotbc69 · Post by **pilotbc69** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:34 am

My worst was spending the bottomless amount to get a license and education. I had to switch grocery stores three times after showing up at the checkout with a load of groceries and having my visa and debit card declined. They tend to remember the asshole that says "I'll just go out to the car and grab my girlfriend's card" and never returns.

Now the money I make pays for the same license and education...4 years to go...and counting

water wings · Post by **water wings** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:36 am

First of, Bezerker, love your Auto Pilot!!!
i thought i had gotten off lucky so far, being the saving squirrel i am, seems this year will be my leanest. Looking for coupons if anyone has any.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:48 am

Turd,
when you factor in perdiums, over seas credits and such, I make more than most second/third year Captains make at the LCC's.

If your willing to move a bit, and go where people dont usually want to, it will pay off. Short term pain, long term gain.

Cheers.

Kosiw · Post by **Kosiw** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:49 am

The question should be asked "how broke are you going to be", let see 34k/yr to start at Jazz,or 46k/yr (+30k loan) to start at Jetswhore.....and living in Toronto....hmmmm sounds like back to KD for a lot of us out there...

There should be a new tv reality show called "Survivor-Wanna be airline pilots" location YYZ

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:59 am

I have been at my present job since August. Between Aug and Nov, I flew 4 days per week max (3 on/4off, 4 off/3 on), averaged about 70-80 hrs/month, and never made more than $800/month. Since November, I haven't made more than $300/month, as I only fly when there's a job. In the past month, I have made maybe $100, all money from shovelling our ramp and doing other tasks for my boss.

Sadly, I am still dependent on my parents to help me out with rent and OSAP, as I can't afford this on my own. I have considered trying to get another non-aviation part-time job, but it's tough as I can't take a set schedule.

Hopefully, things pick up soon. I love flying and I love my job, but I hate the lifestyle.

Canus Chinookus · Post by **Canus Chinookus** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 9:51 am

my first multi, co-captain job flying a light twin paid 13000/year, 6 days a week, split shifts everyday starting between 3am ending 9pm... it was the best.

Switchfoot · Post by **Switchfoot** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 10:35 am

In retrospect, the second year of instructing for me was the worst; I recall some months earning only $200

There is no way I could have survived without having a second part-time job and when things got really bad flying, that part-time work outside of flying turned into full-time. After all, you've got to live! Having a helpful mom or dad is nice too.

But just when you think you've got it tough, there is somebody out there who has it worse.

Everyone who instructs is going to live through hell but those who want a career in flying bad enough inevitably succeed. Whether in flying or otherwise, they do manage a way to make themselves happy!

I earn $30K + per year now (and I'm still instructing). Somewhere down the line, things do get better.

Don't settle for less than you're worth.

You have control.

Switch.

J31 · Post by **J31** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 12:15 pm

Back in the 50’s my father spent an entire summer flying a Stinson on floats and did not get paid one cent. He lived in his truck and was lucky if he got a sandwich once in a while. They promised a pay check in the fall but 900 hours later there was no pay check and the bank took his truck. He survived somehow because I’m here.

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:19 pm

J31 wrote:Back in the 50’s my father..... They promised a pay check in the fall but 900 hours later there was no pay check and the bank took his truck. He survived somehow because I’m here.

Mid 20th century work for nothing. Early 21st century work for next to nothing. Hey, aviation in Canada is moving forward at a snails pace.

... · Post by **...** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 2:45 pm

Cut my ex a cheque for 50K to crawl off....that didnt make me broke but I'm still pissed about it

Makes 30K @ JetsGo sound like a bargin

Anyone know any plastic surgeon ladies looking for a house husband?

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:02 pm

Hey BD, how do i get video as my avatar?
PS love the "afro ninja" laughed for hours first time i saw it.

... · Post by **...** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 3:10 pm

King Air Guy wrote:Hey BD, how do i get video as my avatar?
PS love the "afro ninja" laughed for hours first time i saw it.

First buy a cam at http://www.futureshop.ca

Bring a friend to the bar and get him/her juiced.

Convince him/her to do a trick that they really should not be doing while under the influence.

Turn on the cam and point it at your subject...press play.

After a few hours of this you should have enough for a 5 sec clip.

Or find something on the net and post it in your profile under avatar section...

oldncold · Post by **oldncold** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 4:45 pm

had 80 buck in the jeans and a job interview half way across the country
on speck it was minus 25 to thirty below hitchhiking the highway
north of high level alta at night. 2cars all night did not get the job guess one of the 2cars passed my way
must of been a pilot, because when the mail truck who gave me a ride into ft simpson nwt. and after checking the possible tip on a job he said he hired some one last night as he was closing up late.

how many have worked north of 55 latitude and there pay was less than the grocery bill per month at the northern store.

payed ok now still long hours but excellent equipment. 8)

TTJJ · Post by **TTJJ** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:17 pm

1982,

Instructing at St. Andrews...no base pay....driving out to the airport at 08:00 and staying until midnight...fueling airplanes and working the ramp.
From 22/07/82 until 09/08/82 I flew .5 hours..a Fam flight
Pay check was $6.00 net. for the 2 weeks. Not much of a sex life on that amount of coin.

Fast forward to 1985 ....more experianced, smarter........uh huh......

Instructing at Springbank. No money for gas...three flat tires. Took a bus to the city limits and hitchhiked to the airport turn off every day. Did this from Jan. until June. Damn near froze. It was during this time that I learned Morse Code while listening to my balls bang together trying to tell me that they were cold. I lived on Minute Rice and freebees from students.

IFR expired while instructing.....had to quit instructing to go on unemployment insurance to get enough money to renew my multi-IFR. It is a weird industry when you have to get out to make enough money so that you can get back in.

The origional question was "How poor were you?"

Dude, I was so poor in Calgary that every day I had to whack off my dog just to feed my cat.

Very understanding dog he was to......

These are the reasons that I drink. These and the fact that I am trying to forget that my father has an alcoholic son.

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:38 pm

You weren't working for Ulrich Frey by chance?

How broke were you?

How broke were you?

For Bezerker

fun times

back in the day