FRONTLINE “Flying Cheap” | Sneak Peek 1: Who’s Flying Your Plane? | PBS
www.pbs.org In this revealing sneak peek from “Flying Cheap,” FRONTLINE provides glimpse into the lives of regional airline pilots—from low pay and long hours to nights in cramped “crash pads.” “Flying Cheap” airs Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 9PM on PBS (check local listings). One year after the deadliest domestic airline accident in seven years, FRONTLINE investigates the crash of Continental 3407 in Buffalo, NY, and discovers a dramatically changed airline industry, where regional carriers now account for half of the nation’s daily departures. The rise of the regionals and arrival of low-cost carriers have been a huge boon to consumers, and the industry insists that the skies remain safe. But many insiders are worried that now, thirty years after airline deregulation, the aviation system is being stretched beyond its capacity to deliver service that is both cheap and safe. Watch “Flying Cheap” on air and online beginning Tuesday, February 9 on PBS (check local listings) and at www.pbs.org
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I am an airline pilot and I would like to see that executive live in the city for $22,000 my first year pay. Or $31,500 my third year pay!
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
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March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
can anybody telll me a link of the full documentary?
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I wonder how many people here are actually pilts and have a clue?
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Thats the business though. Once you have enougfh hurs you can become a captain or first fficer on a bigger plane. ThaTS where the big bucks are made.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
This Roger Cohen, President of the regional airlines association gives off a sleeze factor I can’t put my finger on. When he says that the average pilot in Regional Airlines gets $73,000, he’s factoring in the Chief pilot’s salary and the multi-million dollar salaries of the CEOs. What about the poor slob that actually flies the crappy red eye routes? $15,000 per year and paid only for the time actually flying.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
@pancho1576
Totally agree with you! We need a revolution like the Civil Rights in the aviation industry.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
@crabby636r
I totally agree. Deregulation is dangerous. FAA / Federal govt should start imposing REAL fees on the passengers.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I love Miles O Brien…when he says..”I am not talking about average…i am talking about human beings flying my grandmother to Buffalo”…lol you go Miles! I doubt though that this will change anything.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I want to plant a few punches right in the face of Roger Cohen @ 1:59. This asshole probably makes 500K or more and treats pilots like cookie cutters. Its scary that cab drivers / greyhound drivers earn more than pilots. We should boycott this industry until they are forced to pay a decent yearly wage to pilots.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
who really would wanna be a pilot??
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I love how pissed off the spokesman is when he is rebuffed. Don’t they love to monopolize the conversation and information provided, he didn’t get to this time!
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Captain Sullenberger said it beautifully…the revolving door management running these airlines treat airline crews pay like ATM’s. 19k for an airline pilot is a joke. “almost scary” indeed! Commuting is exhausting when you do it day in day out. Flight and Duty limitations don’t include time spent commuting and pilots are spent by the time they even start work.! The suit quoting average pay doesn’t care about anything but the bottom line and safety comes a distant second, pilot morale last.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
to pancho: Unfortunately Colgan is not the only airline doing this. No matter where you go you are going to make that your first year.
Funny how all these people are talking about the lack of wages for pilots, but the same people continue to complain about how expensive their $250 ticket from JFK to LAX is.
If you are truly concerned about your safety and the ability of the people in the front seats maybe you should consider paying more for airfare. Just going to throw that out there.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Hey Toddyrr…I agree with you 200%..as long as there are pilots willing to work for these “sweatshops” of the skies …they will keep getting away with paying the pilots crap…..PILOTS TAKE A STAND …..HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR SELVES ……DON’T GIVE THEM THE SATISFACTION OF EXPLOITING YOU!!!
‘
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I wouldn’t even let him drive my car, let alone a damn plane full of passengers.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
@mcgra8bc I cry 4 U, my brother! I cry 4 the late great United States. I cry 4 the middle class that has been systematically destroyed, its wealth & power slowly & surely eroded away by the elites at the top. All the gains of hard-fought struggle by working ppl over decades that banded together in unions 2 demand safe working conditions & wages they can actually live on to enjoy a good standard of living – gone! “Unions” & “Labor” have been turned into dirty words. See “Capitalism Hits The Fan”.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Would you pay him to pre-flight the airplane? How about get the airplane ready for departure? Would you pay him to check the weather? Because pilots are not payed for that either. Next time you are sitting in your seat while the plane is loading look in the cockpit; all of that WORK they are doing, they are doing for FREE.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
To put it in perspective my aviation degree and training cost $120,000 that’s about $12,000 a year in student loan payments. My first year at the airlines was $19,000 a year before taxes were taken out.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I am so glad that I quit the profession. Being an airline pilot is terrible.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
“Change” starts when no one applies to Great Lakes, Colgan etc, power to the pilot!!
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
That Suit and Tie idiot needs to be FIRED !
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
What I meant is that -in response to pclowns comment is that employees are typically paid when they are at work, on break etc… If u dont want to pay go fly yourself. The criminals are the guys like fake tan dude pretending to represent the profession.
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Go fly yourself then azzclown
March 29th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I’ll be watching this stuff!