As a 60 year old who is just embarking on my flying career - as short as it will be - I will enjoy every hour in my journey. Some people NEVER realize their dream of being a pilot. Nope, I’ll never have your career, but then, I was a rescue diver for the fire department for over 30 years. Now I am gonna fly!! Best of luck in all of your endeavors, Kiddo!! You inspired me to become a pilot!!👨🏽✈️👨🏽✈️👨🏽✈️🛩️🛩️🛩️
You're very young and in a great position. I'm 51 so looking at your age, you're incredibly blessed. At 51 I'm working to get to an airline in the next 1-2 years where I will most Likely remain as FO since I don't care about CA seat. Congrats to your success, young whipper snapper. ;)
@@UTarcher72actually yes if you watch his older videos answering how much an airline pilot makes and his airline, also go look at you tube on views and subscriber count pay
Man your energy when you talk about aviation and the smile that you get is exactly how I feel when I think about aviation. It has been my dream to a 330 pilot for Air Transat (I’m Canadian) since I was 7 years old. Life got in the way and I had to put my dream aside for a bit. But I never forgot about it. I’m turning. 30 this year and I promised myself to make my dream come true before I hit 40. You’re an inspiration man ❤
It's so refreshing to hear someone who's choosing quality of life as a priority. We place so much focus and value on "the hustle" and the cost is family, friends, partners, etc.
My son is off to flight school in September... he was born at the perfect time to bring his dream into fruition, and making it to captain faster is the cherry on top!!
@@dustyrhodes2717 No, it's the perfect time. It was a perfect time 8 years ago, sure, but there is a massive pilot shortage atm and this generation is not interested in becoming a pilot as in the past. Factor in that there is a huge wave of pilots coming up for retirement, this combination will definitely get them to Captain status and seniority much quicker.
I had a French buddy who flew for Condor. Captain 747 at 34 years old. Small company, good timing, and a superb individual. Dude lived and breathed to fly.
Please. I may be missing something but why are you wearing four stripes? Especially since you’re talking about not wanting to progress to captain status.
I think this guy is just for marketing to provide more new pilots. I never saw him in videos flying in the cocpit of big civil plane. Sorry for my english
If you decide to move, come to DCA! Not quite as cold or expensive as NY not as hot as Miami except in the summer. There's a great running/walking trail there alongside the airport. I know they have CRJs there.
You are an inspiration. Trying to get into aviation , saving up money for school ( want to pay outta pocket) and that has been my dream. Hopefully by next summer I will be ready for the training and I just hope it will still be good time to get in.
I agree with you 75%. Unfortunately, on the mainline Bus side I’ve flown with some Captains who were…horrendous. Landing with unacceptably low amounts of fuel, making bad decisions, not wanting any input or, on rare occasions, berating me. So take that into your QOL calculation, it’s so much better being in charge and setting the tone (as you know from the regionals). Hope all the Captains you fly with are great in the meantime. Take care.
When you said "i want to really stay a first officer for a while", then added the B-role, of the max taking off vertically, i cracked up laughing, i was thinking, keep at it bro !! 🤣
You are so far beyond blessed it’s incomprehensible. My wife has been with Delta airlines (Red Coat Supervisor) for 15 years and her top pay is 38.75 per hour. She still doesn’t have first pick on schedule bids but at least she gets partial weekends off. For myself, I have 18 years of experience as a first responder trainer and can’t find anything here in Boise Idaho that pays over 22 bucks and hour. You are blessed Garrett and I know you know that.
People who need to work and don’t have a choice. I’m financially independent and my investments pay my bills so I have the luxury of being very picky with jobs right now but most jobs around my area are paying 18-23 bucks an hour and yes that’s all over the city.
I had a good friend who flew for Pan-American world Airways for many years as a first officer. He stayed as a first officer well into his 50s, and he could bid any trip he wanted on the airline anywhere, anytime. He always told me the same thing. His quality of life was so much better than if he was a junior captain. When Pan Am folded, he decided to take a deal that was offered, as United had acquired Pan Am’s Pacific routes. There was a fast track advanced to captain for certain Pam first officers, and he decided to take advantage of that offer. He somehow negotiated a higher seniority number on the Pacific routes and stayed there for the remainder of his career. He told me he would never even considered doing it anyway other than how he did it. Being a senior first officer was so much better than being a junior captain.
This is a nice for the people who either want to be a pilot or who are on their way to have more hours flying. People who are flying please continue. He was right about seniority and being able to bid better trip in our industry. With respect of those last two aspects, I did not become a pilot I went on to become a Flight Attendant and started flying career back in 1999. It is the same with being a Flight Attendant with experience the seniority in bidding for your trip schedules. The first couple of years of flying on reserve are crazy! You probably will have to wake up early early in the morning and getting crazy trips to fly. Also, from my former airline they wanted F/As to becometeam leaders or Pursers onboard the aircraft. So, I took those class for leadership and passed those Leadership classes to make more money. And to gave me a better ability to bid better schedules. And after flying for first 3 1/2 to 4 years, woth seniority I could hold the city trips that I liked. So, yes, in our industry "seniority" is soo much apart of our lives. So, congratulations those people who want to become pilots. Also, for people who may not initially have the funds to start their Flight Classes and who may not able to find a close flight schools to you then becoming a Flight Attendant is a nice job as well. You will experience what it is to fly to nice cities, speck to nice Captains and First Officers and find you a flight school close to you so, that you can to start flying classes. Plus again being a F/A you will have an airline job, income, travel and the abilty to experience what "seniority" is all about.😊
You are 100% making the right decision to put quality of life over a position. U can always pick up an extra trip to boost the monthly income. Being on call or reserves is no fun. I did it in health care and getting a call at 0230 was anything but fun. 😎
Thanks for an incredible uplifting vlog.Wish you embark seniority on your career🛫, hope you will have many exciting adventures in the sky. I would be delighted to follow your successful stories as you make your mark in the industry. Wish you all the success for the future.
You are in a great position. Enjoy the freedom that you have. You know you will need to upgrade whether you desire or whether your employer pushes you. You know the statistics, there is already huge pushes to move people because of retirements and lack of input. That effort isn’t going to end anytime soon.
Love your videos on RU-vid and TikTok Garret. My father and grandfather were both Captains on widebodies so needles to say it feels like i've spent half my life in the air.. My grandfather retired in 1990 and my father retired in 2020. I love aviation and flying but chose to go another route into medicine. My biggest regret in life was not following in their footsteps.
@@humabatool8815 True but medicine is my life now. Oh well, my oldest son is 22 and is going into aviation training so it’s still in the family. I’ll live my passion through him along with the free flights. lol
Ignorant question as I'm looking to change careers. Is seniority based entirely on how long you've been with a company or is it based on accumulated flight time? Also, does that seniority reset as you change bases or aircraft? Just curious if there's a way for a new pilot to accelerate or catch up to those with a more casual, quality of life focus that have been with a company for a while.
Great reason for the short term however... The faster you become a captain, the faster you get to the top of captain bidding. The higher pay and schedule stability will matter when you have a family. A lot to consider.
Hi Garrett. My 16 year old son just completed his first solo flight. He needs to start working to prepare for his written exam. What program do you recommend for learning/ studying?
Is there a flight school or program you recommend in the NJ NY area, preferably Teterboro or Linden? I really want to start, but i hope i can get loans or finance it cuz im dead broke.
Hey Garrett, I got a question for you or anybody willing to answer. Is everybody in the company in the same seniority pool or does is go by aircraft, FO, Captain? For example, when you do decide to upgrade to captain, will you be at the bottom of the barrel for captains or will you have seniority over people that joined the company after you but upgraded before you? Hope that makes sense. Thanks!
Everybody is technically in the same seniority bank overall, but then it is broken down to base/aircraft type and CA/FO. He said he’s in the top 10% for nyc fo, which is very good for only being at his company for 2.5 years. And yes you are also correct, if he upgrades to captain later he would have a higher seniority than someone who joined the company later but upgraded earlier
While we were not in super high paying careers, my husband and I have been privileged to be able to always choose quality of life over career. Even now in retirement, we don't regret it at all. You are the age of our children and you are in a great place! You are smart to be aware that there might be times things work differently, but enjoy where you are!
He could simply wear a fake uniform with three stripes! A military bird colonel is not a general. An otherwise great feed does offend me and I’m sorry but I will quit watching because of the way he presents himself.
I'm line maintenance, I see these old first officers that stay in that seat for all the reasons you mentioned and they age out in that seat I look at them as failures.
Why are they failures? You only get 1 life to live, you’ll never get time back. I’m an older dude and could upgrade, but it would impact my QOL and time with my son. As an FO I am able to fly whatever I want, wherever I want, and have an average of 17-19 days off a month to spend time with my son. Money ain’t everything…
@@ficficio Not at all, it's a different thing altogether, you may find it hard to believe but line maintenance can be quite challenging and interesting, some people actually choose it over flying. What I meant was the left seat is the glory of graduation and the respect of the full story, and of course the extra 100K per annum.
@@maryshane8023 It's like a teenager with training wheels on his bike. You know he can but he won't let his dad take them off, or his mom is defending him on You Tube.
Your explanation was very interesting. You are very smart to realize that enjoying your life is more important than the pay. You have a very good life!✈️. I hope you might be reunited with Bella if you decide to move out of NY?
At the age of 31 you are in a great position and very independent very impressive everytime you speak about Aviation 🪽. God Bless You Gray and I always include you through my prayers and Bella 🐕 too. Congratulations ❤🙏.
Thank you, honey, for your video. You are a great well done 💯 and inspire too many people. Your priorities are as amazing as you are yourself ❤️❤️❤️✈️💘. Be always happy ❣️ Love and respect 💗
The industry in the US is so much better than the UK. The quality of life and the pay just doesn’t compare. I am an experience long haul captain in the UK and the SFO’s in the US even in short haul are earning more then I do and with a better quality of life. You have been VERY lucky!
Why I don't work in restos anymore. It was like smoking half a pack a day. I was sick and angry with my smoking co-workers for 7 yrs. Now an HVAC apprentice. Look forward to my smoke free future!
I would do the same. Especially if i was making good money. You're in a great position, where if you needed to become a captain for job security or something you would be one of the first people in with your seniority, but also in a great and happy spot finically. At least that what it sounds like. You can make up the difference of captain pay with investing your excess money and just keep your lifestyle inflation in check. All and all good for you man, hope it only continues to work out for you.
Once again great content. With that said many may not agree with me but I feel make money while you’re young and not tied down. Quality of life is so important but more so when older. You want to be able to retire younger and enjoy that quality time when you’re older. Just my opinion. ❤
Could you bid with only 2.5 years of FO seniority for a junior captain position on the B737 at a junior base like NY? Or are you just emphasizing the QOL is a higher priority that you'd rather remain in NY because of the top 10% seniority, versus moving back to the Charlotte base?
Mia or nyc ca is probably the most junior, he wants to remain an FO just so he can bid and get what trips he wants versus getting a pay increase and going back on reserve or not being able to get the trips he wants
@@equilibrium788 I understand his motives. I was just curious on whether he had the chance to bid for a junior captain after only two and a half years with the airline or not. That was my question.
Being able to bid for captain is solely based on seniority (and having the hours eligible for being a captain). Since he was at the start of a hiring boom, his seniority shoots up fast so at a junior base like NYC and as a FO, he’s at the top in seniority of his group (Base, Aircraft, position). If he wants to fly a 777 out of Dallas, well, he’d be pretty junior as Dallas tends to be a very senior base.
@@matrixwalker I dont even think he could hold widebody first officer yet. I think 2017 or 2018 hire date is the most junior widebody first officer right now at his airline.
The cost of living in NY is a big turnoff for anyone who can choose between different bases. You get paid the same, might as well live in Dallas and enjoy the cheaper cost of living.
What’s troubling to me is that you are in aviation for the benefits and lifestyle. You are focused on starting a new business. It’s more admirable to be in a profession for the love of it-a pilot who loves airplanes and aviation and will be driven to improve and advance.
If you don't wanna be a CA fine, but don't wear 4 bars for youtube. People work for that. They carry the responsibility. It's not only seniority. You gotta put in the work.
It’s a fake uniform that he wears to film his videos. He doesn’t wear his actual work uniform as frist officer pilot 🧑✈️ on videos.. he talk about this in couple older RU-vid videos
But epaulettes are not fake….they are a rank. It does clash with the message of the video saying he wants to remain as an FO whilst wearing Captains rank.
@@battyjoe this is a fake uniform that he wears for his videos. He doesn’t wear his actual work uniform with his athletes of frist officer pilot on it.. he said in the previous video of people want to send them the right app for that fake uniform do it.. and those are his old ones from when he was a captain.. just keep them and you’re allowed to do that. He talk about this before.. previous video on here.. don’t need rude about it
It’s not rude, just an observation. I am a captain and it strikes me as weird,, unless he was demoted in the last 3 days since it was posted on RU-vid…if I was rude I would have said a bit ‘wannabe captain’ but wasn’t rude 😊
@@battyjoe if you simply don’t like it, then send him the right palettes for his fake uniform that he just wears to make videos in.. and he was the captain before if you look previous RU-vid videos he’s talked about it before.. So I don’t think it’s weird that he wears a fake uniform for RU-vid videos so he doesn’t offend his company if he wears his actual uniform.. I’m done with this 😂😂 like he said in previous video if you want to send him the right applets to him go ahead that’s why he said..