Recent 'My Story' ProfilesComplete 2007 'My Story' Collection
Did you take a pay cut? No. Top pilots for US Airways earn about $150,000 a year. Between the salary and the monthly housing allowance, it's almost a wash financially. I get paid in euros, so every time the dollar falls, I get a raise.
Do you like your new job? As a young Marine pilot in Vietnam, I never dreamed that I'd be flying planes for a former Soviet-bloc country. But I enjoy what I'm doing. The airline is run professionally and the maintenance is top-notch. I pilot the same plane, an A320 Airbus, that I flew for US Airways, but now I'm flying to Istanbul, Dubai, Delhi and Moscow, and all over Kazakhstan.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
What about the language barrier? All international air traffic is conducted in English, and the manuals are written in English. But there can be a language problem with local crews.
What's the hardest part about being away from home? I miss my family. My wife, Sandee, is home in Phoenix, and my two grown daughters are in Kansas City, Mo. I'm home for two weeks and gone for six weeks. It takes two days to travel to Kazakhstan.
Any suggestions for the U.S. airline industry? Yeah. Make all the drinks free and charge for the toilets.
-
Why Does One Claim Jack Up My Insurance After Years of No Claims?Even loyal customers can be hit with an insurance premium hike after a claim, despite going many years without any claims. There's a reason for that.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks End Higher in Whipsaw SessionThe main indexes were volatile Thursday with Nvidia earnings in focus.
-
457 Plan Contribution Limits for 2025Retirement plans There are higher 457 plan contribution limits for state and local government workers in 2025 than in 2024.
-
Medicare Basics: 11 Things You Need to KnowMedicare There's Medicare Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans and so on. We sort out the confusion about signing up for Medicare — and much more.
-
Six of the Worst Assets to Inheritinheritance Leaving these assets to your loved ones may be more trouble than it’s worth. Here's how to avoid adding to their grief after you're gone.
-
SEP IRA Contribution Limits for 2024 and 2025SEP IRA A good option for small business owners, SEP IRAs allow individual annual contributions of as much as $69,000 in 2024 and $70,000 in 2025..
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024 and 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up. Here's what you need to know.
-
SIMPLE IRA Contribution Limits for 2024 and 2025simple IRA The SIMPLE IRA contribution limit increased by $500 for 2025. Workers at small businesses can contribute up to $16,500 or $20,000 if 50 or over and $21,750 if 60-63.
-
457 Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans State and local government workers can contribute more to their 457 plans in 2024 than in 2023.
-
Roth 401(k) Contribution Limits for 2025retirement plans The Roth 401(k) contribution limit for 2024 is increasing, and workers who are 50 and older can save even more.
