kdoner

Any RATIONAL ideas as to what's going to happen? or what needs to happen for things to look better? (besides fuel costs?) I understand the cycles of the airlines, up and down, but i'm trying to see some light at the end of the tunnel... and there's nothing. I expect to CFI for the next year at LEAST, build time/experience/ brains in the meantime for when the next wave of good things come, to be the first back in. Anyone care to encourage/enlighten...

cfii2007

Legacies will shrink, Southwest will grow, turboprops will make a comeback as some 50 seat CRJ's are retired. I think you will see the 100-120 seat ERJ market expand, especially when pilots with SJS agree to fly them at 50 seat rates.

buddies8

I doubt pay has anything to with it at the regionals. More to do with mainline scope.

BURflyer

Oh brother, and what is a Skywest CA/FO flying a CRJ9 at those rates, get over it.. Nothing regional pilots can do anyways. There are still a select few regionals still hiring for classes, and there are plenty of 135 cargo/charter outfits in need of pilots.

beechrider

This is like evolution... everything and everybody has to get better to survive. Fuel guzzling airplanes are going down the drain, nobody wants them anymore. Airlines will keep their experienced pilots as they will get rid of the ones on the bottom of the seniority list. Guys and Gals with less experience are going to be forced to instruct or they will have to fly freight for a little while. It is not a bad job to be a freightdog, you'll miss all the glass and there will be nobody on board other than you, nobody to ask and nobody to make decisions for you. It will eventually make you a better pilot or it will kill you. Just like evolution...

However, I think that things will get better, it's just a matter of time.

Good luck to all!

fdxmd11fo

I fly freight with all the glass and I don't work at night very often

Jamers

Airlines are reducing capacity overall, the time for moving to more efficient airframes has passed. Right now it has become even too expensive to replace any fleet with larger RJs or next gen props. Everyone is in survival mode and will be for some time.

threegreen

i know...what the he!! is going on? this time last yr flights were canceled due to crew shortages and now 70% of airlines are furloughing.

beechrider

I'm talking about 135 freight

BURflyer

I wouldn't worry much, with the job out look in the future, there won't be any pilots available. If you were dumb enough to stay current, I predict most majors will hire with no pic and regionals willl be forced to produce their own pilots. Wages will be low.