Besides, I don't think that the recent people going into aviation expect to be millionaires. Lets give credit to some of the younger folk. Thanks to the internet they may have a better and realistic view of what a life in aviation is like. Still many may just want to fly for a living and make a decent paycheck. Nothing wrong with that. The past is the past, the sooner people realize that they aren't going to be winning the lotto as a senior captain somewhere they won't be disappointed in their career choice. Realistic expectations...[/QUOTE]

Trying to rationalize what has been lost is exactly why pay and QOL continue to degrade. Management types are tripping all over themselves trying to find people with this passive mentality. I would argue that most young people that are now entering aviation are more naive than their predecessors. Return on investment to be a pilot is an absolute joke. Unless daddy is cover all cost, the only reasonable strategy is to apply to the Air Guard.

In regard to the much anticipated pilot shortage...even the most ardent optimist must look at the following:

-retirement attrition doesn't fully develop at most carriers until 2017.

-The world economy is on the verge of another financial collapse that will
rival 2008.(no international growth)

-Delta is reducing capacity. Other carriers will probably
follow.(no domestic growth)

-The mass exodus of highly qualified military pilots ready to leave at the
first opportunity.

-The majority of regional captains are becoming lifers, leaving fewer
upgrade opportunities in the short-term. (longer upgrades)

-Having to overcome nepotism, minority preference, and flow-throughs.