Originally Posted by
CANAM
A long long time ago, I asked an economist friend of mine a similar question on which regional I should join. What he told me is so true and I wish I had taken his advice. He said go to the absolute worst and lowest paid place around. If you want to get in and get out, you must go to a place with a quick upgrade (huge pilot turnover) and a low operating cost. There's no use looking at a place with a great contract, as in this business, it too often means they have priced themselves out of being competitive -think Atlantic Coast Airlines or Comair.
I am not sure how we can pontificate about "taking it back" to the mainline, and "have some self respect" yet still advocate for the race the to the bottom. Don't people go to horrible places to slingshot themselves ahead of other pilots who trying hold out for somewhat decent pay and QOL?
Edit..I should add, this is not meant to be inflammatory or sarcastic. I believe that in the past CANAM and certainly many others have stated their desires to shrink regional flying and expand mainline. With the past and present paradoxic mindset of the pilot group, I am not sure how we can say certain things that to me, are completely counter to each other. I don't expect small planes to pay wages of the heavy iron, but paying for a job or being paid literal starvation wage mindsets..... I just don't see providing a strong foundation to a unified pilot group. And shoot, if pax want airservice that is convenient to only a few in Podunk USA, maybe they ought to pay a couple percent more on a ticket, just like any other convenience costs a little extra.