Originally Posted by SSMR13

There really isn't a solution to the regional problem of low pay, and lack of work rules, for as long as there is a fresh influx of pilots willing to work for those wages.

The dream continues to be "put your time in at the regional to move up to the mainline job", and is still sold as such. We, currently in the industry, know this to be BS. Pilots are stuck at regionals for more years, even life, and regional airplanes are getting bigger thanks to bankruptcy laws, and people not very familiar with how the industry functions allowing scope and work rules to be eroded from major airlines.

The solution is multi faceted. Educating the future generation of pilots about what the industry is truly like is the first, and probably most important step. Without pilots willing to work for peanuts, the way business is done today has to change. Once regionals can't fill classes, they will have to increase pay, work rules, benefits, etc. Once this happens it won't be as lucrative for major airlines to outsource the flying, ergo flying returns to majors. The 1500 time requirement is an important step in this direction, as it makes it much more expensive to get into the industry. This will force new prospects to educate themselves a bit better, which will ultimately mean that will not be joining the ranks of future pilots.