Originally Posted by
Golden Bear
There are hundreds of one- or two-time mainline furloughs who left in the past decade who would heartily disagree. Quite a few of those stuck at the bottom of second or third tier carriers regret the move as well.
Regional pilots making 6 figures or close to it have a big decision to make, and if past performance is any indication of future returns, many will continue to bide their time until conditions look better and decisions regarding scope play themselves out. These ladies and gentlemen are not necessarily regional lifers, they just don't make rash decisions when the economic fortune of their families is on the line. In that, they are far from "idiots".
So you're willing to bet your entire professional career on a carrier that does contract flying for a mothership that could decide at any point to cut your flying, reduce it, or outsource it to another regional?
Only people that haven't done the income projection say that.
If you're a captain at a better regional, it's going to take AT LEAST 7 or 8 years to make back the pay you lose by moving to "most" majors, not to mention the risk of going to the bottom of ANY seniority list (you have to count loss of weeks of vacation pay, 401k match, chances you'll get check airman pay etc etc)
I thought of going to USAir since I'd be based at home - AT LEAST 10 years to make back the loss (at current rates) and that's assuming you upgrade after 8 years. On top of all that, you're back at the bottom on reserve and your QOL goes away.
If you're over 40 or near there it just may not be a good decision.
Really? Are you including the new regional airline bankruptcies in your financial calculations? Eagle, Pinnacle/Mesaba pilots? What does their financial outcome look like once a judge hands down paycuts, work rule cuts, loss of 401k matching, and the plethora of other crappy things that will get cut?
I have a good friend at Comair who I asked in 2004 why he wasn't applying to the majors like Delta or Continental? He ran this financial calculation down for me, just as you claim. Today, he's scheduled to be a RJ FO because with his 15 year service, a fleet of only 44 aircraft means he'll be a FO.