Sullenberger said that we are not operating under "One Level of Safety," and we are clearly not. When it comes down to it, a regional operation will not be safer than a mainline operation. This doesn't just speak to pilot skill or experience but everything involved in the operation. The difference between the two may be very small between 2 airlines, but it is there.

He points out that regional flying is almost always awarded to the lowest bidder, which it is. You do not become the lowest bidder without cutting corners along the way. Just look at the constant regional whipsaw that is going on. As soon as an airline becomes too expensive ("seasoned" and marginaly compensated pilots) with the contract and costs, they lose the flying to a lower bidder. This fact should be crystal clear the the majority of us.

Any pilot who is upset with his words are only helping to mask the problem. It is good for all pilots that someone is getting air time to point out the diferences of Mainline and Regional airlines and pilots. Management goes to great lengths to blur these lines in order to keep the public in the dark with the true realities of this career. Regional pilots are their own worst enemy when they wear mainline lanyards, mainline bag tags, and tell people that they work for "XXXXX Express" or just bold face line and say they work at the actual mainline carrier. Keep bluring that line and you only aid management and the RAA by helping to perpetuate that lie that they have created, that there is one level of safety.

When I was a regional airline FO and people would ask if I really made the little amount of pay that they heard (probably from Sully) on the TV. I would always make it clear that it is true and I would spend a few minutes giving them a crash course in Regional Airline 101, even if they didnt want to hear it.

Swallow your pride, boys and girls. This isn't about who is a "safer pilot," it is about management continuing to blur the lines of the career and keep passengers thinking that there are as safe on a Colgan Saab as they are on a United 777....99% of the time, they aren't.