I worked for a fine commuter for 13 years. Started there with 2800 hrs, and ATP and a few years of 135 and instruction experience.

When I became good at my job in the left seat of turboprops, I transitioned to a jet. Eventually I think I got good at that ;-) Eventually career progression dictated I leave to fly larger equipment. I am now convinced that career progression in the USA is seriously broken.

I think commuter airlines were invented to lower the bar, period. It takes no less skill or proficiency to fly a turboprop than a heavy jet. Does it take a different subsets of finely tuned items? Yes. Should a pilot of a turboprop live like a proverbial starving artist? No, unless the broken down system and its participants let it be that way. I was part of the problem, not the solution. It took me many years to see it.

The bottom line is the system is broken and few people can see it or are willing to even look. There is no pilot shortage. There is however a shortage of willingness to look at the core problems of our industry and fix them.

On this issue, I think Sully can speak for me.

YF