Originally Posted by
Nevets
Seriously, I don't feel disrespected or under appreciated (other than pay) because I'm "regional FO." I don't get all these supposed slight of hand examples you guys have pointed out in this thread. How is doing a preflight or post flight being disrespected or under appreciated. And hotel key card what? What is that about? And who are these people that dont look at you as a "real pilot" or as an annoying apprentice? Honestly, I don't get it. Maybe some people are too sensitive or maybe some people are too sled-conscious or maybe your life is all about being an "airline captain" or maybe some people need to over compensate and feel that being a captain will do that for them? I really think people just reflect on themselves what they feel about themselves.
First off, you work for a completely different company with a completely different culture than the one I'm referring to. There are first officers (seniority dependent) and there are co-pilots (mostly experience dependent). Sometimes the 2 are mixed up. Your experience is clearly different. But you can't tell me that pay is the only motive for moving to the left seat. The job becomes progressively easier with respect to effort when you switch seats. You don't have to play the chameleon working with bi-polar individuals running around in the rain and elements doing walk arounds. This is not opinion but a fact of the matter.
If you like doing walk arounds, you can do them all day long as a captain. If you don't like doing them as an F.O. you have no choice. I can probably count on one finger the number of times a captain volunteered to do the duties of the F.O. This would lead one to believe that it is desired to not have to do them.
The point is, chasing a quick upgrade isn't just for getting PIC time or getting paid more. There are many perks to being assigned to the left seat. And getting stuck with no choice in the right seat can be a drag. I think most could agree with that. But I'm sure someone has a completely differing view on all of this.
Well that's not what you were saying at first even though I still don't get the not wanting to do walk around thing (unless its raining/snowing/cold). But you were making a point that you get no respect as an FO and that you will somehow automatically get the respect you yearn for once you have that fourth stripe.
Originally Posted by
atlmsl
I see it now. 2nd and 3rd.
Unstacking must be eliminated! Especially in a non-holiday month. While I do agree PBS is far superior to line bidding, unstacking tends toward a globalized system! Can anyone involved please explain why we need to unstack in early March!?!? Sounds like understaffing to me!! I was told we fought long and hard against globalization!
PBS may be better than your old line bidding.
Originally Posted by
JoeyMeatballs
This isnt a knock at the ASA pilot group, but what it comes down to is ASA management is used to running a small airline that barely flew across state lines...... The New "Expressjet" is much much larger, has a much more dynamic route structure, has additional bases in ORD, EWR, IAH, CLE, IAD, IAH etc. The ASA M/X program is a joke. When I started at XJT almost 7 years ago, airplanes simply did not have MEL, and if they did, they were fixed the next day. The airplanes now carry MULTIPLE MELs for days on end. The "ASA" way of doing things is to not "stock" parts because that costs money. (apparently the hundreds of millions of dollars Skywest has isnt enough to stock parts in major hubs). Schedulers are overworked and under-paid and don't know the contract, nor do they care to. The Dispatchers are new, they don't know much and half the time dont get back to you via ACARS and if they do, it's usually a message "You aren't the only A/C in the world".............its pathetic.
The bottom line is XJT used to be run like a major airline until ASA came around and decided they would run it "their way". The result is a De-evolution of a once great airline.
I agree partly, if you have to file bankruptcy to be a major airline, then yes. Why dump money into planes you want to get rid of, ERJ's and CRJ's. Pilot shortage is near, "This isn't a knock at the LXJT pilot group" but I personally think LXJT was bought for the pilot pool. We all wonder why Skywest bought an airline with RJ's that nobody wants to fly anymore. A lot of pilots for a shrinking regional market.
Because they wanted to get their foot in on the CAL flying and expand their portfolio. It's easier as an incumbent regional to get more flying for bigger (more profitable) aircraft than it is to start up as a brand new one.