Too bad second, third, and fourth (etc) year pay is just more of the same: chump change -- woefully inadequate and stunningly far from professional compensation.

I do understand, all too well, that the same goes for my employer, too. Believe me, I will take the first real chance I get to get out of the regional airlines.

There is no pilot shortage. There are plenty of qualified pilots looking for real work. The problem is that no one can afford the never-increasing playtime pay offered by the regionals. Unless the regionals are prepared to offer professional compensation from day one, their days are numbered due to lack of staffing.