It doesn't matter how other regional contracts line up with X-Jet's. The cold hard truth is that it is still woefully inadequate to retain pilots. A few simple, low cost changes to our contract would make a huge difference in moral and productivity. Especially from a reserve standpoint.

Several years ago, 250 hour pilots were waltzing through the door and had to stick it out in order to gain turbine time, and some PIC time. They put up with the contract because they HAD to. We have a different callibur of pilot now. Most of the pilots we are getting are recycled airline pilots, or military, that already have the time they need to move on. They are merely here to gain currency or their ATP. I'd say 1 in 10 pilots I've flown with recently is a flight instructor that needs that time. The military folks aren't going to put up with our contract- they'll just leave. And that is EXACTLY what has been happening. If reserve work rules were just a hair different, I think many of them would stay longer, until their choice mainline carrier called them up for employment. As it stands now, they come here and bolt immediately to Spirity, JB, Kalitta, Atlas, or another interim airline.

Also, why is it the ERJ folks are getting 200% pick up pay, and the CRJ folks get 150%?