There once was a company named Comair, who struck in 2001. Even though they went tits up, we can all hold our heads up high and are proud to say we were once there and tried to make things better. 12 years later no contract has come close to matching what we had.

That is both sad and astonishing considering the cost of everything has gone up by leaps and bounds yet regional pilots are making less than a decade ago.

My first year I made little. But still had 100% deadhead. 100% cancellation. A commuter policy which I used on occasion. Block or better, 12 days off min on reserve. A and life was generally good.

2nd year I made in the $35K range with a good schedule and the same work rules. Things were getting better.

3rd and 4th year I was making in the low $40K range cherry picking 2 day trips with 14-16 days off..

Then came RAH's entry into the Delta mix. All of a sudden it was we need pay freezes, pay cuts, ooooh look at that shiny E170! Wouldn't you like to fly that like RAH? We tried to say no....

For those that were still chasing high school girls around back then, learn from those contract mistakes. Chasing those dreamy upgrades by accepting substandard contracts may work out in the end for some. But the vast majority will have to work under the crappy work rules for many years. Not to mention future pilots that will make peanuts for many years thereafter.

The decisions of pilot groups a decade ago still have detrimental affects on the pilot groups of today. And nowadays you won't benefit from places like JB or SWA scooping up loads of freshly minted 1000pic captains like back around 2006.

You want better? You ever hear of flying the contract, or 2 engine taxi's in an RJ. It's ok to make sure that every Pass overhead light works. Or the emer. Exit sign functions properly..hint hint...