Originally Posted by
HermannGraf
Eat my words?
I been doing this for 19 years and one thing I do know
We have highly qualified FOs that in general do an awesome job. Many times better than many Captains.
The pay scale on the FO side is based on a fast upgrade and that payscale is not up to date with reality.
What do you think you do better than an 8 year FO while he is getting half your pay?
Do you seriously think that he is not as responsible for the safety of the flight as you and that he is not thinking about the safety of the flight at all times and that he will do everything in his power to make sure that flight is completed in a safe manner? Are you aware that he is qualified to take over and become the PIC if you are incapacitated or screwing up seriously? You better as there has been many examples of that. I hold the FOs to a higher standard and believe they are highly qualified and I know that the only difference between a senior FO and a Captain is the time in the company and the opportunity to upgrade or not. It has nothing to do with qualifications ability or quality.
The reason for your extreme pay comparing to the FOs is that you sign for the AC? That is your argument for a 300 to 450% pay comparing with the lowest paid FOs?
Let me tell you that if you screw something up "they" the FAA or the company will go after the FO as much as after you. We have had many examples of that.
Today the FOs are held to the same qualification than Captains with PIC type and an ATP and a min qualification of 1500 hours. That was the old qualification for Captains in 121 operation. I am not saying the Captain should not be paid more than FOs but the FOs pay scales should be about 70% of the captain pay, no less. That is a fair difference for signing for the aircraft.
While the requirements for FOs at 121 ops are many times the old one the pay is the same. I do not believe that is right.
We need to raise the FO payscale substantially. No pilot with 1500 hours ATP and PIC typed should have to start at poverty wages.
I am willing to share with the guys at the bottom to take them up to an acceptable level. You are not. We just have to agree to disagree.
I really don't know why you keep preaching for anyone at a regional having to take pay cuts? There are no overpaid regional pilots period!! If you're not management, I don't understand your need to keep insinuating one group needs to take a pay cut in order to give a pay increase to another? This is typical management "divide and conquer" tactics. The low pay for new hires at all regionals will have to come up if management really wants to resolve their inability to attract those new hires... NO one will need to take pay cuts to make this happen!