Originally Posted by
CaptainNameless
Once again, most difficult problem the majors are facing is how do they staff the regionals when they have killed the dream.
The situation today is that we have thousands of 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 year pilots at the regional level.... that alone is the worst kind of advertising imaginable to get people to want to be airline pilots. When you kill a dream it's a much deeper problem than just fixing starting pay, which is why I think your solution is not a real solution at all. In years past the lies about a job at a major-- the real jobs-- got you to volunteer yourself into the regional gulags. Now, it's like selling poison that everyone knows is poison. It's a bridge to nowhere. Hey kids... spend $100k on your training and in 8 or 10 or 15 years, maybe we'll have a real career for you. The only solution is to make it a real bridge. Mainline seniority numbers, real employment, not promises of someday. Start hiring into the RJs as a mainline position with a true career path, and the staffing problem solves itself overnight. Bring back the B scale at mainline for all large RJs in order to scuttle the C scale at the regionals. Problem solved.
Well, the majors just starting the hiring. There will be much more movement that will increase every year so most of the 8,10 or 15 years Regional pilots will be able to fly for the majors soon if they pass the interview.
Now, the Regionals if they want to exist in a matter of a few years they better make it a place that a pilot can start and not starve while being an FO. If it happens they get stuck while being an FO or some just want to stay there for different reasons and are looking at many years before upgrade they should be able to live without having to be on food stamps and make it a job worth going to.
I am not trying to solve the Regionals staffing situation or anyones dream. I only care about the injustice of abusing and paying FOs at the Regional level starving salaries. Nobody seem to care that they are making less than a fast food worker. FOs in 121 operation should make 70% of the Regional Captain pay scale no less and I do not care if that solves the staffing situation or not. What they are paid, the FOs pay scales at all Regionals is just wrong.