I've been working for a regional airline for 2 years now. Ever since I started I've been trying to figure out the logic behind only paying pilots based on block hours rather than duty time. So when I say I'm scratching my head over it still, it's only because I haven't been able to get a good answer yet. Has it always been done that way? Is there some history there I don't know about?

Every other job I've had from burger flipping to truck driving we clocked in at the beginning of the day and clocked out at the end of it. Who's decision was it that we should only get paid when the break is released? This is not a rant. I'm just looking for the logic if there is any.

It seems to me that a lot of the frustration related to this industry would be alleviated if we were paid by duty time or by a hybrid system. Even at the flight school I instructed at we were given a retainer in addition to hour pay for flight time that justified our being there. How is it that even flight schools have a more sophisticated salary system than the airlines we were training for?

Now some airlines have contractual language that deters or prevents pilots from being kept sitting around up to the max duty period allowed under Part 117. However airlines have been known to go bankrupt which seems to nullify such contractual agreements.

How much better would it be then if we were paid at least minimum wage while not blocked out or while waiting for scheduling to book us a hotel at the end of the day. It seems to me that it would alleviate a large percentage of the bickering with scheduling or the need for trip/duty rigs.