Originally Posted by
NineGturn
Raising entry level pay isn't the answer. It's raising the pay for non entry level new hires.
The shortage isn't of pilots, it's only of low time pilots who are (and should be) willing to work at very low wages for a year or two until they actually have experience and aren't low time anymore.
The problem is that the seniority system in the airlines (all airlines, even the big ones) requires that all new pilots be treated as if they've never flown an airliner before and paid accordingly.
Get rid of or highly modify the seniority system at regionals and you'll solve the problem.
Really, new hires should be paid very low wages???***. I know college grads with 0 experience in their fields who who get paid 50-60k to start at companies nowhere near as profitable as current airlines are today. These are kids with 0 experience and you're saying someone with 1500 hrs should earn less than any other profession. Your kind of thinking is why we make such little money. Its near poverty first year pay that keeps pilots away from the regional industry-the low pay is a barrier to entry . Offer 50-60k first year and all regionals would have plenty of applicants for years to come.