Originally Posted by
Typhoonpilot
The rhetoric coming our of ALPA is simplistic in it's understanding of the world. They try to compare what is happening to the maritime industry. Anybody who makes that quip should do a little research into the true cause of the downfall of the U.S. shipping industry. Learn what open commission, closed commission, shipping act of 1916, national percentage requirements, etc are before even trying to make comparisons to the airline industry.
OK, well, since you seem to know so much about the failure of the US shipping industry and ALPA apparently doesn't have a clue, why don't you explain to all of us what you believe caused its downfall here in the States? Don't be afraid to include plenty of detail, including the concepts used above in your post, so all us "simplistic" ALPA pilots can figure out the parallels on our own? I'm always interested in listening to an educated opinion.
Also, could you explain how the unions and US airline are "paralyzed" when it comes to these matters of flags of convenience and state subsidized airlines possibly encroaching US markets?