Originally Posted by Brand X

All the talk of low pay at the regionals and the constant whipsaw that takes place leads me to think that the solution would be for the Federal Government to regulate the regional airlines. That way, the Government could set a livable minimum wage for First Officers and dictate the division of regional feed to the majors. This would allow a good standard of living for regional pilots and end the whipsaw, as the Government would decide what regional flies for what major and what routes the regional flies.

And to take it a step further, the Government should subsidize low interest loans and provide grants for gifted accredited aviation university students, to enable them to get the 1500hrs as economically as possible. The Government should also forgive existing flight school and aviation university loans for regional pilots to give them a head start and not be burdened with debt.

The above would go a long way to making the regional a place where pilots can actually have a decent career.