Originally Posted by
Sr. Barco
This thread was intended for this the kind of information. Very interesting. Whenever we have a current regional pilot in the jumpseat I ask them the question this thread is asking. I get the same answer from pilots at all regional airlines that they are chronically short on pilots, lines are built to the FAR max and reserves are little to nonexistent. A Skywest FO told me they are essentially operating with no FO reserves and Captains are covering FO trips in many cases. Can anyone backup any of these claims or add your experience at your company?
All I can offer from SWA is that the 737 type rating requirement went away and there have been no shows in several new hire classes. I received confirmation that there were 8 no shows in one class at the end of last year. I suspect the 1,000 TPIC requirement will go away but that's just speculation at this point. Trips are still being covered but summer is always a premium time bonanza with the seasonal increase in flying.
That's pretty much the case throughout the regional industry. The regional model was based on flying pilots to the maximum, min avail reserves, with the shortest legal overnights possible at low wages.
FAR 117, and the 1500 hr requirement have destroyed that model along with the collapse of loans and the dissemination of knowledge through forums like this. The wheels are falling off.