Would you care to provide even one example of how the public perceiving airline pilots as professionals has served to enhance, or even help to enhance, pay and quality of life for airline pilots in the last few decades?

I can't think of a single one...in fact, the two major changes (age 65 and 117) came to pass, at least to a certain extent, as the result of somewhat negative public perception.

This fight is not going to be won in the USA Today. It will be won in courtrooms, at the negotiating table and in the halls of Congress; which is full of people who understand that political survival involves avoiding land mines and getting the negatives up on their opponent.

Now, I'm not advocating that we all start running around unshaved with our shirts untucked, top button undone and use the word "dude" during PA announcements...in fact, I think that personal appearance and conduct are extremely important.

The point is that the article's author speaks for no one but himself, so I fail to see any damage caused by the profession as the result of it's being published. However, if he had written "all pilots are experienced and things are super-safe," you can bet your last dollar that lobbyist for the RAA would have forwarded it to the chiefs of staff of every congressman on the commerce committee and a whole bunch of others.

As it's written, it helps to stymie the movement to repeal of the 1500 hour rule, which is causing, at the bare minimum, my company to experience serious staffing shortages and finally forced them, after EIGHT YEARS to finally take contract negotiations seriously.

...so I'm all for it.