Originally Posted by
JohnBurke
That's an imaginary world which makes far too many assumptions, not the least of which is that every pilot wishes to fly for an airline, or that a vast increase in airline positions or pay would mean a paradigm shift in career direction or desired direction. Airline flying is fine for some, but hardly the be-all or end all of a flying career. I know a lot of pilots, a LOT, who have absolutely no intention or desire to fly for an airline, and it has nothing to do with available positions.
Presently there are large pools of qualified applicants lined up for major airline positions. If in an imaginary, unrealistic world, the regionals began paying the same as the majors, then some of that pool would be absorbed. That's all. It's irrelevant, however, as that's not going to happen.
I think you missed my point. Didn't say "every pilot wishes to fly for an airline." However, there are over twice as many airline pilots as their are any other type of professional pilot so it makes sense that if a significant segment of the airline world made enormous changes to pay and QOL that that would shake things up. The question at hand is whether or not there is a pilot shortage. If there is, it would affect the regionals and some 135 first. I pose the "imaginary world" only to say that if those places are struggling to hire, I am curious whether they still would if they significantly improved the job tomorrow.