Originally Posted by
rftorp
Hello gentlemen/ gentleladies: This is my first time on this forum, however, I have read several of the most recent pages. I have also read several other posts on other forums. I must say that this is the winiest group I have seen. You all took the job knowing or you should have known a pilot's, life at a regional for the most part sucks. Its a stepping-stone to a major and the company knows it and treats the pilots accordingly. The pilots act accordingly and don't make the union stand up to the company. If you don't like your lot in life change it. Become a union rep and fight for your fellow pilots; move to another airline; or do something else. You all need to grow a pair and do something positive. An outsider looking in.
Being on the outside looking in is a great place to be. When I was in your position, SW was IMO one of the best regionals out there. Lots of movement and when I was hired upgrade was at about 2-2.5 years. There was a union drive going on but since I was still in my first year, I wasn't able to vote (back when we cared about that type of thing) Then the economy crashed, age 65 happened and I felt fortunate that I had a job even if I was on reserve for several years. I guess what I am trying to say is while you are building hours you try to look around and get information about a company, but you truly never know what you are going to get until you are hired and been with a company for a couple years.
I don't think Cape Air has a union, but hopefully you take your own advice and become a union rep to help get them a union if you get on there. Maybe after you are hired you will be able to see how easy it is to just move on when the company screws you over a couple times. Hopefully you will be able to use the regionals as the stepping stone they are supposed to be. Check back in with all of us after a couple years in this rat race and let us know how easy it was for you to follow your own advice and help us "grow a pair"