I'm fairly recent from the regionals myself and the same disease is there as well. I wish I could be as optimistic as you. But, the reality is that to really affect that change, it requires some form of leverage and we are virtually bankrupt of that as most of it was given away. Since most of what LAA pilots did have was given up in the last couple of years and clearly, at present no one is minding the store to protect or restore what we can, I see no bombshell changes to our almost certain future. In 2019, we will be #3 in the compensation dept. against Delta and UAL and for Parker that's a perfect place to hang your hat for an extended period of time. 5-7 years of stalling and delay is perfectly acceptable to the NMB and strikes have gone the way of the do-do bird, so the status quo is here for at least a couple of years beyond that.

If we do want any improvements (most likely only to pay rates), we'll be in the unenviable position of deciding if what Parker wants in exchange for them is palatable. Scope, specifically Group I is the prime target, for sure, since it's one of the few things left. 3 years from now we could have 1500-2000 new pilots here and that many senior gone, but that still puts the voting majority block among the even older long-term pilots, most of whom will be 55+ and so 10,000 old geezers will either see a little more pay or status quo for their duration. If given the choice, most will once again reach for the ca$h and since Group I (well, the former Group I since the 190's are sure to go) doesn't really affect them, rationalization for a few bucks will occur just like a year ago.

Will a minority of younger, newer pilots be able to rearrange that reality or concoct some new form of leverage within what is a flaccid and lethargic group of risk averse conformists ?

I simply can't see that occurring in 3 years, let alone 6 or more. We'll NEVER become a Delta as far as pilot respect, treatment and compensation unless Parker develops some altruism and I see that as even less likely. I think mediocrity is our future both from a compensation and product standpoint. Looks to me like that's acceptable as long as the profits roll in.