Originally Posted by Pete389

History, or even life in general, as we know always repeats itself or goes through cycles. When I started doing this 20 years ago the cycle was just about ready to bottom out. No jobs and a surplus of pilots...just my luck. I've been furloughed 5 five times and have never been able to get a break.

Now, as the cycle reverses itself, your timing is perfect. As main line carriers need for pilots steadily grows, there are fewer and fewer pilots for them to hire at the regionals...or anywhere for that matter. There are also fewer people willing to work for regional wages for any length of time, if any time at all. This will continue, and compound as the cycle works towards its peak, like the boom in late 70's into the 80's.

So, with less people to fly for $30 an hour, no matter how many seats are on the RJ they are hired into. Thus, the main line will fly that route with a smaller size jet and pay main line rates for that same equipment and route that has worked itself into the regional structure simply because they had tons of pilots just wanting a job that would fly those "regional" routes and planes.

As the mainline equipment replaces some of the smaller market "regional" routes, numbers of RJ's dwindle and bingo...we are right back to where we were in the cycle when the term RJ was invented, at the beginning of the downward cycle.

Long story short, sure the regionals will be around, just like they were 25 years ago. Just doing the very small markets as the longer haul and bigger markets will go back to main line carriers and pilots will get paid main line rates to fly them, like they used to.

It's all coming around, and you're hitting it just right. I'm starting over again, selling my possessions so I can survive on commuter rates. Just like I did when I got out of college. Good luck and hope it works out for you!