Originally Posted by
AceyCandler
I realise AA will be forced to cut their regional operations down in the future, pilot shortage and all. But I can't seem to shake the suspicion the regionals remaining after the downsize (cancelling of contracts, etc) will be the WO. AA will dangle the "flow" as a carrot to keep them staffed while flowing the minimum they're required to so the can keep a substantial amount of their domestic operation operated by regional pilots making considerably less the the AA mainline pilots.
If you choose the wrong regional, you will spend 18 months commuting to reserve for regional A. Then, when that one shuts down,you will have to go to regional B, where you will be on reserve for 9 months before you see the light and go to regional C. In those 3 1/2 years, you flew 1500 hours as an FO, all while on reserve, and are still not competitive for a major. You also had a terrible quality of life the whole time, always starting over again at the bottom.
Or, you go to a WO, and if you can't get hired elsewhere, then you spend 5-7 years and flow. But in the meantime, you move up the seniority list, upgrade, and have a good quality of life.