Originally Posted by
sflpilot
One point on the previous reference to the regionals being akin to minor-league baseball. In the minors the standards of performance are much lower than the major leagues. However in the regional airlines the expectations are the same as mainline. You operate at the same standard of performance out of the same airports they do and are held to the same standards on checkrides. Many regional guys and ladies don't like to hear this but the only difference between both sides of the industry is you are doing it for C scale rates. Most people defend the stepping stone system that is in place only until they are rejected by mainline then realizing that the entire thing is basically a scam.
I'd tend to disagree on standards of performance. As someone who many moons ago, could've chosen that very path, instead gave it up for flying and had many close friends that played A, AA, AAA and a few to the Majors, the standards of performance are the same. The overall skill level will obviously be lower from the majors down to A. But if you ever hoped to move up, you had better perform. Last CA I flew with is a scout for the Yanks and we had this very discussion. One of my high school buds got let go from A ball because he didn't perform to the level they thought he should. While I can find common ground on the pay issue, it does seem pay is coming up rightfully so.