There is a particular personality that no airline other than a regional airline will employ. It has nothing to do with their pilots skills or ability to perform their job well. Lots of people don’t interview that great, may have an underlying anxiety disorder, have failed a training event or two, have had an incident, or have no college degree etc.

There are a number of issues that, limit their options. As sad of a state that XJT is in, all regionals suck. Leaving for another regional makes no sense to the top 600.

Many of the very senior ex-CRJ pilots worked for the last 20 years with the agreement that they would retire with Delta flight benefits. They were just about to retire and Delta pulled that agreement. Now they are in a position to put in a year with UA in order to retire with flight benefits. Many would have left if it weren’t for that.

You and I both know that they would leave if they could. Circumstances that are no longer within their control hold them prisoners. There are fewer years ahead for them than behind. It’s still a struggle but it’s all they know how to do Many having kids and a family, their financial obligations in life would suffer greatly should they make a career change.

Put yourself in their shoes. Then you won’t have to beg for answers to questions.