Originally Posted by
mcm114
Getting tired of this narrative.
Regionals aren't exactly "footing the bill" for us rotor pilots. The training funds usually come in lieu of a new hire bonus. So it is the individual pilot who pays in the end.
The opportunity for commercial helicopter pilots to convert to airplane ATP and go fly for a regional is not new. It just wasn't economically worthwhile for us to do so, until very recently.
And in terms of talent, I might only speak for myself, but I'm taking to it just fine thank you.
A bonus is just that. You sign now, you get paid. You have a type rating, you get paid more. The airline is effectively paying for a very expensive training and rating and all you have to do is sign a piece of paper. That isn't a narrative. That is just a fact. And this program isn't far removed from the days when new hires were unpaid until the end of training or had to pay for the type themselves. There companies aren't doing this out of the kindness of their heart.