The shift from the regionals back to the majors will be driven by re-fleeting in 2012 to 2015 with the Pratt GTF and aircraft that best employ its' technology.

Today's regional Captains can be Captains, or First Officers, on that equipment. The difference is paying your dues now, or later.

There will always be a 50 seat regional jet, just like there will always be a Beech 1900 and a 767 sized jet. Each of these aircraft has a market. The market allocation will change in response to economic factors.

In the short term I think the RJ market is fine due to the very large number of RJ's being ordered in the 70 to 90 seat range. Bombardier's been increasing production, but no one has noticed!

The "common knowledge" that the RJ is dead in this NWA/DAL merger is flat out wrong. In fact, as I see the stars beginning to align the DC-9 and some MD88's are much more likely to be getting parked.

I don't like it and I'm not advocating it. Just calling it as it appears to be coming down.