Originally Posted by
Minepza
Well you obviously mostly have no idea about what you’re talking about. I hope you didn’t end up going to a regional after leaving JSX. Job security at the regionals? JSX is established, there is job security, they just need to pay more considering everyone else is.
I feel like he has a pretty good idea and a sense of how this industry goes.
Originally Posted by
westcoastpilot1
Reference the above posts about how JSX pilots were treated during COVID, and you’ll see this is nothing new. Management has never truly cared about the pilot group, they’re just a means to an end.
In a lot of ways regional pilots enjoy a higher quality of life than those at JSX. The problem is, JSX is the first jet job for a lot of people, so they don’t know how it compares. They simply compare it to the worst regional stories they’ve heard.
A good regional will excel over JSX in that they’re an established and stable operation. Right now most regional pilots can feel comfort knowing that they will have a job in a year, their base will be open, and the company will still be around. They also got their ATP, and are gaining 121 time that can be applied towards an upgrade (JSX FOs get neither). A lot of majors pick up FOs straight from the right seat at a regional because of this.
The day to day operations also run so much smoother at a regional. All the little things they have in place really add up. Dispatchers, cleaners, caterers, deice crews, ramp marshallers, etc. make it so that you can focus solely on your job and not be in the back helping flight attendants cross seat belts, loading drinks, taxiing blind hoping you don’t hit your wing tip on something etc.
Regionals also offer a much better ability to commute. JSX has said recently they do not want commuters at all. This is because the operation is day trips. This might sound great if you live in base, the problem is you now have to worry about what happens if they change their strategy a year later and decide to displace everyone at your base (as they did to PHX, SNA, and BFI over COVID). It also makes it harder to upgrade if there no seat availability in your base.
Lastly the training at a good regional is much better. At JSX they give you the bare minimum to pass the checkride, and then throw you on the line to figure it out as quick as possible. Regionals prepare you so that you can actually be an effective crew member and backup the captain from day one.
Despite what management wants you to believe, JSX does not have superior QOL to the regionals. In fact many people will tell you if anything it’s about the same, the advantage going to the regional simply from the standpoint of stability.
Hope this helps anyone trying to make a decision about whether to go to JSX. Management is hoping that pilots will quit and the. they hire a new, cheaper group where they need them. Don’t be the pilots who drinks the kool aid and believes their sales pitch about the superior QOL and a new up and coming company that’s going to take over the country.
I agree with many of these points.
Management keeps pointing out how our performance is great and revenue is up. Nothing but praises going out for our flight crew with no reward to show for it. The company makes many good moves operationally but the relation with the pilot group is getting more distant over the years. Our management in flight ops mentioned that our COO has the pilot groups best interest but I beg to differ. When "John from HPN" brought up his points in the call, our COO was on his heels and said things that I am sure he is regretting because he made our pilot group seem like we are worthless. JSX shouldn't have the culture of "shut up and fly". Like he mentioned pilots here are making this their stepping stone or they are here for a retirement gig. Most people aren't here to stay but this is a place where they can get people to stay. They should make it tough for pilots to make a decision to leave but our COO don't think we are deserving of anything. The COO is insulting and completely inconsiderate. You have people that want to be here and grow with the company but he couldn't give two $h#%'s.
This pilot group actually has a decent QOL compared to the regionals. It's not the best, but it is good for most of the pilot group. You are right, they could easily change the model and all of a sudden, it wouldn't be as attractive and we could have a really bad schedule.
Change is needed here for the pilots, and it starts with the CEO and COO apologizing to the pilot group for not understanding the pilot group. Our needs have been brought up but not addressed correctly. Crew meals, more pay, and a bid system that ACTUALLY works would be a great start. The clock is ticking for a union. Management will want to stop it but this pilot group should HEAVILY consider one. The company will keep pouring KoolAid down your throats but how much longer are we going to take this? Our JFAC can't do enough. Not knocking our new JFAC but things need to happen quickly and the pilots need a contract NOW.
John from HPN, you cracked me up on that phone call. It was great!