groovinaviator, I truely see your point and I respect your post 100%. But with all due respect I have to disagress with some of your points.
Yes, The management at Trans States Airlines started gojet. And I bet they will start another one very soon. Trans States lost alot of money when they started that airline due to people leaving Trans States and the F_word happened sometime later in the company. Believe me, H.K is an accountant and he does not like to loose money, so I do not see this happening any time in the future.
Quick Upgarde!!! I hate quick upgrade. I think upgrade should be 4 years at regionals. Why did this ever happen in aviation. I wish everyone was hired with 1500 hours 500 ME like most of the people in aviation. I hate quick upgrade, but guess what! There is nothing we could do about it. Yes, it will stop, come to a halt, freeze, pause whatever we want to call it. Nevertheless, it sucks for those that missed the hiring and upgrade boom.
Understaffed!!! I need proof we are understaffed. I looked at the schedule and bid packet but could not come up with understaff. Please correct me if I am wrong. NO GROWTH!! I have to agree we are not growing like the next guy, but attrition to us feels like growth. i.e In Richmond, if they loose 5 - 6 Captains that is 10% of their Captains, so that is 10% movement for the F/Os. I know it is not much but at Trans States that is major growth
. Most of our Captains are leaving for Netjet euorpe, Cathy, Emirates so we will always have attrition to help out. Nobody wants to be at Trans States for a 10 years.
I do not know where you get your information about reserve. You might sit reserve for a long time at home or airport reserve, but sitting Hotel reserve at Trans States who will pay for the hotel you or the company. You might sit hotel reserve in IAD or ORD, maybe a STL guy sitting reserve in RIC, but Not going to happen that much. Yea, it sucks but you are making money atleast.
Move to base so you do not have to commute. Or just find a way to get to work. That is the life you choose. I know alot of commuters and they find their way to work. Life is a B!tch.
Your buddy must be very lazy
j/k. I do not know what to say regarding your $12,000 claim but If you compare your paycheck with someone hired the same day as you, I bet they are making more then you are right now. I know I made $25,000 more than you last year because Trans States paycheck is not my primary source of income.
This is one place I agree with you 100%, no one should base their future on quick upgrade or reserve time. I can upgrade today but choose not too. If I get stuck I have only things to fall back on.
Trans States Airlines is dragging down the industry. Not oil prices, not major airlines looking for the lowest bidder. My personal view is that RJ's is dragging down the industry. Did you know many foreign airlines operate the ERJ-145, E-170 and E-175 as part of their fleet? I family member flying for Kenya Airways and Virgin Nigeria operating E-170. I could get a job for a national Airline making more money, flying regional jet and I hunt on my days off. RJ's are dragging the industry down. 50 seaters are going to disappear but I will be long gone by the time it happens.
Please we need to stop this bashing and trash talking. We are all in the same toilet and if things continue, we will all be out of work and sitting on the street. I have a secure future outside of the airlines. IS YOUR FUTURE SECURE? and this is question for every Regional Pilot.