Originally Posted by
nwa757
ExpressJet pilots aren't putting people down. We're not mean, we're not bullies. It's actually a great pilot group. However, our mentality is that if people stop going to work for the worst airlines around, the better ones will persevere. What keeps Mesa, Colgan, Pinnacle running is pilot applications. A lot of people don't realize this. The 'regional is a regional' arguement is completely invalid. I can get you a XJT and Mesa contract and you can come to your own conclusions.
The other side is this. It can really be taken as an insult when another pilot group is willing to do your job for less. That really upsets a lot of people because it can be taken personally. A pilot at AWAC, Horizon, XJT, Comair, AE is trying to get ahead in life, support their family and have some job security yet all this is jeopardized daily by the lowest bidding, lowest paid, lowest work rules pilots.
...and back to the original post, it's not right that Pinnacle pilots and their profits bought Colgan their Q400s. The judge ruled so. Here's the analogy. UND buys 15 C172s and ups their tuition rates, then gives them to ERAU students to fly down in FL and ERAU lowers their tuition. What's fair and just about that?
You're point can be made but it seems most forget it's perfectly possible to fly for cheaper without sacrificing. Look at SWA. There are many corners companies cut that don't involve the pilot group. Aircraft expenses/financing, training department setup (owning sim vs contracting out), and all the other little things that cost more from ACARS to who does the performance. If you think it's the pilots pay that figures mostly into these operating costs then you're sadly mistaken. Some people need to accept the fact there are other/better ways a company could do business than the way their company is doing it.