Originally Posted by
Adlerdriver
This should never degraded into an RJ vs. mainline issue. As you say, RJ pilots are just trying to get by too.
What needs to be acknowledged is this:
This best interests of RJ pilots flying for express carriers that have agreements with legacy carriers are contrary to those of the mainline pilots. It's completely unrealistic for ALPA to claim they can represent both groups effectively. ALPA has become all about numbers and membership at the expense of their true purpose which is to represent their members and improve QOL, improve contracts, etc.
To simply state that pilots need to "get involved" is a simplistic solution. How can ALPA pursue contractual improvements at a mainline carrier that will result in more stirngent scope language? The real answer is that they can't. To do this will eventually limit the career expectation of those pilots they claim to represent at an express carrier flying for the same mainline.
Well put. For being on the cargo side you are well versed in some of the issues that ALPA has faced in the 9/11 poop storm as they relate to the scope debacle. If ALPA national TRULY cared about the careers of the guys at the "regional" level, they would man up on scope. It's just as GOOD for our careers as it is for the legacy guys. But they would ALSO have to start fighting the whipsaw that Major/legacy management uses as well as pitting the "reagionals" against each other.
It was all too common during the 70 seat giveaway that I'd be on the JS and getting a lecture from a mainline guy. And most of us in the regionals know what that lecture is. As well as how crappy of a feeling it is to be on a JS for hours having to hear it. You know, the one where the guy is blaming you because he made some crappy investments, he now has to sell his Hummer/Porche, his THIRD wife is about to leave him, he can ONLY afford ONE girlfriend, he's going to have to give up his boat, as well as the ocean front condo where he keeps it, he's going to have to pull his SECOND set of kids out of private school, the first set is already in college, he's going to have to give up his country club member ship and face the horror of possibly golfing on a public course. Did I leave anything out? And it's all those regional pilot's fault. Rarely did they EVER have the grasp on the problem that you summed up in your last paragraph. Nor the fact that it was their OWN MEC agreeing to it. I would have been comfortable flying that funny looking little 32 seat jet that was meant to replace the SAAB/EMB-120/Dash8/J-41/ATR till the time to go to a major came along. Getting into a 70 seat plane held, and STILL holds no appeal to me.
And dare I say, the guy could have used some better tact in his letter to properly direct his frustration. Funny, when I look in the ALPA magazine and see all the shiny/glossy pictures of various guys at the tables at whatever ALPA function, there are plenty of guys with gray hair. And in the caption, it often says he is the (insert here) rep for (insert regional here).
Originally Posted by
AAflyer
There are more than you think....
Just a little tacky, although the last flight bag with a logo from apple computers to In and Out Burger (and everything in between) looked like something a 5 year old would have.
AA
Good point, because I have NEVER seen mainline guys with such stickers on their bags, EVER. It's funny, I've flown three different connection/express type operations now in 7 different hubs. I've seen the mainline guys in full uniform, blazer, hat, etc looking sharp and every bit the part of a professional pilot. I've seen my co-workers, and the other "regional" pilots based there looking the same.
I've also seen my coworkers, and the other regional pilots, no hat (when it is required), no blazer (when it's required), etc. Well guess what? I've also seen the mainline guys looking the SAME. No blazer (when it's required), stickers on the bags (god forbid), no hats when it's in their FOM, even backpacks AND no hat. I once even saw a guy in the summer wearing a baseball cap with the logo of his company's "low cost" division on it. Granted, maybe they have an exception to wear it. But does an airline pilot walking through the terminal wearing a baseball hat look professional to you?
I guess if it looks like something a 5 year old would have, it's good enough for a 55 year old (and guys going to 65) to have also.