Rick,

You left out the costs that were incurred by non pilot types... todays front page article of the USAToday was a story about how all degrees out there are headed upwards.

I also disagree that it takes a pilot 4 years to get from CFI to their first regional. I personally did it in 8 months after finishing my flight training, and know of plenty of people that make it in less than 24 months, which I would say is the average time needed to build the requisite 1000/100 that most regionals are looking for...

Likewise, I don't know that your times regarding the other positions are quite centered as well, but without salary surveys I can't tell how accurate your info is.

I don't disagree though that things aren't what they used to be and certainly I know plenty of my peers from high school out there that make more than I do outside of the aviation world.