Originally Posted by duvie
I believe that one of the main reasons pilot wages are dropping is because of the relative ease involved in flying the newer aircraft. Our equipment is becoming so automated that our job doesn't take the skill it used to. Because airline flying is easier now than it ever has been, pilot positions are able to be filled by less intelligent, apt (insert whatever flattering adjective you want) individuals.
So I take it then that Beech 1900 that I hand fly NDB approaches to mins because we don't have auto pilot or gps and which the FAA apparently has de-valued the lives of the 19 souls aboard (since its easier to fly I can be scheduled to fly 1200 hours a year, not the 1000 the boys with buttons get.)
I take it from your statement I am either a below average individual or I am terribly underpaid because my aircraft is not automated.
Nice guess on the problem. Lets see what the airlines do 5 years from now when they can't fill a new hire class with anyone with more than 250 hours because they have destroyed the lifestyle to the point where no one wants to put up with it for $60,000 a year. Notice the incoming group of career pilots is slimming.
Don't mean to sound cynical but there are a lot of old airplanes flying the line. And maybe its me but I think you better be a pretty smart individual to trouble shoot an airbus at 37000'.
C-ya
Oh PS the correct answer is that I am terribly underpaid!