Like it or not, this industry is changing. In these days of ever-expanding regional airlines and contracting majors, the old career path of CFI-regional-major is going away. Just like in business everywhere, competition is the name of the game, and no, pilots are not excluded from capitalism just because the good old days of getting paid $250k to work 2 days a week are over. Unions slowly dying out in this industry. (Skywest and Southwest amou the most desired companies to work for) I read these forums and see a lot of bitterness (idle talk??) towards anything that apprears to dismantle the old way of life in this industry.

Although higher pay and better work rules are every employee's desires, bashing on your favorite target, be it Mesa, GJ, CRJ-900's, etc. is closing the barn door after the animals have already run away.


The bottom line in my book, (like bringdafunk says) is that we all have to do what is right for us. Family needs and paying the bills come before taking the moral high road and avoiding these places in the name of "joining together" or "fighting the machine" (no matter how fortuitous that cause may be)

Opportunities still exist in aviation, just not in the way of past years. It is possible to be a check airman at a regional and take home well north of 100k a year and have a good schedule to go along with it. Fractional ownership is an industry that is projected to grow substantially in the long run (NetJets are some of best paid pilots around). If flying heavy iron is still mecca for you, there are lots of big jets internationally that will desparately need pilots in years to come.

This has been a long post, but i think my point is this: to succeed anywhere takes creativity, hard work, perseverance, and a little luck. Aviation is no exception.