Originally Posted by BringDaFunk

I just don't get it, I've been flying for a while now, been through 1 furlough in the Midwest, and 1 layoff, but still a Champ.Looking at the industry right now...I just don't get it.

I feel like sometimes ALPA is that crazy childhood friend of yours that would protect you from bullies, but take your money when you werent looking.You'ld walk into your room and check your piggy, and his guts would be gone, then when you realized it, and confronted him he'd say "yea, but who else is gonna look out for you?" Putting you between a rock (them), and a hard place(your fellow brothers).So to keep the peace you go along with it and hope for the best. Why are there still 16 hour days?Why do I have to get only 5 hours of sleep after working a 15 hour day? ALPA's plan when it comes to major issues is, sit back, and watch it play out, then when its all done, try to find a solution.But, at least I get free stickers and a lanyard, If it aint broke don't fix it, right?

When I see threads about airlines like GoJets, and how we urge the pleebs to steer slear, it makes me wanna throw my laptop out the hotel window! Don't blame them! What are you gonna do when you have a 50k+ loan you need to pay for monthly, and you have bills from here to anchorage? Are you gonna sit at home watching TV and wait for Regional XYZ to start hiring again or are you going to be sending apps out to anyone and everyone. I look at it like this, You need a job, Its Legit and Legal, go for it! Gojets, was slammed for hiring guys that went around contract to better the company, and they were non union.Now they are union and its been years since those few guys,"the orginals" from TSA left for GJ.They are now union, with a union scale and CASS approved.Why not just put the "orginals" names on a blacklist, and give the late arrivals a break.For the guys in here that would let a GJ commuter spend a night in the terminal as your own form of punishment, you're not helping anyone, it makes you look like an ass."We're just ordinary people" By alienating an already divided industry and economy, you just make it worse, for all of us.

Im not saying this to stick up for GJ guys, I just don't know whats gonna happen to me or any of you! Lets say your airline shuts down tommorow...You have a mortgage, loan payments, a car, insurance, kids, and anlready stressed wife.Are you really gonna sit at home, and cry about how you once flew the largest RJ ever, and your company screwed you over, or are you gonna go out and doe something about it.I know if my airline shrivels up tommorow I will be sending an app out to everyone, GJ included!

I have come to the conclusion that pilots...especially regional pilots like to talk, and for us pilots, who love to fly, it is only natural for us to talk about flying, even when talking to women, we are thinking about airplanes! SO with that said, when talking to fellow pilots and conversatoin is once again limited to flying, it easier to talk about how bad each others company is and how they can't wait to get their time and leave, or how they made a mistake when they enlisted.I have done it many times, but when you think about it,its just a waste. Passengers will tell people more about their worst flights than they will about their best ones.We've all heard the sighs when we say we are gonna be 30 mins late to push, never do you hear cheers when your FA announces we have arrived 15 minutes early...

My dad passed away today, he had developed MS and when we found there was no specific treatment and that he didn't have much time left he wrote all my siblings a letter, he flew 707's for Pan Am,747's for Japan,and in these last months a caravan for a frieght charter, this is part of what he sent me, "Take care of your friends,only a friend can tell you when you're being a true ass, and a real gentleman, without even talking...We are all tied together by the same love for flying, the freedom of being able to go up, down, left, and right with no boundaries,we are pilots...royalty, as even the angels envy us"

To me,you are all friends, Im not trying to start a debate or bring up bad blood between the ranks and rollers, just ...talking....Merry Christmas to all, Stay warm, and be safe.