Originally Posted by
Pielut
It may be idealistic but instead of fighting over which regional is better there needs to be collective action to improve conditions at the regional level because for a large number of pilots that is as far as they will progress. There are not enough mainline jobs for every RJ Captain to move up.
ALPA is currently trying to do this with the Fee for Departure Work Group. Its a monumental task made harder by the fact that there are more than one union and un-unionized pilot groups.
Originally Posted by
RJSAviator76
It cracks me up to see people here blaming <insert your favorite regional carrier - GoJet, Mesa, Lakes, Republic, ASA, Comair, Mesaba, etc> for all the wrongs in this industry.
I don't blame any carrier for this. I blame each and every one of us for entering such a ******ed up career field where your experience doesn't matter one iota - only your date of hire at that particular carrier. I blame our ENTIRE seniority-based system for our problems because it is being used against us and is keeping us down.
The seniority system is used against us! Its what causes pilot recycling. If only we would be able to retain our seniority as we move to another company when that company takes the planes you are currently flying for your current employer. It makes no sense to fight amongst ourselves while management watches us go back to first year pay.
Originally Posted by
MAXforwardspeed
Yes! [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif']ExperimentalAB your right on! Education of the next generation is key! ALPA or APA or any pilot union should work with AOPA or aviation universities and flight schools. Pilot unions should be working with the FAA to control the commercial or ATP licensing to give instill value to a commercial certificate. If you can stop a traffic or banner pilots from flying for free then you raise the cost of a pilot across the board.[/font]
Pilots just don’t get it. You can put a new roof on a bad house. Major airline pilots are trying for the best contracts until the company gets it all back and more during bankruptcy. Let’s start back at the basic and build a strong foundation.
ALPA is working on an education campaign. They do have a national education committee who talks with high school and college students about what its really like to be an airline pilot and how ALPA has benefited the entire industry through its efforts to make it more safe. But I certainly wouln't say its a campaign to discourage the profession.