Originally Posted by milky

This reporter mostly got it right. I hope the flying public finally understands what most of us here know (whether you are experienced enough to understand it yet or not): Regional pilots are less experienced than those at the majors/legacy/big boys. Most of the time, I don't think it matters much since the autopilot works well with an inexperienced pilot as well as with an experienced pilot. The issues come when there are emergencies and when headwork comes into play. Pilots that are willing to fly severely fatigued the way many regional pilots are forced obviously don't know enough yet to know better. You can flame away regional guys, but I know that young pilots always think they are better than they really are.

Maybe the flying public will start demanding airlines to hire experienced pilots. Not likely, but maybe. If so, the scope issues you guys at the big boys complain about would be fixed since the regionals would have to disappear.

From all that I've read, it turns out people like their pilots seasoned by things like military flying. Now the question is whether or not they will pay for it.