AWESOME KingAir Thank You!!!!! In addition to what you talked about earlier in the thread there is also the idea I had, now granted this is just a beginning idea, but if the govn. isn't able to regulate some of the issues that need to be corrected, now before I get shot at here I'm not saying regulate the whole industry (we all know that didn't work earlier on ) just certain parts like pay and fatigue issues etc., maybe the govn. could at least regulate the minimum price that is charged for each route. I think one of the problems with the pay issue is the fact that all the companies are trying to undercut each other by charging less and less. And if the companies charge less and less, their employees get paid less and less This comment from a Regional airline pilot made me think about this:

("I am a regional pilot. I made about 24k last year. I spent over 300 hours away from home last month. Only during my 87 flying hours was I paid. I have been in some form of training for 9 years. I have 8 different pilot certificates. I have flown over two thousand hours. I have over 60k of college debt. My union is almost useless because a loophole in the law that doesn't allow us to strike properly for the wages we deserve. Because of the seniority system I can not leave my current airline for fear of starting all over again. My life is falling apart, because I decided to chase my dream. The airlines know this. They know that I want to go to work, and I can never leave. I do not want to make a million dollars. I do however want the respect of my passengers, my nearly homeless brethren, and the FAA. I want to sleep more then 5 hours a night. Everyone should damn the current set of laws that allow the airline to push us around. I recently was on a trip that gave to give my crew nearly 9 hours of "Scheduled Rest". The "Rest" was scheduled to begin upon our arrival at the airport, not the pillow. Our flight was delayed, then we had to wait for passengers to deplane(including the ones that have to wait up to 10 minutes for wheelchairs), then wait to catch a shuttle bus to a hotel 20 minutes away, try to sleep, then get up early because the hotel van only travels to the airport every 30 minutes, pass through security, and arrive at the gate in enough time to preflight and run 6 checklists. My 9 hours of "REST" turned into little more then 5 hours, during the middle of the day. How could anyone function after six days in a row of that kind of abuse. I think sleep deprivation was used in "Get-mo" as a form of torture for terrorist that wanted to hijack our airplanes. It seems to be more effective when used by crew scheduling to make those same aircraft crash anyway. Public perception is important, behind the shiny wings and fancy epaulets, is a person that makes a fraction of what he or she used to, or deserves to. I am responsible for YOUR life. I deserve to make at least a decent wage.")

Well if there is regulation on just the minimum amounts for each route, in addition to what you suggested before in this thread, I think we could finally get back to the pre-9/11 payscale that we deserve. I'll add this idea in whith the letter I send Senator Dorgan. If you have any other ideas that you would like to run by someone don't hesitate to PM me. Thanks again!