Originally Posted by
Mason32
That can/is/was accomplished by using smaller more fuel efficient "regional" equipment.... somewhere along the line they realized there was a virtual nver ending supply of folks with SJS and they started cutting pay and benefits as well to further maximize profits....
As much as you like to blame people for accepting these low paying jobs, I'd like to point out that it isn't just the accepting of a low paying job, it's also lousy research into what company they even want to work for. So many of these kids just want to get into an airplane.... any airplane, that they do not care who they work for. I'm sorry, but if every single commercial pilot refused to wear colors that didn't matche their paycheck, then the actual companies (paycheck matches the name on the airplane - the big name, not the small one near the door) would be forced to grow....
All regional airline jobs are NOT the same.... flying a CRJ at XYZ company is not the same as flying it ABC. Some companies perform proper maintenance, replace time limited parts, comply with AD's, conduct their own training and accept responsibility for their product rather than farm training our to a subcontract, along with the liability... When you jumpseat on some of these regional carriers and see MULTIPLE MEL stickers all over the cockpit.... you HAVE to know something is wrong there.
The FAA is filled with former ATA lobbyists, and ATA executive positions are filled with former FAA executives.... FAA SAfety Inspectors almost always come from the airlines themselves.... the cross pollenation is ridiculous... the fox is watching the hen house, and has been for years. The effects are just now starting to be seen and felt.
A number of good points Mason. I whole heartedly agree that all regionals are not created equal. I am fortunate enough to be at one that seems to be among the more stable at the moment. If I imposed the wrong impression that I "blame others" for taking these low paying jobs I was misunderstood. I blame all of us, myself included. That raises the question where else is there to go? I also agree the endless flow of low time pilots looking for a start in the industry will not end anytime soon. I do think it is naive to think that every regional pilot will refuse to accept a paycheck that is any less than our mainline counterparts. Pay is an issue; is it too low? Yes. Are we doing flying that once belonged to mainline? Yes. Do we deserve mainline pay for the flying we do? Absolutely.
Nevertheless, the reason for our being is that we are cheaper SEPERATE entities, even if we are wholy owned. I am not looking to be negative or connotative, just conversive. It is always interesting to read the thoughts of others. I wish I was the eternal optimist that thought mainline pay (or near) was possible at the regional level. Only time will tell, but the last 20 years in the industry have seen nothing but a decline in both pay and benefits. I'll keep dreaming, but I'm afraid that's all I'll do.
