Quote: "When I was hired at my airline 23 years ago, I had nearly the flying time of both the captain and the first officer of the Buffalo flight combined. That was the norm then. Because of dramatic reductions in compensation over the past 10 years, airline careers are no longer attractive to the best and the brightest."

I agree with almost everything he said but the above statement isn’t comparing apples to apples. 99.9% of the pilot’s hired both during his time 23 years ago and even today (or 2 years ago) at mainline have more flying time than both Colgan pilots when hired. Remember that he’s comparing the hiring practices of US Air to regional airlines. Look at the hiring practices of regional 23 years ago and you’ll see flight times comparable to the FO’s.

I completely agree that an ATP should be a min requirement to obtain an airline pilot job.

I’m also sick of being calling "not the best and brightest" or “untalented” or “not the cream of the crop.” I have 2 degrees, graduated college magna cum laude while playing division I college tennis, I have a very successful business history, this is a second career for me, I started flying long before I turned 10 and I grew up in aviation with both my father and uncle being former MIL and Mainline pilots plus I have NEVER failed a check ride or stage check. I think I and many other “regional” pilots deserve more.