Originally Posted by Herbie

In some small way, I am almost glad to be furloughed right now for the single reason that happenings like these just make it harder to think about my furture as an airline pilot. And a lot of people get on here and talk a really big game, I am sure that I may even be guilty of that. But when all is said and done, I don't ever really see any action. RAH guys are flying Midwest routes in the 170's and soon to be 190's. Furloughed Midwest guys call RAH a crappy operation guilty of putting them out of work, and then they start ground school at GoJet the very next day. Same thing with mainline United guys. "It was our flying anyway." The arguments in defense of these actions are as strong as the arguments used to slam the other guy.

A regional carrier flying a mainline size aircraft is a bad thing. Period. Do I blame all the guys at RAH? No, they didn't chose it. Will they fly it? Yes, they would not give up their job in this economy any more so than anybody else would at this point. In order to stop this madness, the effort needs to be directed to the source. Those guys that sit in a nice big comfy office for a living are the ones that are helping this industry sink further into the hole that it has fallen into, not the guys that show up to work everyday. Principles are a great thing to have and I admire them in anybody. I do not think RAH guys should quit anymore than I would have quit TSA on my principles. However, my principles kept me from running across the hall looking for a job. Those are the principles I admire.

Folks, it is time to send a message to the powers that be that the time for change is now. And to you RAH guys, negotiate well, because this CBA will set the tone for the rest of the industry when it comes to negotiations for the rest of us out there. Best of luck to everyone and all of us.