Originally Posted by
tomgoodman
That's just what some airline managers would like to see: each pilot acting as an independent contractor, bidding for work, and the hungriest gets the job. Don't worry about employee qualifications; the FAA assumed that burden by issuing a license and medical certificate. Don't worry about poor-quality work; collect a bonus and escape through the revolving door before that bill comes due. If anyone complains, blame the market.
I hope your prediction is wrong, but weak or non-existent unions could make it come true.
I think that airlines could get better pilots for less money on the open market. Start up airlines consistently rate higher in travel surveys then legacy airlines. The reason is that employees are more happier and more satisfied than people who have been locked into long held airline dynasties.
During my time at an LCC there were plenty of highly experienced pilots eager for a job even though the wages were considerably lower than the legacies. During simulator training at a major airlines training center the instructors were constantly complaining about the legacy pilots they also trained and declared that they wished that they had a good attitude like us LCC guys. There is better opportunity in the free market.
Better opportunities equate into happier people doing a better job. Eventually every airline will be forced to match the wages of their LCC competitors.
Skyhigh