Originally Posted by
Selcall
I am going to try to address a couple of things about this forum. Please understand that it's nothing personal but needs to be said. I cannot speak for all of us at mainline nor would I ever want to but here is a prevailing sentiment you will find with a lot of us "Mainline Pilots".
1. I am not your union brother nor will I ever be. If you are not flying an airplane with a prop on it that seats 34 people or less then your very job is a detriment to my professional survival in this industry. The 50 seat, 76 seat, 86 seat, 70 seat, etc...regional jet is an infestation within this industry that I cannot stand. While I spent many a dark night flying those things in a previous life I decided to jump into the abyss and now sit on the other side of the fence. While you may protest that we have similar issues with management and so forth I find the wrench of entitlement (that I see from many on this board) vile and without merrit. It's like being a AAA baseball player guys. Sure you might have a lot of prospects looking at you and sure the men from the big show might buy you a beer every now and then but until you get sent up you will never be my "Brother" in this industry. Your very existence, while many argue is essential to the Airline industry, is a complete contradiction to my own betterment in this profession.
I personally and many I talk to could care less about how it sucks your family cannot get back from SFO to ATL via SLC because of all our "Mainline" employees happen to be out there also and keep bumping you from flights. Guess what, the same thing happens to all of us "mainline" guys with our families and even on our commutes to work. We deal with it, make alternate plans or even buy a ticket if we know we have to be there. We plan ahead as much as possible, show our due dilligence in trying to get to work, and then move on. Try doing it yourself.
2. I and many of my fellow pilots have been more than happy in the past to give up the jumpseat, take an FA seat if available to assist many a regional pilot to work. Even though he screwed up, never left himself a backup because the girlfriend was in town last night, yada yada yada I am always obligatory and help out wherever I can. I will continue to do so because it's the right thing to do.
Stringer: Tact and patience is something many of us do not have on this board any more for the constant complaining about how "Big Brother Management" is making life so hard on your fellow pilots at the regionals.
I am not trying to be triffling but please if this job is that bad then please go to Home Depot and find gainful employment, leave the nasty business of flying to us old codgers, and learn how to help me when I come to Home Depot and ask about a good groundcover perrenial for a full sun area.
I and many I talk to are tired of the constant whining about the loss of privileges and the audacious sense of entitlement we hear from the newest or youngest generation of pilots hand picked to spend $64,000.00 to learn how to fly a regional jet in a simulator.
I do not want the closet you call a crew room either as some on this board have suggested.
Since you decided to use the baseball theme I think that you and a majority of your "big league" pilots should not be admired or looked up to but sent back down to AAA for what you have allowed the industry to become. Yes I said you. On your watch this profession has spiraled out of control and down the toilet and what have you in the big show done. Your pilot groups have lost over 40 percent of their pay, quality of life is nothing like it used to be, benefits drop, and what have you all done but blame others. The delta pilot group had a chance to make a difference when it threatened to strike but backed down and "at least we have our jobs" but at half the pay....good job. I guess the regionals are to blame for that one. You bash Comair but at least they had the stones to try and get something better for themselves. Make their profession better...what have you all done. You blame the regionals but you should blame yourselves. The RJ could have been a mainline jet but the pilot groups refuesed to fly that equiptment at the mainline level and as a result the regionals bit. The guys in the big show blame the regional pilots for undercutting them...the pilots are doing their jobs just like you and it may be for half the price but like I said before in the early 90's the majors had a chance to prevent that from happening and didn't and the rest is history. It is easy for you all to blame the regional pilots but how many of you in the beginning of your careers would have passed up that job and instead done the 135 thing for the experience or instructed a few extra years to make yourself a better pilot. While no doubt they do just that who really would have put a hold on their careers and waited a few more years just for the principle of it. That's right I forgot you all instructed for 30 years, walked twenty miles to the airport, did freight in a biplane and at night and then decided to hold off on starting your airline career just because it helped the industry...I don't think so. I think if you all were starting out your careers now the majority of you would be in the seat of a regional jet not flying 135 for the experience. All the regional pilots should apologize for not paying their dues like they did in the big show. If peoples timing is right then good for them for making the jump. Regardless of that it cracks me up to hear you major pilot groups on your high horse when in reality you all have done nothing positive for this profession in years. Blame the regional pilots all you want but if you want respect do something to earn it. You fly big planes...that is great they work basically the same as mine just on a larger scale..do something truly impressive and be the leaders in our industry that you all like to think you are. Leave the airline profession on your level better than when started it and quit blaming managment, other pilots, world events. They all play a role that is true but bashing regional pilots for your problems in a better life is frankly a bit of a joke. You say you aren't my brother nor are your big show buddies I say thank you. I don't want to be associated with a pilot group that has watched their jobs erode and do nothing but blame others. If you want to consider yourself mr big show then saddle up and act like you all belong their or retire and give way to people that will do something to try and improve their profession.