Originally Posted by
Selcall
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.
Really... a former regional pilot talking like this?
Wow talk about remembering where you came from.
Originally Posted by
Selcall
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.
So.... what if that was their plan B and it was still full... So many things can happen I have seen it for 50 seats open to negative in less then 3hrs before the flight. Sh1t happens... we all know that.
Originally Posted by
Selcall
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.
This I have to say is true and we do appreciate that. But here is a kicker for you... I myself have given up a jumpseat at Airtran so a DL guy can take it because his duty in was coming up and I didn't have to be there till the late afternoon. I have given up my jumpseat so another pilot can get home to see his kid for his birthday. Granted I don't always give up my jumpseat but I do try to help other pilots when I can. We REGIONAL underlings also do try to return the favor to others.
You lived the regional life and you know what it's like... why are you now turning around and pointing the finger back at us... you WERE US. Many of us also are doing what you did and will move on when time permits. I'm not here to attack you but your statement is messed up or your point is misunderstood.
I personally do not think it is the fault of any single pilot group that ended in what is going on today. It was just a bunch of bad situations rolled together making a once glamours job a lot less glamours. Mainline guys took the pay cut to save the company and the industry. Regional contracting was cheaper and pensions became a thing of the past. One of the few unfortunate things is that CEOs of mainline carriers like AA took advantage of the pilots willingness to help and wrote themselves so nice fat bonuses right after the vote. I just think we all are getting played and we end up turning on each other. As long as regional flying is cheaper I think anything under 100 seats should be ok to outsource. You cant' tell me that you mainline guys want to do 6-7 legs a day. If you don't agree that's fine... I'd not mind mainline taking back the RJs because that means they will be understaffed and just staple me on the bottom of the list. I will work my way up and not have to start all over again when I do go to mainline. I do understand from a mainline guys mentality that when he/she is furloughed it sucks to see regional guys flying under their flag. But then and only then are you guys willing to fly the 6-7 legs. This is a cycle that will never end and FYI... many regionals have a clause in there to hire mainline guys ASAP when they get furloughed and not make them resign their number. And you can admit it or not... but your 121 skills came from the regional airline you once worked for.