I don't think anyone here wants the wages to stay low. I believe that raising the requirements will lead to better pay. The way that the requirements are set up currently pretty much leads to anybody with access to $100,000 being able to become an airline pilot. It takes a few months and you have every thing that the FAA requires to sit in the right seat. This has led to a huge supply of pilots willing and eager to get into a jet.

The thought is that by raising the requirements (harder tests, ATP required even for the right seat, etc...), the supply will drop. Companies will then be forced to compensate better in order to attract people. With the increased compensation will come more qualified individuals and the cycle continues.

I am not completely convinced that it will work, but it is definitely better than what we have currently. This race to the bottom is forcing the best among us to give up this profession. It has been a sad decade for aviation.