Captain T.

My cousin has just graduated from Boston University. Aerospace Engineer. Really, really smart kid. In his Sophmore summer he got an internship at one of the major firms (can't remember which one - doesn't matter). His internship paid $25 an hour, full time.

Now, as I said Nick is a really smart kid. But he was being paid more to be a gopher than first year pilots make at a Legacy, much less a regional. With NO EXPERIENCE. None.

Thirty grand is not nearly enough for a brand new first officer anywhere, on any equipment. It will not support a family, period.

I agree that at 300 hours you've got no business sitting in the right seat of an airliner. I personally think an ATP ought to be required for every 135/121 pilot.

But anyone in that seat must be properly compensated. And it is the job we are doing, not what we used to do that ought to determine our pay.