Originally Posted by
STILL GROUNDED
Professional Pilot News: ALPA Congressional Testimony on Regional Air Carriers and Pilot Workforce Issues
Alright, I am little late to the show in regards to this but..
Maybe it's me but in reading Capt Praters' testimony it sure seems like Capt. Prater has certainly drawn a line in the sand between his support of "Majors" vs "Regionals". I am not reading much in regards to support of anything the regional airlines do. How about some testimony from Capt Prater about all the emergencies handled on a daily basis that regional pilots handle with the utmost safety and professionalism. I am not a ALPA member any more but if I were there would be some serious questions on the table. This Colgan Capt has thrown us all into a heap of crap and Prater with pitch fork in hand continues to bury us (the regional pilot) in it. Nice work Prater, if I were ALPA my dues would stop today!
I for one, (as I am certain many of you are) am a Safe, Professional pilot who has done nothing wrong. Yet now a bunch of suits with political agendas who know nothing in regards to flying airliners are going to change my life at work. And Capt. Prater and ALPA are right there with them. If the current state of the US is any indication this is not going to be for the better. Hold on boys and girls, we're going in!
I am starting to think that they are not going to stop there, but rather try to remove fully qualified, pilots from the cockpit, if they tighten the acceptance standard times. I still believe that Prater and the public believe if the Colgan crew crashed at 2500 and 4000+ total time respectively, than any of us with less than 4000+ hrs is a danger too. And I think Prater with his loyalties to the Legacies and Majors, which only hire at high minimums also are perpetuating this...Look out we are all in for a heck of a ride as regional pilots