It's interesting that apparently some pilots are angry with others for maximizing their income by taking advantage of the benefits in a contract (one they waited decades for), then frequently turn around and blame them or others for not getting enough benefits in that contract for them. Our union (ALPA) negotiated this provision in our contract and we had to give something else up in order to get this. It's there, many take advantage of it and that's reality. Expecting a pilot with 25 years senioirty to consider the interests of a pilot perhaps not even born when he began here is not realistic. I'm sure not one of those single furloughees would repay him back for giving up tens of thousands of dollars, so THEY can do their time at Eagle as quickly as possible and get to a major sooner. Instead, the consideration is "what will you do for ME".

As a general statement, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but this is the airline industry. As I said before, the common denominator among airline pilots is, "every pilot group for themselves" and within each pilot group, it's "every pilot for themself".............sad, but true.

But since you're feeling altruistic, perhaps you can email your MEC offering the following in the interest of future junior new-hires;

Dear sir,

In the interest of unity and maximizing the pleasant career experiences of pilots not yet hired here or very recently hired and to avoid furlough, I am willing to either pass on my upgrade entirely so those junior to me can advance to their liking or take a 50% pay cut NOW in the hope it will provide employment to more pilots. Please insure my wishes are communicated and implimented as soon as possible and please ensure everyone else be required to do the same.

Signed,

F/O Andy Hosemyself


-or-


Here is an alterante email I like better (only applicable if they were to heed your expectations);

Dear Sir,

In response to the sacrifices made by senior pilots here who have waited decades to make decent money and have elected to give most of that up at my demand to insure I can avoid furlough, I'd be willing to sign an agreement either repaying those pilots at a later date in full (with interest) when I get to a major carrier -or- agreeing to stay at XXX Airlines to make my career here and abandon my plan of coming here, sucking whatever sap I can get out of this tree and flying off to a prettier tree at the first opportunity in the hope that I too can sacrifice in 20 years for a future pilot currently in kindergarten.

Signed,

F/O Gary Getouttathisplace



My guess, is you bid the best line you can, will upgrade as soon as you can and have (and will) made your career choices in YOUR best interest instead of those junior to you. If you say you haven't or won't, you're not being honest. My guess is that you're also angry that YOUR beliefs are not followed by most others to insure your career goes as fast and smooth as possible and your tenure at your regional is as short as possible. With that attitude, it wouldn't surprise me that once you got to a major, you'd not only not repay these senior pilots for sacrificing for YOU, but would probably belittle them as "lifers" and/or "losers". Congrats.......I can DEFINATELY tell you, YOU are airline pilot material.

If only life molded itself to the way we each think it should be and others acted how we think they should act, would it be heaven. This world is not and so back to reality it is.