Originally Posted by
AirWillie
I don't think the gov has any authority to make airlines pay more, the only way airlines will pay more is if no one shows up at the door. The whole point, of scraping by with entry level flying is to get to a pro job. Who wouldn't bypass all that? You can't blame these mythical 250 hour pilots. There will never be a shortage all airlines have to do is lower the mins. That's why they need to pass this ATP bill, it will be very bad the next couple of years for people affected but in the long run it will be better. It's not like they're missing out on much the first and second year under current regional work rules, except for that shinny jet..
Wow! This thread has some convoluted concepts, considering the sources.
Funding's GONE from the aviation schools, military flying has been cut drastically, and age 65 will happen. I personally believe ATP rule will pass, simply because Babbit (FAA) has never taken the regionals seriously, especially as ALPA Pres. The airlines won't raise prices, (they know price is king for e-tickets) and parking ever larger amounts of jets in the desert will reach a point of diminishing returns. European-style ab-initio won't work in this country. Weeding out large numbers of pilots in training and then paying a good wage for 250hrs. experience doesn't compute when an airline has to actually generate a profit, or at least try.
I keep hearing that prospective budding airline pilots build hours flying 135 (most require 1,200hrs+and are not hiring), flight instructing, crop-dusting, etc...please tell me where these jobs are so I can again be gainfully employed. Anyone?
One poster here thinks regionals need to start @$70k/year. Any facts or figures used to come to this conclusion should immediately be rushed to your MEC!