I have sympathy for the APA pilots, I honestly do. They have been in the industry a long time and have seen some incredible highs and all the amazing opportunities this industry has offered. They have been the Kings of the skies, flown the best aircraft all over the world while making a very comfortable paycheck and working a gentleman's schedule.

Unfortunately, the industry(hell, the whole country) has changed dramatically. Wal-mart, fast food, globalization, economic crisis, 9/11, etc. The Golden Age of aviation is far behind us and it isnt easy to let that go (even for us who never experienced it) but we all have to let go of the past, seriously, and focus on how we can make the most of the future however scary it will be.

Look around the industry and it is easy to see the REAL threats that we as AMR pilots should be focusing on...

-Low Cost Carriers have invaded every major city taking leisure travelers (and now business pax) from AA.
-Eagle has exploded in growth due to unforseen consequences of changing scope clause in your contract.
-Global alliances have come from behind and are threatening to take the bread-and-butter of international routes from mainline carriers

The list of threats goes on. Will going on strike to get higher wages solve these problems? If you make 20% more will this all go away? If you keep your head in the sand will Mommy make things better? Hell no...

The solution goes far beyond negotiating an iron clad scope clause, or getting a computer allowance added to the contract. I invite each and every one of you to do the following:

Dust off you old old logbook. The one from wayyy back when you used to fly 10 legs a day in the DC-3 through the pi$$ and $hit all day/night to exotic destinations like Des Moines and Syracuse while you shouted for more and smiled at every pretty girl in the terminal. Really dig deep in that memory bank and remember those days vividly.

It wasn't easy, but you for damn sure loved it. Boys, those days and that attitude have GOT to come back.

Most newbie regional pilots see senior mainline pilots as those who have no guts, no balls, no drive, no ambition, no work ethic, and no memory of what it means to really put in a days worth of flying. It stings to hear that I am sure, because you HAVE been through it all and have forgotten more about flying than most have ever known.

This isnt about going on strike, or trying to show management who is the boss. This is about YOU watching your jobs being taken by those who are willing to work harder than you because you aren't going to get down in the trenches and WORK harder than the next guy. Quit the b1tching about who did what and prove us all wrong, or watch LCCs, regionals, and foreign carriers show you how it is done.