There would still be people who would run out and buy an ATP and still sign on the dotted line for a $19/hr regional job.

The pilots coming into these jobs are CHOOSING to do that. Mesa is not forcing anyone to fly for them, Big Sky is not forcing anyone to fly for them. The fact is simple, there is NO SHORTAGE of pilots begging for those jobs.

That is where the problem lies. The mentality that using the regionals, at $19/hr as a stepping stone just to get 1000 turbine PIC to get on with SWA or Continental is what is keeping wages low.

If starting wages are to come up at the 121 regionals, the new pilots have to stop asking for the jobs. We send the resumes to them, they are not sending you a subpeona to appear on the flightdeck.