Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
Our profession is harmed by pilots who get too comfy at their "good regional." A pilot who chooses to go to Mesa, Colgan, (insert "bottom-feeding", "profession-killing" regional here) because he or she wants to get to the majors and has no intention of putting down roots at any regional is trying to be part of the rising tide lifting all boats. Pilots who choose Skywest, ExpressJet, (insert "kind", "wholesome", "pilot-loving" regional here) and then stay there because the droppings from the lord's table are just good enough, are those who drag us down. The concept of a career regional must be squashed.
I would tend to disagree, every person has the right to work where they want and projecting your values on other pilots won't accomplish your goal of industry-wide unity. Personally, I'm at a "good regional" with hopes of moving on, however most guys in my base are lifers so I hear a good deal of rationalization about why at 35 they feel like they're over the hill. I try to remind them that the average new hire at the legacies and cargos are in their mid thirties and that getting in at the beginning of a wave can put thousands of a pilots behind you rapidly (UAL '97 hires vs '99 hires) but my arguments seem to fall on deaf ears. Their rational for sustainable QOL is quite understandable and in the long run, their choice benefits us because it'll be one more spot at a legacy for you or me.
Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
One of the main reasons that we are in this position is our lack of cohesiveness and the avalanche of market forces. Pilots have done a horrendous job of working together. Instead of bickering over the largest table scrap, we should all be in the same union working to expand flying at the majors, even if it means they fly regional jets and turboprops.
The Dash Whisperer
I agree that regionals are still plagued with the "commuter" mentality although their operations are now both incredibly larger and more extensive. A national cohesiveness would be beneficial to pilots, but I don't think its realistically possible. Strong unions rarely exist in such cut-throat industries and when they do, eventually they can put incredibly financial strain on their company by preventing them from providing a competitively priced product (GM, Ford, etc). Longshoreman and the like derive their power from the fact that if they don't work, nobody else can fill in for them ( I found this link to illustrate that point:
The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search) If GM stops making cars, that will hardly bring the automotive industry to a standstill, or if Continental struck tomorrow, the industry as a whole would continue to function. These industries are quite different from those that currently benefit from strong unions.
Wages and fuel are the two main operating costs airlines face and most airlines are much more fixated on tangible numerical representations rather than abstract ideas like higher morale improving efficiency or logistical positions being filled with intelligent individuals to increase resource utilization, therefore airlines will do what they can to prevent national labor unity and continue to negotiate separate contracts.