Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Most regional pilots are going to either spend their career there, or spend way longer than they had expected. Be prepared to live with your choice, or face doing a lateral transfer at some point.
There are many outside factors which affect the airline industry in the long term, and unlike the past, none of those factors look good right now...
Security Threats: These increase industry costs, and the associated hassles drive customers away. Nobody wins except government rent-a-cops who get fat benefit and retirement packages.
Oil: When will we really run out? Who knows? I don't even have an opinion on that, only that it will probably be within our working lifetimes. The only organizations who have the resources to make an accurate prediction all have some skin in the game, and cannot be relied upon to give us unbiased answers.
Carbon Restrictions: The hardcore environmentalists really are out to get you, they have stated that air travel is a horrible waste of resources, an exorbitant source of emissions, and totally unnecessary for most us. They really do want you to just stay home (exceptions made for the cabin-class private aircraft of the green political elite, of course).
No way to know what the future brings, but a lot of bullets have to be dodged in order for this industry to have a bright future. And every setback gives management another excuse to cut compensation.
You may be exactly what management is looking for...someone who will carry the weight of the world on their shoulders for little more than beer money, in exchange for what may well be a pipe-dream. Even better the regional managers do not have to do anything to make good on that "promise". They know you will leave, either hired by a major or fed up with the prospect of life at an entry-level job. They don't care which it is, as long as you leave before you get too much longevity.
Even though everyone knows that you make an excellent post and very truthful, people will refuse to acknowledge it simply because they can't relate to it. They haven't experienced it. They want to get into the next level. They will find out soon enough that it's a very stupid industry but it's better than flying a 172 around a pattern. Honestly people will go anywhere because they don't know any better, but if you could only take one advice is to never go some place because they are the first to hire you or for the sake of finding a job. Kind of like in this situation, don't go to Colgan because they are the only one hiring unless you really want to be there and be part of their culture. There are a few thousand of us that lateraled regionals the last few years and I would venture to say that for most was a wasted effort, maybe bigger airplanes better bases but still lost senioirty. Just wait for the right airline for you, otherwise you're going to really hate it, you're not missing out on a lot of movement anyways.