Originally Posted by
CaptFuzz
It seems to me that the solution to poor compensation for pilots lies more in correcting supply and demand issues than getting pilots to stick together. Regulation may help (proposed rules requiring an ATP for any 121 pilot could help though they would probably be meaningless if they included exceptions for graduates for certain types of aviation schools). What seems like it would make the most difference is if people were fully informed when making the decision to enter aviation.
New pilots need to know that they may never get that position with a major airline, and that they will struggle a long time before getting it (if they ever do) before they have drained tens of thousands of dollars into training. Unfortunately, there's good money to be made giving people false expectations to get them into training, so you're even fighting an uphill battle there.
I agree that supply and demand is a major factor. I am an optimist and believe that things will get better, yet I also believe we are going to have to be proactive as a whole for things to improve. The status quo does not look like the path we should be taking. I am just wondering what we can do to fix it. You make great points and educating the people coming into the field makes perfect sense. It would be nice if companies like AOPA would stand up and implement what you have suggested.