I find these threads so funny, ironic, and sad.

There are a lot of wanna-be pilots and regional pilots who complain that a degree shouldn't be a requirement for an ATP and an ATP shouldn't be required for fly Part 121. Yet, they complain and whine about the regional companies lack of pay and aweful work rules. And they get upset when a major airline pilot gives them a good ribbing (reference the Colgan reaction to the Delta/Northwest reations of this year).

Regional flying is now the mainstay in this country. They're bigger than the majors. The jobs that the wanna-bes and regional pilots seek are in essence shrinking and losing market share to the regional companies.

There's no difference between a regional pilot and a major airline pilot. In fact, regional flying is pretty demanding due to the high ops tempo, weather/freezing altitude flying, and the low morale that comes with the crappy pay/work rules.

HOWEVER, when some of us major pilots suggest a way for the regional pilots to command more respect, more pay (for example, getting a college degree and making it a requirement for an ATP etc.etc.), they get angry with you. And they fail to see and understand that these are the things that will help them command more pay, respect, and thus stop the race to the bottom.

But no no no, someone has to point out that even a high schooler can fly an airplane and he/she's right. So can monkeys. But passengers don't want monkeys flying their airplane. So stop being a monkey!

If our passengers really knew about the flying experience and education levels of some of the pilots at regionals, I bet the demand for tickets on those flight segments operated by regionals would decline. The reality is, professional pilots don't get paid to fly airplanes, they're paid for the leadership, technical knowledge, and flying skills. It is time our country stopped dumbing down this profession and bring back the prestige it deserves.