Originally Posted by Pineapple Guy

This is a fallacy. Scope is a bandaid which only slows the bleeding for a short time. Ultimately, every scope clause will fail in a free market competitive system UNLESS you have absolute, complete control and can limit the entry of new participants. And that horse left the barn years ago. It's Econ 101 -- supply and demand. You can scope all you want, force wages as high as you can, and yet with an endless supply of young pilots willing to do exactly what you do, but for 1/3 the cost, and with what is perceived as an equivalent quality, you will lose in the long run.

Education can help take the blinders off the young lads pursuing their dream career, but I suspect that won't dissuade many.

My personal opinion is the free market has gone too far and is now compromising safety. I don't care how good your school is or how good your training is, it is inexcusable (IMHO) to have any pilot in a control seat of an airplane with 50+ passengers when that pilot has less than the minimum requirements to hold an ATP. Not that the ATP certificate magically makes you qualified, but it does mean you've probably scared yourself a few times, you've had a chance to see a few more emergency situations, and might be a little more cautious in the future.

It would also erect a meaningful barrier to entry that is more logical than an arbitrary scope clause. You'll never sell the public on scope, you can sell them on the requirement to have an ATP. That's not the only answer, but its a start, imo.

Mark my words. Delta has been promising a 100-seater ever since we got rid of the DC-9s in 1992. Always had an excuse why they didn't get one. Now we know why. They are very patient, and will buy it just as soon as our scope clause permits.

Don't get me wrong, I am not in favor of loosening scope. It definitely delays the inevitable. But, imo, that's all it does. I'm all for keeping it tight and hoping I can finish out my career before 777 rates fall any further, but I'm doubtful we'll hold out that long.