Originally Posted by
JDFlyer
Be patient, you will make Captain one day. On that day you may feel different about why Captains are paid more than FO's for their services. Luckily there have not been many, but there certainly have been days when I gladly would have been flying on the FO's "ticket" and have the entirety of his future career at great risk instead of mine.
JD, I agree with most of what you have to say and appreciate the level of civility in this entire thread, if I may however, this bit stuck out to me.
I personally never feel like: "whatever, its his ticket, not mine." If the CA or FO screws up, we're both getting violated, they don't just grant us impunity unless it was something that one of us literally couldn't control from our seat. Secondly, I believe your first quoted statement "you will be a captain someday" is frustrating, because it implies that we will then (as Captains) have a more livable wage. What about the guys coming up behind us? This is the sentiment that the commuter/regional FO payscale was built on, but times have changed and we're no longer just waiting our turn to upgrade. Some stay longer in the right seat for QOL issues, some because they've been unlucky in their timing, no matter what though, the average guy in the right seat at a regional is probably is his late twenties and should be viewed as a valued team member rather than a guy who slings gear while he waits for his number to come up. It may be a fine distinction but I believe its important to recognize.
Additionally, I must readily concede that not all FOs are motivated and make your trips easier for you, but I believe that partly to a function of SkyWest's antiquated attitude towards the CA/FO dynamic and of course partly just human nature. We are not held as responsible by our chief pilots as the Captain is and that seems to have bred a bit of laziness and lack of responsibility in the right seat. I'm sorry for that.
And Again, thanks for you contributions
