You assume too much. The vast majority of regional pilots do NOT want to stay at the regionals. They would much rather gather experience and apply for a job at a major carrier.

The problem is that major airline pilots gave away the flying. Major airline pilots were too cool to fly those 'small jets' and didn't want them on the property. We, major airline pilots, allowed scope concessions and the creation of B-scale airlines (Compass) to grow. Didn't you work for the major airline that created Compass?? We both now work for the airline that gave away the most RJ's....silly pilots!

Most regional pilots I know say "SCREW THIS JOB" I wish those major airline pilots would grow some balls and not give away the farm!! Who wants to make a carreer at Mesa....uuggggg.

I used to commute weekly on UAL up and down the west coast. I had the same senior captain a few times. Each time he saw me he'd go on a rant about how regional pilots were ruining the industry. At that time my airline was taking delivery of shiny new 30 seat turbo-props....wow, I now had a hot 23 year flight attendant to look at and an APU!! We had just started getting a handful of RJ's to fly for UAL.

I got sick of sitting on my thumb and listening to his rant so I did some research on RJ proliferation at that time. Next week I brought the research that the American pilots had done. I also looked into how the regionals got the first RJ and how other major ALPA carriers pilots did not want to fly these jets due to the low offered pay scales that could potentially lower the bigger jets pay rates.

Armed with my info I politely asked for the jumpseat. It was the same senior UAL captain that greeted me with the usual, "aahh, it's the mosquito pilot trying to bum a ride again. You guys are trying to steal my job. Have a seat." The FO just shook his head in disgust.

We got to cruise and he started the rant again. This time I pulled out my ammo and we had a good debate. I presented facts, he presented emotion. He got upset when his FO looked at him and said, "you know, the mosquito pilot is right." After a few minutes of silence he admitted that I may have been right.

Carl, I didn't hit the lottery to get to Delta. I worked my way up through a system created over decades. This is the route civilian pilots take. Civilian pilots are heavily reliant on the path the senior pilots have carved for the junior guys. The decision senior pilots at a major airline made over the last 15-20 years are what created this mess. Now we have to fix it.