Originally Posted by
Riddler
Whenever the regionals hire people with an ATP, then you can make your claim that all pilots are trained and tested to ATP standards.
-- break -- break --
OK, I'm admittedly anti-regional when it comes to outsourcing jobs and ruining this profession. That's not the same thing as saying that I think all regional pilots are inferior to us high and mighty mainline pilots. Here's what I believe to be "facts" of this industry:
1. The public will always search for the cheapest ticket, regardless of service, amenities, or safety.
2. Management will always strive to cut costs and provide the cheapest ticket, regardless of service, amenities, training, or safety.
3. Pilots are expected to act as cost shock absorbers whenever fuel price increases or demand decreases.
4. Pilots are their own worst enemies. Thousands of pilots entered this industry thinking that "they" would be the ones that would be able to upgrade to an RJ captain in a year or 2, then get hired by a major in another year or 2. By doing so for the past 10 years, they contributed towards a downward trend of pilot pay. No one single pilot can be blamed, yet the collective actions illustrate the age-old "tragedy of the commons."
5. ALPA can't represent both RJ and mainline groups, but stupid mainline pilots like me and stupid regional pilots like you haven't been willing or able to make ALPA do anything other than improve the lifestyle of ALPA employees.
OK, rant over, flame away.
I agree with all of that!
Something completely different; There have been times when even the majors hired pilots with less then 500 total hours, and their was a whole slew of them too. White, Black, Male and female. I'm at the regionals and have been a captain for over 10 years and when my company hired the pilots with 300 hours my day was busy, but almost everyone has become a great asset! The bottom line is WE are our worst enemy.
I have no idea how ALPA can objectively represent both Major and Regional pilots for a specific company. Although, I do believe that ALPA representing Pilots to congress and government as a whole is more powerful.
I know that the airlines are all crying because of the recession and high fuel costs but we as pilots need to bring the pay and work rules back. I have no idea how to do it but I will support any sane ideas.