Originally Posted by
ehaeckercfi
gettinbumped,
Did you fly for a regional to build your time and experience? I ask, because I'm sure a vast majority of the 1400 furloughees did. Is your soul magically "cleansed" once you get hired by mainline? I have a hard time taking a group seriously when they themselves were, at some point, part of the "problem".
If you built your time and experience by some other means, that is great. I wish there were enough of those jobs and/or military flying slots available for us all to avoid the regional word. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.
I truly hope that both sides can remain professional throughout this process. Denying anybody (mainline or regional) the opportunity to get to work, or more importantly, home, doesn't do anybody any good. You might feel good about it for a few hours, but I can promise that your conscience will get the better of you when you realize that you possibly were the reason a new father didn't get to hear his young child's first word, or see him take his first step.
Fair question, and reasonable point. I did fly for the regionals before going to UAL, though when I was there the largest piece of kit we had was a 30 seat turboprop. I was gone before the RJ's came about.
That doesn't magically cleanse me, nor should it for those of the 1400 pilots that flew for the commuters. As I mentioned in a previous post, and got bashed for, I understand the plight of the commuter pilot. You need the time to get OUT, and if the regionals are hiring and aren't GoJets etc. then you hold your nose and take the plunge. The vast majority of pilots I see at the regionals are in that category. Heck, even though I was flying a 19 seat turboprop at the commuters, I still got grief from the mainline guys at times. I suppose my whole point is that it's just the nature of the beast, and try not to take it personally. I don't ever look down my nose at regional pilots - I was one after all, but it doesn't change the fact that in many cases, our near term interests are diametrically opposed. Hopefully in the future that won't be the case. I wish you guys good luck, and hopefully this thing has a positive resolution for all involved.