I said those managers pull in 50,000+. Many like Scambo's example pull in much more especially if they have years of experience in the industry. But dude....you're missing the POINT. We are paid similar to fast food managers....and I am not talking about a regional....we are talking about Delta mainline. That is unacceptable.

As to your second question, I very well know how much it costs to run a pizza store. I had to work at one during my flight instructing days to supplement my meager income. During a span of four years I worked as a delivery driver, cook and finally as a manager. I guarantee you will make more than a DAL heavy FO if you run it well.

If you really want to compare, lets compare us to similar professionals...like medical doctors. An average surgeon makes around $300,000 in the US. Yes...a doctor goes through years of schooling. Well...a major airline pilot does not waltz into his job in a few years either. It is either..college degree, commissioned officer, military flying, major OR college degree, flight instructor, 135 freight, regional, major airline. Both being a medical doctor and a major airline pilot requires years of work. Now, a doctor screws up, most often than not, he can cover it up. It usually does not even make the press. Do you know how many doctors show up drunk for work? It is not even press-worthy.

Now imagine we screw up and have a mainline airliner crash. The press world-wide will have it as their headline news for weeks and months to come. Every bit of our lives, education, training will be scrutanized and publicized. It is a huge responsibility. Infinitely more responsibility than a Hardees fast food manager.

Now, how do we 'get it back'?

Lets look at why doctors are paid much higher than us? Not because they are more valuable. It is because they have one of the most powerful lobbies in the US. Much more powerful than ALPA. The AMA controls the number of med. school seats in the US and they are very good at controlling supply through various means.

ALPA on the other hand is fighting with us to screw up our only chance to control supply. Following the Colgan crash, congress passed H.R. 5900 which requires 1500 hrs to an airline cockpit. ALPA is campaigning to bring that down to 500 hrs effectively increasing supply by 3 times. ALPA is the only pilots' union siding with the regional airline management in this issue. All other independent pilots' unions including Sully is siding with the 1500 hr rule.

We need drastic changes in union leadership to negotiate a successful 2012 contract. Currently, the leadership in ALPA has no vision. If ALPA can change from within...good. If not, it is time for DPA. Send in your dang DPA cards. To the very least lets light a fire under ALPA a$$.