He does not want it, or so he says.

Fact is that ASA or any other DCI is a stepping stone, and now it has become a career for some. Jeep it a career, you are making your existance too expensive for the mother ship.

I would love to see the jets here, where you have the opportunity to advance in to any other jet you want. More options means better QOL for all. AS TC states, that is for you too Joe. I know most of your co-workers would jump at that opportunity.

 

Schedule and QOL is something that can't be "bought"...You seem to be getting testy ACL and somewhat nervous of something..I plan on staying here and wonder why you and others are so interested in "little RJ" jobs all of a suddent.

We have trip and duty rigs now..Things have gotten better every year I have been here...You love your job, I love my job...You keep your job and leave my job alone....

I only have 4 weeks of vacation, but I was able to turn the last two weeks into 5 weeks each...Something that comes with seniority...I'm not interested in giving it up to a mainline pilot who doesn't feel like things have worked out the way they expected....

 

Sorry hoss,

Only the senior slots at a regional are a good gig. The most junior slots at a major are also a good gig. The more junior slots at a regional suuuuuuckkkk and you know it.

Must suck having peaked out in your career 10 years ago and now watching the contract airlines unwinding and furloughing.

 

Tomcat,

Thanks for the respectful post. I understand where you are coming from. Allow me to make a case for some of us "lifers"....I started vacation yesterday. It is one week of vacation that has been extended into 5 weeks. Between today and the end of Sept., I will work two 3 day trips. Several of your co-workers have just admitted above this post, that they would probably bid something like that.

I was one of those evil ASA/CMR pilots who tried to get ALPA and DALPA to look as this problem years ago...To no avail...They weren't interested in a single list or flying "little" airplanes...I decided to stay and enjoy QOL and a schedule that I control..Why should I give that up now? I'm not looking to fly 777 to Africa.

I'm not the only one who thinks this way...I would estimate about 35% or so of regional pilots, depending on the carrier, have decided to stay...What's in it for us?

 

The problem with you Joe is that you have nothing to compare your "career" too at ASA. I was at ASA for almost nine years. I now have been at Delta for a year and half. The quality of life you seem to claim is so great for you at ASA is NOTHING compared to what Delta offers. And, unlike you, I can make this comparison. I am happy you find ASA to be the place for you, but please, there is NO question as to what airline offers the best career.

 

Joe,

When I checked out as a captain at NWA the first time in 2000, the majority of my OE was done in a DC-9-10 (70 seats) and I was happy to be in it. Nine years later, I haven't had a change of heart. The only thing that has changed is that you are flying my little airplane. (And I use the word "my" loosely. I know I don't own it, but we sure gave it away.)

New K Now

 

Yet I bet you don't feel the same about the 66 seat ATR I flew for 14 years...After all it was a "prop" plane....Why did we start this stupid "size matters" thing within ALPA? An airplane is an airplane...A destination is a destination....Are you saying a 76 seater is a mainline airplane, but a Dash8 isn't? How about a 50 seat jet? What makes it a "mainline" jet? Times are changing, and this RAH issue is just the tip of the iceburg...

I don't give a d@mn how many seats it has...How much time off do I have, how much does it pay, and do I have control of my schedule....It's an airplane...just like every other airplane...It has wings, some engines, some fancy guages...Who cares if it is "a DC9"....There are some in your ranks who don't like the DC9 because it is so old...They would actually have to work....

You want your cake and you want to eat it....You left for the "majors" for the big leagues....now you want to the schedule you could have if you were still here at ASA...It doesn't work that way....

 

How many Delta pilots will work 6 days between now and the end of Sept?

If Delta is such a great career, then why are some of you wanting my flying? Something doesn't compute?

Tell me why I would want to commute to reserve Maddog FO in JFK...I don't see the appeal...In fact, by reading some of your posts...I don't think some of you want to do it either

 

I second mxav8r. Pay alone at Delta tells you which airline offers the best career but one little thing I've noticed at Delta vs. the regionals is that I don't feel fatigued at work anymore. Not even on a 5 leg MD88 day in the middle of summer feels as draining as the best day at a regional.

But I probably got emotionally scarred flying 7, 9 and if you're lucky 5 leg days in a Brasilia whose packs might as well have been removed in IAH to all of the backwoods Texas and west Louisiana hotspots.

 

23 days off and 98 hours of pay for me this month. Try that after 2.5 years at ASA.