Why would the senior guy at the regional’s want to quit all he has to go to mainline? He wouldn’t. He already makes six figures, flies a great schedule, and is probably based in his home where his wife and kids are happy. For this person, staying at the regional’s is his only choice. He better try and make it improvements on QOL issues like rigs and retirement. With that said, look at Mesa. There are guys there that have dedicated their life to this airline. They live at home, make six figures, and have a great schedule. They were also all asked to take pay concessions to keep the US Airways contract or the company will not survive. This is how management plans on whipsawing pilot groups against each other. This problem is not just a Mesa one; it is systemic in our industry. Just wait until the senior pilots at brand X airlines is asked to do the same. What would you do?

Being a lifer at a regional is great and all until their CPA comes up for renewal. Then when they find you're too old and expensive compared to the hot new startup that pays pilots $19k instead of your cushy $100k you'll be out on the street. It's happened before, and will again. That's why airlines love contract carriers so much, guaranteed to keep costs as low as possible. Even if the regional you're at offers you a decent lifestyle at the top of their heap, it's only a matter of time before you either have to take a concession or start all over at the bottom of some other company. The top dog regional today will be the bottom rung tomorrow and so on. The few that will make it through this career will be few and far between, like A-list stars in the world of actors. You'll probably have better odds if you rigorously play the lottery.

I am arguing the point about focusing (and advocating ) what is one's best interest.
I say it is increasingly likely that for most regional pilots it is our interest to fly 100 seat aircraft. The paint on the plane is another argument. 18 days off and $100k today or 10 days off and $100k in 7-10 years.

For the potential of "better pay & better QOL"!! On six year "FO" pay at the Major's, I will be making what a 20-year regional Captain makes at one of the higher paid "feeders". (Sorry if I missed your sarcasm, no smiley faces included.)


Assuming that he already lived in one of the bases that the Majors fly as well, his QOL, on reserve, would be equal to that which he experienced at the "commuters". A six figure income comes at 5-6 year FO pay at the Majors, it's really not an "excuse to stay at the regionals" because you're making it now.



To stay at the regionals is NEVER anyone's "only choice" unless they've "given up on themselves & the industry as a whole". (Barring, of course, the items like DUI's, Failed Checkrides, and/or Criminal Background that would prevent someone from moving past their current position anyway.) For someone to succumb to the fact that they have to "stay at the regionals" for the rest of their life, is that person "giving up" on the earning potential & quality of life that they could've had.

Good luck to all in the next round of hiring.

Fly safe,

GJ

Let’s state this another way: the business model for regional airlines is compromised by pilots who stay on the property over say, five or six years. You’re cutting into the profits by not moving on. In other words you’re a liability. What does management do with liabilities?

Most likely correct.

This is what it will end up being........topped out 75K/year 96-seat RJ captains and that will be (for most) the max. attainable goal. Every few years, you'll have to demonstrate what you're willing to give up to keep your job.

Economics and big business want that and what's to stop them.......pilot unions and pilots ?

Never has before......and that's when it would have been fairly easy.

Now ?

Forget it.

Why pay twice as much overall (literally) to operate and crew a 140-seat airplane, when you can do for half for a 96-seat aircraft ? Another way of looking at it, is operating 2 96-seaters instead of 1 140-seater for almost the same costs (eventually) and getting both the frequency the customer wants and the profits shareholders (and executives) demand.

A no-brainer.

JustAMushroom,

This right here, which I've quoted, is the exact thought which lends to the saying, "cutting off the nose, to spite your face".

You're not looking any further down the road than the next "ten" years or so. How long does it take for a regional captain to get 18 days & $100k? 10 years, 15 years? Once he's made that, and keep in mind once he has, and has decided to stay, he's not only keeping everyone else on the bottom of the seniority list "down", but continuing to increase the FFD cost that the regional he now works for incurs.

Your numbers are slightly off. On today's payscales, keep in mind that almost everyone has concessionary payscales as a result of their respective company going through Bankruptcy filing, an FO can make $100k in approximately 5-6 years. Assuming that he was hired in his mid-30's, as I was, (a lot of guys were in their late 20's this last round) this person has only greater potential for earnings and QOL for the next 30+ years. Again, having the potential of exceeding $200k/year when making the left seat at a Major.

So, really if you talk to anyone at a regional that "has given up on moving on", thank them for preventing someone who still has aspirations of flying for a Major, for it taking that certain FO or junior Capt. that much longer to get there.

Fly Safe,

GJ

I'd think the Majors would like to drop liabilities just as much as the Regionals. The whole purpose of a Union is to stop this kind of thing from happening.

.....+1....

If "regional" airline pilots would increase the QOL (work rules) and pay on that level and quit thinking of the airline as a stepping stone, you'd find few arguments to leave. Just what management doesn't want you to do....


When it's cheaper to train than to compensate fairly, something's wrong.

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