ALL, yes ALL of these routes should be mainline, no matter what aircraft is flown on them. Even if pay would still suck flying a S340, or whatever, this would still provide the best opportunity for all of us in the long run.

 

Beat me to it... Most people I know wouldn't leave a regional to go to Jet Blue because it's considered a lateral move.

I agree that most people would like to see the regionals be just that. What they used to be flying props. I wonder how many big mainline flyers who are on here throwing the "punk kid" regional pilot under the bus actually came from a regional themselves. Kinda makes me sick to think about.

 

Alright! Someone gets it!

Onfinal

 

Until you guys get that 'regional' airlines are just the airlines way to meet market demand and get around labor agreements that were made when airlines made money, you're just going to keep spinning your wheels. Unless EVERYBODY that operates an air carrier in the United States decides that they are going to raise their operating costs collectively (WHICH IS ILLEGAL), the market will continue to try to provide the service for the lowest price able. That means operating the airplane that can do the job for the least cost. If labor costs are so different in the 'regional' world, then that could overcome the inefficiency of not flying the best airframe for the route.
We all want to get paid as much money as we can, but nobody is exempt from market forces except the government. And we know how efficient they are at providing services. I guess Amtrak drivers (engineers?) are probably happy that they get paid whatever they get paid even though their company is insoluble and horribly managed. I guess we could turn our airlines into another Amtrak and then maybe all the pilots would be happy. Well, that's if they can convince the government to set pilot wages at the levels you want them to.

 

Wow really because almost every guy I fly with is a former legacy driver. Furthermore, almost all are staying or have already bypassed recall...except for the some of the United drivers who went back. Some lateral move I tell you. Keeping telling yourself that being a regional CA at Republic is the end all get all & you'll never have to make any "lateral moves". Jets at mainline, props at regionals would solve many, many problems.

 

I agree with your last statement. Pilots don't make that decision though. Especially the ones that just started. All I was saying was that yes, I think Jet Blue would be a lateral move for me in the long run. And after reading your post a second time, I realize that you thought I was speaking of everyone coming to Jet Blue as a lateral move. That wasn't my intention. I just think for me as a regional pilot at Republic it would be lateral. And also don't forget where you came from. There are alot of guys here at the Majors that came from regionals. Don't trash the guy trying to get what you have.

Oh, and for the record. I'm not a lifer here. I don't give a **** about being a 170 CA. I want to move on to better things.

 

Most scope clauses have limits of 76 seats or less. There are a few 90 seat rj's....If the market builds, and the "76" seat jet is too small now...here comes the larger aircraft.

 

Ok I've spent the last 40 or so minutes reading through this thread.., I realize it's just guys talking shop. It just seems so irrelevant.., all the what if's and finger pointing. As a pilot group, the ONLY thing any of us seem to have control of is scope.., am I right? Other than that, joe pilot fly's what and where they (management) tells him/her to fly. I mean c'mon guys, MANAGEMENT at any level be it Mainline, or Regional does only what they can get away with. We honestly have no control over their actions except through our union reps and our respective scope clause(s).

In my opinion all the finger pointing/stereo typing in the world will change NOTHING, and only serves to fragment and weaken us (as a profession) more and more. Management continues to get what it wants.., given time...,economics, and (for the most part) inneffective, fragmented union representation. sigh.., there's got to be a better way.

Although I have read some interesting, insightful thoughts from various folks on the subject of improving our profession at ALL levels, it doesn't seem folks who frequent this board are very interested. So please continue.