Actually, mainline pilots could take it all back in less than a week. All they have to do is grind the airline to a halt until management puts the planes back on the list. Management is NOT going to fold the airline over scope issues, at worst they will park the 50-76 seat jets and not fly them.

The problem with scope recapture is a numbers game. Take for example DAL if you put the 7000+ DCI pilots back on the list, they are going to want mainline pay. Money doesn't grow on trees, that money has to come from somewhere, and that's out of the senior pilot's paycheck.

FACT: This industry is exactly the way pilots want it, they show up to work, and vote yes on these substandard contracts. Most of NWA concessions were given back voluntarily before the bankruptcy of 2005.

You can say you're taking it back till you're blue in the face, it isn't going to change anything unless ACTION is taken.

“Labor built today’s regional airline industry, but for all the wrong reasons and now the regional industry is too big. Airlines and labor have built a Ponzi scheme. The forecasts all point to aircraft in the 74- to 125-seat range for US domestic flying" said MIT International Center for Air Transportation Research Engineer, Bill Swelbar.

Nice crack pipe dream. What are the chances such a thing would really happen?

After the AWA/US Air merger debacle, who would have thought that two pilot groups could consummate a merger with relatively minor bloodletting and childish bickering?

Never say never. the perfect storm could happen. :D

It would be IMHO at least 10 years where those that were on the bottom and most effected by scope would be in a position to make the decisions.

If those currently at the merged regional had seat and domicile protection, I suspect most would support it.
Not having to worry about each upcoming contract between the regional and the mainline would be a nice bonus to any regional pilot, especially if he didn't have to worry about being bumped from his seat.

Management would give back all the outsourcing if the mainline pilot group was willing to "buy it" back. Probably not likely that the mainline ALPA would pay the price, but it is doable.

The thought I have heard though and through is that the cost is too high to buy it back outright, but it makes sense to get to a point where it is advantageous for the company to fold it back it.

I know where they are going with that, and a huge first step is federal law mandating mainline-esque duty limits. It sends the cost of regional airlines though the roof. If the proposed legislation goes though it will not greatly effect the mainline carriers but the regionals will have a heck of a time with it.

Which is exactly why it won't happen. First, there are enough complaints about "socialism" in our government without another law restricting capitalism through the re-introduction of airline regulation. Second, the increase on the cost of flying to the public would produce a public outcry. Unless federal law prevented an enterprising airline from providing cheaper ticket prices, capitalism would produce a solution for this public need.

Beagle, I am not talking about re-regulation. I am talking about duty day based upon report time and duty in the circadian window. (Rest Rules) That is a safety function and the public is fine when it appears to regulate safety.

I have always said re-regulate it or get your hands completely out of it. The government does a horrible job of picking winners and losers.