I am hoping to go to ASA in a couple months, and I am a little concerned to say the least. Hopefully everything will be okay though.

The answer to this is a somewhat lengthy macro economic discussion but here goes. After the major airline scope clauses survived 9/11 and all the bankruptcies the role and therefore size of the regional sector was more than likly forever fixed to an upper gage or seat level. (roughly 70 seats) If the scope clauses were ever to be circumvented it would have been then. Since the only way to increase aggregate passenger count of the National Airspace System is to increase seat count on existing flight frequency, (number of flights the system can handle is basically fixed and all the fancy free flight and GPS direct in the world can't get around the fact that at some point we all have to get in a line three miles behind each other a land on fixed number of runways) the utility of the RJ will continue to wain as passenger demand increases. (not to mention the horrendous seat mile efficiency made worst by $100 oil) This is evidenced by the fact that no one has built a 50 seater in almost 3 years and the feds are considering minimum seat counts for aircraft arriving in the most congested locales. The demand is now for a 100 seat jet, a segment which is largely owned by major airline pilots. These facts coupled with the fee for departure, race to the bottom scenario means that unless regionals can find something else to do with their aircraft, they will be relegated to ruthlessly compete for a larger piece of an ever-shrinking pie. My guess is this will result in the sector returning to its mid 90's level with a few large players doing the lift. Someone has to fly to Valdosta, GA, the question is: who will it be in 5-10 years?

Of course one more aerial visit by our camel loving friends would delay all this a decade or so.

I'd say you and all the other regional drivers don't have anything to be worried about as the attrition will come from the top of the seniority list due to pilots upgrading to the Majors, rather than furloughs at the bottom. Hiring may slow at some locations but pick up at others. If you are worried about losing feeder service in ATL in favor of JFK, count the number of Delta tails on E concourse some time... there are plenty of international departures out of the southeast US. From a passenger stand point ATL is a much better international gateway than JFK and there are plenty of southerners that need to hitch a ride on a big ole jet plane to get around the world.

We all get the point, but you didn't quite have to put it in those words.

I'm sorry, how would you have put it? How bout' a comment on the substance of the text.

gotta love the ol' USA, lets all be respectful to the people that killed thousands on 9/11...............

Of course, Saab! We must always remain Politically Correct ::gasp:: Lest we offend somebody or anybody :rolleyes:

I think he got it right.

Generally speaking, I don't think this country has ever really been afraid of offending. :cool:

You guys are right, everyone who is Arab is a terrorist. I don't know what I was thinking. I have no respect for those responsible for 9/11 and Im not suggesting tolerance or PC for them. But those who might simply look like them or be from the same place don't deserve to be lumped into the same category by being called camel loving friends, that's all.