What you say is absolutely true, but it's also absolutely what keeps there from being good pilot jobs.

 

The potential for a quick upgrade may be a consideration for someone that is thinking about working for a regional. There is a great deal of unpredictability in this industry, so saying Great Lakes is a better choice than one of the "top tier" regional airlines is purely subjective. However, claiming that Great Lakes Captain pay is comparable to SkyWest FO pay is flat out incorrect. On 3rd year CRJ pay you would make $10/hour more (assuming a nice mix of 200/700/900) trips than you would flying left seat at Great Lakes. When you also consider the difference in per diem and the availability of open time for additional income, the two don't even come close. Again, there are lots of other factors to be considered, but from a purely financial standpoint, there's no comparison.

 

Really what crack are you smoking? I did a 2 year stint while on furlough, upgraded in 6 months and gladly accepted my recall to Xjet. I never made anywhere close to what I was making at Xjet while at Lakes. Second year pay at Xjet is greater than the top pay on the E120. Trust me I am not saying our pay is great at Xjet but it's light years ahead of Lakes.

Going to Lakes is a tough decision there are many CA's at Lakes who thought they would be gone by now but are still there. Heck the FA's make more than FO's on first year pay, contract talks are going now where currently.

 

Please, enlighten me as to what a "good pilot job" would entail?

I have someone very close in my life who flew F-15's then went to AA. He has been an FO for 20+ years. No Captain because of the lack of growth in the company. Guess what? He loves his life and his job. He makes the best with what he has to work with. (which is significantly less than what he thought he would be making at this point)

Anyone who thinks that little baby Great Lakes is keeping there from being good pilot jobs is mistaken. You can't say a BE1900 crew is holding back the industry because of their pay/QOL. The legacies don't give a care as to what a small turboprop operator is doing. Oh, and we don't take mainline flying away, as if that isn't said enough on here.

Only thing GL does is produce some excellent pilots who are willing to make ends meet on low pay. But don't be mistaken, when the time comes the pilots at Lakes will make a stand for better pay/QOL.
A good pilot job is one that the person who is in the seat upfront is enjoying what they do. I would say flying F-15's is a good job. I would say flying a 777 is a good job. I would say flying the BE1900 is a good job. They all pay you money, some more than others. Get over it.

My .02

 

Been negotiating a cotract for how long now, most people at lakes weren't on property when they started negotiations, sure to make a stand!

 

Dude, you have no idea what you're talking about. It's a little more complicated than that and what you said is very disrespectful to our union leadership who have spent 1000's of personal hours taking care of our negotiations. Again, spread the hate elsewhere.

Anyone on here who has never worked a Lakes but has an opinion about working at Lakes is ill informed. Their opinion should be taken that way. If someone is interested in working here, then please ask any questions.

 

How long has lakes been negotiating for a new contract?

 

Pilot Jay I have questions for you about working at Great Lakes. I can not PM yet. Can you email me at [email protected]

 

How long was AA working on "negotiating"? I don't care how long we have been negotiating. I knew what I signed up for with Lakes and why I came to the company. I've gotten everything I wanted plus more. No complaints. If we have the opportunity to "take a stand" as a result of our unions tireless efforts then you can bet your a$$ we will "take a stand"... You have no idea what point we are at in "negotiations" so don't sit here and preach like you know what we are going through. It may be 30 days it may be 3 years before we reach a point that YOU would even begin to see what we have been working on for so long. Sorry, I just annoyed by ignorant people.

 

I already told you that it wasn't as simple as how long. I already told you it was more complicated.

I don't remember if it was before or after our current contract expired when we ousted those crooks at the 747 local who embezzled all our money (unity). We then voted in our current union(unity).

Then, negotiations started for the flight attendants, as they hadn't had a contract for 9 years. These negotiations held up the pilot's negotiations for a big chunk of the time since our last contract expired. When the flight attendants hit an impass, they told the company they would strike and the mediator said they would be released. The company said they would park the 120's and just fly the 1900's. The mediator said he would also release the pilots since we are now in the same union (unity). The flight attendants had a new contract a short time later.

Our union leadership has had over 50 negotiation meetings with the company and mediator. We have been waiting on the government for things to continue. If we get released, I think we will strike with over 99% agreeing to (unity).

If your statement implies that we have no unity you are very wrong. Your statement that most pilots on property are new since the contract negotiations is wrong. If your statement implies that the reason we don't have a contract is because we have no unity, you are dead wrong.

Considering the reality and circumstances of our situation, this has gone as quickly as possible.

By what I can gather from your info, you have an interest in RAH. I have never worked there, have no idea what your union has gone through, and I have zero idea about the state of your unity. Therefore, I would never be so stupid or brazen to make a blanket statement of the affairs of RAH's pilots or union. Spread the hate elsewhere.