I know a lot of threads have talked about doom and gloom in the future for the regionals i.e. fuel/oil prices, reserve/upgrade times and hiring. What is everyone's opinion on the near and present future? Good? Gloomy? or more than likely stayin' the same?????

 

Upgrades will likely slow, and RJs (especially 50 seaters) will likely start to be replaced with larger aircraft or parked altogether.

The bottom line is NOBODY knows what the "honest future" will hold...

 

The future will hold uncertainty.

Anxiety regarding hiring is forecast, furloughs are on the horizon, as is hiring, long upgrades will happen, short upgrades will happen, Aircraft will be bought, sold and parked.

Bottom line - nobody knows.

Seniority is everything, but it's also the golden handcuffs. My advice? Get out while you still can!

 

Who knows. Some regionals will be able to hold out longer than others if it comes to parking a/c, furloughing. IF that happens. People always say the 50 seaters will be parked and larger a/c will be obtained. Though that's a possiblity, it won't happen overnight. Remember, rates need to be negotiated for these larger a/c. That takes time. Pilots simply won't accept any less than we are currently making, hopefully, and management will use high fuel costs to low ball contracts. It'll be a standoff, who knows who will win. I say more pay, or close the doors.

 

is it soley the cost of the barrel that is making everything haywire???

 

No. It's the value of the U.S. dollar

 

The honest future is known to only those "honest" men in suits that sell oil.

On that note, the Goonies is on TV.

 

No. It's management greed. Even when oil was at a reasonable price and the dollar was worth a little more the airline industry was still "haywire". This is nothing new. If this were truly a customer service industry and not a "please the shareholder" industry it would be better for labor, management and most importantly the customer. Unfortunately CEO's are more than willing to make changes that will incur short term profits to please shareholders and get a fat 7 digit bonus at the end of the quarter. Short solutions only flush this industry further down the toilet in the long run. CEO's don't seem to take pride in their own product... they know when the airline goes TU they will get a huge severance package and move on to a different industry to screw.

the cycle is continuous and ever accelerating.


Read the book "Hard Landing"

http://www.amazon.com/Hard-Landing-C.../dp/0812928350

 

Aviation as a profession has been on a long slide since deregulation. Advances in automation and the multi crew license will insure that in the future pay and working conditions will continue to degrade. We are our own worst enemy. Pilots seem to keep coming no matter how low the wages get. Companies will just hire younger and lower experienced pilots for less pay.

SkyHigh

 

I could even see them hiring foreigners when the wage gets too low for even the bottom of the barrel guys (MESA and TSA types) to accept.

I hope for the best though. I love my job (when the door is closed).