If we would've had regulators in place looking at morgage companies giving $500.000 loans for a $200.000 homes we were not been talking about this problem now.
this problem started with the house bubble that exploded 2 years ago.

Another reason European pilots are in more demand is that the cost of flight training is obnoxiously more expensive. 235 british pounds ($365US) for a Warrior, plus all the fees associated with flying there (landing fees for each and every landing, higher medicals exams, practical exams, ect) makes a learning to fly more expensive. Makes FlightSafety look cheap. Fewer people are able to learn to fly there, hence fewer pilots, hence higher wages.

Europe has better wages for the exact reason mentioned above only a few people can afford the high prices of flight training there. Imagine $10000 just to get your written exams done. Also there aren't 30 different regionals running around in each european country. Also add to the fact that europeans that weren't accepted into the elite airline schools or have the money to do it on their own come here. It is so easy for a european to come work in the US and become an airline pilot. We are a huge country with one language to learn which by the way they teach in all schools in europe with many different airlines to choose from. Try to get a job in europe as American forget it!!! First a ton of money to convert your license and then if you want to work in germany you need to know german in france you need french. The EU does a far better job of protecting pilot jobs for their own kind.

This is called a market correction. The airlines found out that pilots will work for much less than they were paying. 9/11 was a catalyst for change in the airlines. When pilots were willing to work for much less to keep their jobs, the true market value of the job was being found.

As I, and many, have said on here recently, the market is proving exactly what the value of our labor is. If no other changes occur to change that positively, I guess it will just stay how it is. Right now, I read forums where current pilots at places like CAL are asking everybody why they are hating on CAL? They love their job and think the pay is great. Needless to say, it was a civilian-grown pilot that came up through the CRJ world. So, like I've been saying, as long as people work for nothing (or even pay companies) to fly, they will be plenty happy to fly for a 'major' or 'legacy' for anything above poverty wages. They are living their dream, and they can even afford their own apartment now! What a deal!

Incorrect. The regulators were the ones telling the companies that they had to give out those loans. With the weight of the government pushing the risky loans and the cheap lending rate that came along with it, the companies jumped in to make the big bucks. The fear of the risky loans not being paid back was of little concern since the main upstream leaders were government backed (Fannie and Freddie were basically partially gov't agencies). "The gov't will never let these big institutions fail." So, the market forces that should have kept those loans from being made were not in place.

Funny how the pro-regulation group can convince you guys that the exact intervention that has cause the market to fail is the reason we need more regulation. I wish I could convince you to pay me money for something that hurts you as easily as you let politicians convince you to give them more money for "much needed regulation."

Sad how the country that has succeeded by being one of the free-est markets in the world keeps clamoring for more regulation. Spend a little time in Europe and see what a semi-socialized economy does to your country.

I will not say much about this topic but simply this. We all know why we are willing to take peanuts for hardwork. But we keep talking about it day after day and nothing changes. We are all SELFISH.....everyone looks out for themselves and not the group as a whole.........

As others have mentioned, the cost of training difference is stagering as is the cost of living.

There is another website similar to this one, not sure if I'm allowed to mention the name so I won't. But its for European pilots. One thing they never ever o is call each other scabs and chastize those who work at tother airlines. If you like it's a far more mature line of thinking, similar to the Majors section on here.

If you want to reduce supply and demand, give up the crap such as:

1. Paying dues
2. Balsing another pilot who hasn't had to fly as many C152 hours as you

Then, get the FAA to bring in a real license that trains to a better standard and doesn't come with 10 tokens from a cornflakes packet!

I know the blasting is going to come from that comment, but seriously, learn answers to questions, fly for a little bit, eventually getting a pass, then instruct at some desperate school for $10/hr or operate teh rdio in a king air for a 500 hr and think you can go to a pax aircraft and then balst anybody who doesn't follow suit?

Try working for 14-16 months just to meet the requirements.

You are wrong. It is damn near impossible for a European to get a greencard after 9-11. You need a company to sponsor you or a 4 year degree in a needed feild. The easiest way is by marriage. Allso Eu education costs are similar to those of a 4y BS and flight training. I did both. I agree the cost of living is factor. But the difference in pay is out of proportion with the difference in cost of living. IMHO a US Regional 1st year FO should be making 3500-4000$/mo, NOT half that or less!! That would still be less than what the europeans make.

After 9-11 the only flying European's can do in the states is CFI, and if that!

A very severe pilot shortage was in the makings. It was stopped by the halt of the airline industry. The industry is shrinking. Most airlines are retiring planes, DC-9s, DC-10s, 727s... the list goes on. What planes are they being replaced with.... for a while it was the CRJ-ERJ, now its nothing. Capacity has been on the decline for the last decade. If the industry kept expanding at the the rate it was in the early 90's up to 9-11 we would be very short on pilots.