The musical chairs that we call "our flying" will continue and lord knows RAH will grab anything they can get their hands on. Not a bad approach for them considering what they've become over the last ten years. When flying shifts hands it is always at somebody's expense but thats the way the business world works. Regionals are contractors, this isn't a gentleman's club and as pilots, we're very far removed from the goings on that actually affect our individual and collective futures.

I don't blame pilots for looking greedily at somebody else's flying, there are lots of pilots who would love to get a chunk of the express flying my company does. Most of us are hungry for an upgrade and an interview with another company, which can be facilitated by additional flying. I think the underlying problem with an abundance of greed and no perspective on the issue is the potential race to the bottom that can ensue. The system finds a way to balance things out and luckily places like Mesa are not thriving.

Regionals were never designed to be career airlines, they evolved from the commuters which were purely stepping stone operations. You roll the dice and hope your regional thrives long enough to get you the magic number of PIC time to get you an interview, after that a regional has served its purpose. Just don't forget that its all cyclical. 6 years ago the top regionals were Comair, American Eagle, Air Wisconsin now look where they are. Just two years ago XJT was one of the places to be now they're fighting for their contract. It doesn't stop at the regionals, 10 years ago United was one of most desirable airlines and Continental the least. If you expect anything more than a paycheck for the work you did last week, you will eventually be disappointed by the corporation you work for.

A little humility goes a long way in this dynamic business

Very well written. I agree with it all.

the real question is: how much money will Republic throw at Alaska to let them join forces?

Bingo. Is the amount that Bedford loans relative? Look at how much he's "loaned" out to Frontier, Midwest, and Ukelele. What would that equal to with Alaska?

Don't forget, boys and girls, the rumor that we're not getting our bonuses this year is directly related to this...

It is upsetting to see 'get more of our guys off the street' comment as the same situation is sending my co-workers to that same street. It is also a bummer that we would lose flying from the highest paid regional to a lower paying regional (a losing situation for all). And this also means more Alaska jobs being outsourced (fewer jobs at the majors for all of us). If there is a silver lining to be had at least Republic pays semi-reasonable wages.

I realize that this is the nature of the industry. It is just very unfortunate that things like this happen on an on-going basis. I was chatting with one of our guys that was negotiating on behalf of the Horizon pilot group a couple years back. The company wanted us the fly the 90-100 seat airplanes with our 70 seat pay-rates. They started threatening us with out-sourcing our jobs when we said no. We do hope that it remains a threat.

It's all just rumors though. I will believe it when I see it in the paper (and our management at error group will do their best to keep it under wraps so that we hear about it first in the mainstream news).

They better not RAH has still been making money hand over fist. What BB does with it is a different story but continuing operations are making boatloads.

You say you are there just to get you upgrade, some PIC time and move onto the next step, a Major. The problem is that your company, and mine, like all regionals, have cut the throats of the Majors. There won't be a job left to have with them. In fact the only thing regional about your company, is its name. You fly coast to coast on mainline routes working for slave wages for a shot at the dream. Every E-170 and CRJ-700 replaces what should be an A-320 or 737. Blame who you want but all that need to happen is the Pilots at the majors refuse to hire anyone with RJ time. That should put a stop to the undercutting.
And get off you holier than thou perch. Republic IS the new Mesa. Mesa did not become the unliked airline it is from the low wages and work rules. I became that way from side stepping scope and flying large iron at regional rates. Republic is doing the same thing but in a more devistating way. When Mesa added more jets, they offered jets for jobs so at least the pilots that were put on the street had a job with us. Republic is just cutting and running. The will see to it that every former major pilot doesn't have a job. That way they can keep the experience and fight out of their cockpits. They don't want guys getting savy to the fact that what they are doing is scab work.

Republic is the new plague

Republic did a jets for jobs with USairways, thats how we got our 170/175 flying for them. do your research before you start spouting off. Several of the j4j guys have declined recall at mainline and have stayed with us.

I only comment on this website when someone says something aggravatingly brainless (and not to mention, doesn't proofread to at least attempt to sound intelligent when publicly displaying their thoughts). Comment complete.