You have to look at it from managements perspective here. They are looking at you as a cost vs benefit. The amount it costs to train you vs the amount of time you can be online generating revenue.

Think about this hypothetical situation. (BTW I'm guessing on some of my numbers)

Pilot A is a 10,000hr former 737CA w/ ATA
Mesaba hires pilot A and spends $15,000 training him in the CRJ. He stays for a year and a half and leaves for a corporate job. Now mesaba has to spend $15,000 to train his replacement.

Pilot B is a 700hr CFI
Mesaba hires pilot B and spends $15,000 training him in the CRJ. He is a FO for three years and then upgrades. He stays as a Captain for 10 years and then moves on to the Majors (they gotta hire sometime). Mesaba now has to spend $15,000 to train his replacement.

The point is that with lowtime guys management knows that those pilots are more likely going to stick around longer (on the line generating revenue) than those higher time guys. As an added bonus too, management and scheduling may be able to pull a few fast ones on pilot B, that Pilot A might call the BS flag on.

 

Two words: Law School.

 

Agreed...which is why I said "I also understand why Mesaba is doing it." It simply makes financial sense to hire someone who will stay 5+ years vs. somebody you know will be gone at their first opportunity for a job providing better compensation and/or lifestyle.

No matter the reason, it still looks crappy to the highly experienced pilots collecting unemployment right now while 22-23 year olds are getting hired by the couple 121 airlines hiring.

(and no regional airline, Mesaba included, wants captains with 13 years longevity there. They'd rather you upgrade in 2-3 years, be a CA for 2-4 years, and be gone before you start really costing them in wages and vacation)

 

Me thinks you might be on to something there...

 

Cairo..........Thats in Egypt

 

Because the low time noob has stars in his eyes and thinks it's the greatest thing ever to be in an rj. They overlook the pathetic pay, horrible lifestyle, horrible treatment, and put up with whatever is dished out their way and happily beg for more - because 'flying an rj is so cool!'.

The more experienced people have been there, done that, and won't happily bend over for the companies abuses. Companies know they treat pilots like crap, they know that given time most pilots wake up to this reality and their BS threshold is lowered. The companies want to hire those that are clueless and will eat [poop] with a big smile on their face while thinking they are living the high life.

They couldn't care less about experience. They just need a warm body in that right seat and leave it mostly up to the captain to make sure he stays in line and doesn't press too many buttons.

 

Lots of young people leave this industry the first year because the they don't like it. Lots of younger unexperienced people get fired for doing immature things (trying to get through security drunk, running around streets naked, etc.). The training costs to replace these people is higher than re-training a high time more mature pilot with 3000 hours who stays for two years. I don't buy the arguments that many have offered.

 

Older, experienced Pilots drink too...and they often have more to drink about!

 

Famous manager at ASA was quoted as something something to the effect of the Regional airlines are nothing more than a stepping stone and we count on 5 year turnover from every employee as a fact of business. Kind of makes you really not care about fuel savings, better work rules, or the like due to the fact that their showing you the door in essense.

 

True, but age has taught them how to hide their drinking better.