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- - Evolution + the Future of our industry. (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/36633-evolution-future-our-industry.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 553923)

I think that most would agree with you on that statement. The next question would be who will be the ones to go under?

Skyhigh

IMHO my friend, that would be completely up to the airlines themselves bringing to mind the "survival of the fittest" concept. Whoever can scale back their costs without going under would survive. SWA has done it for years and proven again and again you can be profitable by doing so. Now, their fuel hedging has helped, I'll be the first one to admit to that. But, simple things like gate utilization, and lowering ticket prices so more people can actually afford to travel would be beneficial.

just my .02 ;)

"They say that a career pilot should expect three to five furloughs before retirement"

"They" didn't say that. Skyhigh did...

The saying is "You're not a real airline pilot until you've been furloughed".

Skyhigh says he's been furloughed three times. He quit the biz (for his own good personal reasons), as a 121 757 F/O, when National Airlines (N7) went down. Before that, he worked for Horizon Air as an F/O.

Sky, please tell us about your other two "furloughs".

My opinion on the future of the biz, based on being in it since 1984, is that it goes up and down. We are down now in a perfect storm of age 65 and the economy. Will it come back? I think so. Will it be a worthy career? Or one to be incessantly bashed as a waste of your life? Only you can decide based on your personal situation, needs, and desires.

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain152 (Post 553914)

The other way I can see it balancing out is by doing what SWA is doing right now. Every airline cutting back their schedules by a certain percentage. Now, if every airline did that, then there would be almost no choice but to scale back (if not completely dismiss one or two) the regionals as well.

the definition of "regional" has been bastardized so many times over i don’t know what to think anymore.

there was a day when regional meant tulsa to salina on a 1900.
the jet made phoenix to santa barbara possible. time was you flew to LA then drove to santa barbara.
then every city with more than 4 street lights and two walmarts started getting service and most multiple times a day.
the jets began to feed the hub.
when frequency became everybody’s best friend the jets started servicing major cities at off times of the day.
regionals began flying from one class bravo to another.
then came airlines using regional jets to maintain market share in enemy territory. hence the use of RJ's on LAX-SFO or ORD to DFW.
the real transition came when someone gave these regional jets legs. i assure you when the term "regional" was first used to define an airline they didnt mean midwest to northeast.
then came the replacement of the mainline fleet with passenger friendly RJ's... a'la midwest

it was the advent of range that was the death blow in my opinion. we were all more than thrilled to ditch the tulsa to salina scenario to fly a CRJ-900 from Kennedy to Dallas. So thrilled we'd do it for 20 bucks. pennies on the dollar and every bit as efficient if not more. I personally never thought id see a day when id fly a CRJ route that blocked at almost 4 hours and crossed two time zones. i fly like a real pilot but get paid like a puddle jumper.

to see the bastardization of regional jets go no further than the following... FlyteComm: The Most Accurate Free Flight Tracking/Tracker Tool in the industry!
type "CVG" into the arrival airport block and look at the carriers.

Well said S.J.
Go get 'em.
W.A.

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain152 (Post 553914)

DAL was one of the FIRST to scale back their flying. It's being done across the board, many actually did it BEFORE Southwest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 553918)

I choose to have a life. What is the point of having a wife and children if you are only home one and a half days per week because you have to commute? Some would say to always live at your base and that is definitely good advice however your spouse and children have lives and needs as well. How can you keep asking your wife to leave his or her career and your kids to leave their friends and school to move with every upgrade, new company or base change?

Eventually there comes a time when it is too difficult or expensive to keep moving the family to follow your career changes. The next answer is then to start commuting. The job is hard enough without having to spend much of your days off sitting in airports and crash pads only to come home to an empty house because your spouse is at work and kids are at school.

SkyHigh

I've said it before, I respect and understand that. My commute is midwest to midwest, so it's bearable and very doable. Some ask why I would sit reserve out of base. I ask them if it's really fair to uproot my wife from her home and family. I know she would go with me, but I'm going to be on the road regardless. For that reason I would rather have her close to her family, this way she has loved ones to spend time with while I'm on the road. I don't agree with you on a lot SkyHigh, but I definitely agree with you on this.;):)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyHigh (Post 553901)

Your job does sound like a good one and I agree that there are some good ones left. The trick is in getting them and being able to hold on to them. I wish that I could have landed a good job. It wasn't for lack of trying.

Skyhigh

Agreed.:) Take Care

Quote:

Originally Posted by chongololo (Post 554475)

Well said S.J.
Go get 'em.
W.A.

whole week off equals 6640C and keita? let me know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnso29 (Post 553705)

Right now I'm sitting at home on reserve. I'm on a minimum 12 hour call out, but usually get 16-26 hours of notification for an assignment. I will make 60K+ on 2nd yr A320 FO pay, and could break 100K on 3rd yr pay. With DAL workrules, all but 6 of my work days WILL BE long call reserve.

I understand the bitter taste in your mouth. I think you put a tremendous amount of heart and soul into the industry, only to be kicked in crotch repeatedly. But keep in mind that good jobs are still out there. I agree that traveling across the country for 60K a year is not worth it to many. However, it's YOUR choice to commute.

Good luck on breaking $100k on 3rd year..... Heck I didn't even do that on 12 year pay.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by NWA320pilot (Post 554579)

Good luck on breaking $100k on 3rd year..... Heck I didn't even do that on 12 year pay.....

On the pre-bankruptcy contract?:confused: It's possible on the new PWA. One would have to average 82 hours a month. I know it's possible. It may not be probable though. I'm not sure because I've yet to hold block.