Uh, pretty sure there are. Back in '06, I spoke to an AA pilot who had been in the right seat for 22 years, and had finally upgraded in the Super 80...

First of all, I think all the american guys on furlough were all TWA. Second of all, there are not any pilots at American with 1-4 years of expierence because they haven't hired since the 90's. Third of all, if the regionals paid more than the majors the regionals would have the most expierenced pilots, cause nobody would leave. Without saying anything about the colgan crew, if the pax want more expierence maybe they should only fly on airlines that pay thier pilots well.

Alright. Let's clear up some bad info being put out here.

1. There are lots and lots of 10+ year FOs at AA. It takes a lot longer than that to make Captain. AA has a VERY stagnant crew force with very little upward movement. There are still 1900+ AA pilots on furlough.

2. Not all AA furloughees were ex-TWA. About 1000 were "native" AA. There are FOs at AA that have been on furlough for 7 1/2 years now, with no end in sight for another 4-5 years due to new age 65 rule.

3. AA was hiring until management stopped classes in Sep 2003 and started furloughing.

4. A 10 year 737 FO makes about $99k a year flying a 75 hour month. A 12 yr 777 FO makes about $125k flying a 75 hour month.


IMHO, the flying public doesn't give half a hoot about the experience level in the cockpit, only the price of the ticket.

....................oops

Thanks for clearing that up :rolleyes: Someone missed my point, oh wait everyone missed my point.

The article wasn't so bad or specifically trying to scare people. That was the point.

If you've been watching CNN at all over the past 2 days you'd understand that wasn't directed at this thread per say. The media are friggin idiots and that don't know what they're talking about and will say anything to engage the listener.

Yeah I've been posting a lot. It makes me feel better. Been talking to a lot of friends/family/coworkers as well. Thank you for your concern though :)

"I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing wheter it is true of false is guilty of falsehood, and the accidental truth of the assertion does not justify or excuse him."
-President Abraham Lincoln


I have flown with the gamut in part 121 pilots, from the 30, 000 hour old crusties to the 300 hour wonders.

The difference?

29, 700 more opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them...

He seems shocked that the Colgan crew had not spent decades with the airline. Does he forget that everbody has to start somewhere? We can't all show up with 25yrs of experience and 20,000hrs ready to go, unfortunately.

Right the heck on! How many hours did Mr. Sullenberg start with? Zero. We have to get the experience somehow, and the flying public yowls when tickets cost more, and scream when something bad eventually happens.

Oh, then they get in their cars and smoke, talk on the cell phone, cut people off, and generally endanger themselves, other drivers, and pedestrians. But that's OK, because cars good. Airplanes bad.

Not sure which majors you are referring to, but you're wrong about the experience level.

That said, I know there are many highly experienced pilots at the regionals.