Yes - that does seem to be some of what the OP is experiencing. I'm not sure that he expected the "glory days" of old - but he obviously expected something different. I've had the same thoughts. I like the CRJ/ERJ series(I don't consider myself to have SJS though) and I had given thought to going to a good regional at some point. I thought that there would be quick upgrades with the amount of movement at the time and that I could get sneior enough to hold good lines and schedules quickly; but these boards, and the current state of the industry as a whole, have given me cause for reflection. I hope for all that the state of today's industry as you say can bounce back and recover to at least a glimpse of the past - even if not the past of the "glory days" (whenever those were according to who's opinion). I still want to be a "professional" pilot at some point in the future. I'm one of those that loves flying with a passion but I'm learning more and more about the industry and the politics of the business and it doesn't paint a rosy picture. I still have my fingers crossed though!

USMCFLYR

 

I have only been flying professionally for ten years, but if the the last ten years are indicative of a trend for the next ten years we are in for a lot of disappointment in this industry. Being a optimist I like to think we are seeing the bottom of what the industry will bare. Hopefully the tides are changing and I think there are many variables starting to form that will push this industry back in the direction we need it to go. Although there are many faults, forums such as APC, should be required reading for young pilots looking to get into this career. It can do wonders to counteract SJS and give people an idea of what this industry really is, compared to what these pilot mills try to sale it as. It is important that pilots learn as much about this industry and different airlines as possible. Understanding the "big picture" is instrumental in understanding leverage and what each pilot can do to pull his share. The industry reminds me of the old coach saying "you are only as strong as your weakest link" This industry needs to be fixed from the bottom up. It is much easier to raise the bar when the floor is being lifted also, and we are seeing this. The less desirable regionals are seeing their pilots say enough is enough. Pilot are realizing that getting your time for a couple of years and moving up and out are gone, and so they are fighting tooth and nail for compensation and work rules that are proportional to the responsibility and professionalism this career entails.

 

My shoes are clean, my uniform is clean and pressed, my shave is tight and neat, my hair is cut. I treat the passengers with respect. I treat my crew with respect. I treat my co workers with respect, and I treat management with respect. This is not to say that I dont occasionally do something out of line, or sometimes get a grease smear across my shirt. Or don't have it perfect. But I wear my blazer year round, I always wear my hat, and every time I go to work I try to exibit professionalism. Beyond this, I am not proud of my company. I am however, proud of my position, and proud of the uniform. Someone said that its hard to be professional when you are not appreciated, when you are treated like a child etc. That is the wrong way to look at it. When you are treated the worse you need to act the most professional. Wear your hats, clean your uniforms, show up to work, and do you jobs to the best of your ability so that we can show the company that we actually care about our jobs, that we are professionals and as such we deserve respect. maby then our negotiators will have a foot to stand on. Until then, if you look like a truck driver, you will be treated as such. If you act like one, expect it as well. Respect is EARNED it is not given.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Oh also, with that being said. The vast majority of the pilots I fly with look sharp and act professionaly to the passengers. It is a marked minority that look like trash in there uniforms, and it is also one of my biggest pet peves. If you want to look like trash in your uniform, go fly checks somewhere at night.

 

You show up to work and act like a professional.
You work 8 hours and the boss pays you 300 dollars.
Then the boss thinks "hmm, maybe I am paying too much"
The next day you show up to work and act like a professional.
You work 8 hours and the boss pays you 200 dollars.
Well, you aren't happy, but the next day you show up to work and act like a professional.
You work 8 hours and the boss pays you 100 dollars.
You aren't happy, but the next day you show up to work and act like a professional.
The boss makes you work 10 hours and pays you 50 dollars.
Well now you have had enough, you consider yourself a professional but you need to feed your family, so you quit flying for a living.


The boss finds someone else with SJS who doesn't shine his shoes, but will work the 10 hour day for 50 dollars.

The boss is happy.

This is what is happening here.

 

If only it was that easy. Back before Ipod's or back packs a CEO said something like this. "Flying is so much fun, the pilots should be paying us to come to work." It's not like these few pilots are the ones pulling our pay down. If that were actually the case the other 95% of us would be on their ars the minute we saw them.

 

That thinking is so foolish that it's laughable, if it wasn't so pathetic.

It's obvious that you don't have a even a clue about labor negotiations. The people that negotiate from the other side of the table respect ONLY POWER, and for the airline pilot, that's the potential to COST THEM MONEY by invoking self-help. It doesn't matter what you look like. Management does NOT respect you. You are a cost unit to be beaten down to the lowest possible level.

The fact that your pants have a fresh pressing has absolutely ZERO to do with ANYTHING.

The vast majority of airline pilots look just fine. It's a big organization and you're always going to have a few slobs, but forget it and drive on. There are a lot bigger fish to fry in this job than that.

 

Hence one of the the problems facing ALPA and other "pilot associations". We have to wear both the hat of "labor union" and "professional association". Many times those two functions are in conflict with each other.

WJI

 

I can get (generally) three days out of a shirt. If you think that I'm going to get up every day and iron it when I only have nine hours of "rest" you need to take another drink. I clean the "Blazer" once or twice a year unless it gets really dirty in between. Last but not least...the shoes were clean when I bought them and I'm not going to spend a few hours a week to shine them. The A/C I fly are filthy (in my opinion) so if the company doesn't care about their image and is too cheap (Hulas) to clean them properly, I'm not gonna get too worked up over a wrinkle on my shirt or a spot on my shoe. A previous poster said if you don't like it go fly checks somewhere or something to that effect. I would gladly go back to my frieght job. Too many childish games etc.. at the Regional level. I had more respect for my freight dog co-workers and they were more professional than many people I see at this level of the "profession"

 

Maybe you should be. Do people stop and correct these pilots who are bringing down the image of your company? It is called policing your own and it is a hard thing to do honestly; but it usually makes for a more proud, more professional core group.

USMCFLYR