Major liability for regional mistakes
 

Airline laments hiring of Flight 3407 pilot : Home: The Buffalo News airline laments hiring of regional pilot.


I want to point out a very interesting point in this article:
"But the executives withheld judgment on a new proposal by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., that would make major airlines legally responsible for crashes by the regional airlines they hire to run their smaller routes."

I think there is alot of merit in this comment. I strongly agree with Senator Johanns proposal, because it will help put an end to underbidding contracts, which is an underlying problem in the poor pay and quality of life in the regional airline industry. Majors would start awarding contracts based on more than just lowest bidder (preventing automatic awards to bottom feeders like CJC), because they now share liability.

The may force many of the majors to either directly control their regionals or perhaps own them outright. The larger regionals will fare better then the smaller ones and those that already have a tightly controlled network will see little changes and thus less future expense.

I saw this before you posted it and that comment also was the one to catch my attention. I agree with you.

Completely agree, this would be a great step for the industry. Hopefully the Senator makes it happen. Where is ALPA on this one?

I would hope that they'd pass a law stating that a corporation can have only one operating certificate.

Very good point. The thought of a major whipsawing a pilot never even crossed my mind, since I've been accustomed to seeing it at a regional level. I think I might contact my congressman about that one.

Excellent idea. Seriously, not kidding.

Think of the poop storm that would ensue with all the contracts that have language concerning ALL pilots on the certificate on a single seniority list.

I sure wish they would ask a pilot.

I totally agree. I like this idea. I think it would only be a step forward for regional QOL and for the industry as a whole.

Nothing wrong with the proposal, but any halfway decent plaintiff's attorney is going to get the major airline on the hook anyway...they sold the ticket.