Why were minimums so low?
 

Back in 07 when you could get a job w/ a wet commercial?
Was it all demand based?

Easy...The company's has two options at that point to attract candidates.

A- Increase wages and incentives, and attract a much more qualified candidate and better pilot or.....

B- Literally lower minimums as low as they possibly could, knowing you'll have thousands of sub 1000 hour pilots willing to take a 20 thousand dollar a year job, just so they can play airline pilot.

Unfortunately it will always be like option B. No matter how much we say we won't accept these insanely low wages, there will always be a 1,000 more pile-it's that will...

Yes. You haven't been hiding under a rock the past couple years have you?

We couldn't get enough folks with higher times so mins were lowered. IMHO, mins won't be that low no time soon. If you're looking to get in, get your times up.

What are you talking about? Everybody was flying not too long ago, who were these "much more qualified" pilots you are talking about? There were quite a few eminently qualified persons who joined the regionals because it was the only game in town. Also, in my experience, more qualifications don't necessarily mean a person is a better pilot.

The reason 121 airlines hired sub 1000 hour pilots with little experience is because there was no one left to bring aboard.

Not even close.... the reason is because there were not enough experienced pilots who would accept those jobs... there are 2,000 pilots alone from AA on the street, and thousands more from countless other "real" airlines... there was NO shortage of experienced qualified pilots, there was a shortage of people willing to work for nothing.

"the reason is because there were not enough experienced pilots who would accept those jobs... there are 2,000 pilots alone from AA on the street, and thousands more from countless other "real" airlines... there was NO shortage of experienced qualified pilots, there was a shortage of people willing to work for nothing." -Nicely put Mason.

Until there is one source of pilots controled by pilots the labor side will suffer. Take a look at what it takes to become a union electrician. Step one, get a union card. Step two, go job hunting. One source, one path, and they set their pay rates. What happens when a Journeyman looses his job? He applies for another one at the same pay rate. The contractor still chooses who they hire so the best electricians stay employed.
I'd rather have a pilot's union set the standard of what a 121 pilot should be rather than the government or an airline.

Is there a shortage of people willing to work for nothing now? Actually it's because there were more jobs than pilots could fill.

Good point although in fact some of those pilots from "real" airlines did join the regional ranks. More accurately, I should have said there was no one left to hire who wants to move on to a "real" airline who hasn't already
been there and is awaiting recall. Better?;) We all wish that our "regionals" were actually the smallest equipment at a "real" airline and that we were on a better seniority list. However, we didn't let that cat out of the bag and we're all just a little sensitive and weary of being blamed for a situation all you "real" pilots and deregulation created. We on the civilian side are simply playing the best hand we have to get a better job.

Management would say there is!

"Generally", a furloughed pilot, especially a major airline furloughee, is very low on the list to get hired in a new pilot position for the following reasons (assuming the furloughee is trying to get hired in a pilot position that may be a step back or sideways):

- Unless they are willing to give up their recall rights (most won't), they may leave at any time, possibly not allowing the new airline to recoup their training and employment cost.

- New airline doesn't want to pair the "experienced" furloughee with a potentially less experienced Captain. They are concerned about how the furloughee will feel and act "pulling gear for a kid".

- Perceived, or otherwise, potential for a "bad attitude" from the furloughee.

I remember interviewing several furloughed pilots. We didn't hire one. The company was much more interested in the pilot that saw the position as a step up instead of a step sideways or down.