AT the end of last summer we picked up a few new CFI's. One was very ****ed off that he was instructing instead of at an airline. "In June when I started they told me I'd be flying at a Regional by the end of the summer." This was September and he had about 270 hours.

For him..becoming a pilot was something to do over summer break and in his mind a 60K investment was well worth it to be an airline pilot in 3 short months. Although we all know the truth about the industry..Ive actually heard the same BS marketing still going on. Just last week I heard "Theres no better time to train for an exciting career as an airline pilot!!" at the local pilot-mill.

All it takes is a small turn around and you'll see the truth twisted until slots are filled with guys who scoff at anything other than RSD (right seat direct).

While ATP is not a cure all for what ails the industry (I'd like to see fatigue addressed) it can help thin the herd of the ZERO to HERO over summer breakers.

 

I couldn't disagree with this more. The government preventing us from having any leverage (striking) through the RLA is what maintains low wages. Give this only bit of leverage back to the pilots and you'll see pay increase in no time...especially if a strike could be coordinated between different pilot groups. Just because there are resumes on the desks doesn't mean those pilots are going to be trained and ready to go in enough time to save a company during a pilot strike.

 

Precisely. It really comes down to that.

 

At the very least they could end this whole "work under the status quo" for 4-5 years bull.... clearly that's a benefit to the company delay a contract for 4-5 years and generally there's no boost in compensation until it's finalized... aka each year inflation deals you a decreasing paycheck.... every contract needs to have an automatic raise in each year that would at least mitigate feet dragging to achieve cost savings, or maybe the cooling off period could automatically start with the ammendable date...

 

Well if the last hiring spree was any indication, people with ATP qualifications simply weren't applying to regionals. If that's the new minimum the regionals will be forced to attract the talent any means necessary. Think of all the folks working part 135 that could apply, or folks at other regionals. Just like any other business out there, airlines will have to compete to get qualified folks to work for them. That means bringing pay up to something that people would actually want to work for.

A good example is military guys. Back in the day they'd retire from the military to become airline pilots. Now, nobody in their right mind would go to even a major now after a career in the military. Most go now to the corporate world where pay is in line with their expectations. These are the people that airlines will need and should try to attract to fill those positions. Not 250 hour zero-to-heros. Same goes for folks that flew 135 freight, corporate, or basically any type of professional flying prior to flying 121.

 

You're not a military or a corporate pilot, are you?

 

Well ok poor examples. But anyway the point is very well qualified pilots are not going to the regionals and even some majors because of the low pay. If the airlines are required to hire higher time individuals they'll have to pay well enough to convince these types of pilots to work for them instead of some private jet outfit. Currently the regionals can just take people who have such low time they can't get hired anywhere else, so they can pay accordingly.

 

I disagree. It's all about supply and demand. If the feds raise the bar (reduce supply) the demand for qualified individuals will correspondingly increase. When the demand increases enough, individuals will receive multiple job offers and the best companies (pay, rules, etc.) will win out. This will leave the Colgans of the world no choice but to compete or die. They will no longer be able to compete just by lowering minimums.

 

Mainline carriers (through their pilot's scope giveaways) have figured out that having seven different contract carriers will effectively shield them from any strike.

You really are a dreamer. Most pilots are capitalistic libertarians. Keep dreaming

 

That would be flying struck work. As a union member, you cannot be forced to fly struck work.