(that was sarcasm)

 

Ultimately it is our fault for accepting a low paying job. Of course it goes a bit deeper with the carrot of one day making the big$$ being dangled in front of you. The mantra of seniority and dues paying (total B.S in my opinion) keeps the sheep coming in for the slaughter.

I had a little chat with one of the big wigs from my MEC last week about national seniority lists. I expressed a need for one and he agreed. He also let me know that it will never happen. I also agreed with him. Unions have us shackled to a seniority number. Management knows you most likely will not leave a crap company to go to a better one and start back at the bottom again. There is no reason for management to EVER pay or treat you better. Like a battered house wife we stick with a company no matter how hard they pimp slap us.

RLA has neutered the power of unions. ALPA is as useless as a mall cop with his walkie talkie and flashlight. They know this and they keep taking 2% a month anyway. ALPA is in the union business. Period.

 

It will take the willingness to walk and actually do it. So far only Comair has had the opportunity (and the stones).

 

I'd say several would walk tomorrow if they could.

 

And look where that got them. Its a sad state of affairs that regionals are doomed to constantly be racing to the bottom. The moment one gets to pricey they get replaced with some up and coming operation with young low time pilots (or desperate furloughees) who are chasing the quick upgrade.

Outsourcing was designed specifically to get around pesky unions and their ability to artificially raise wages. Until we put a cork on regional flying through regaining scope at the majors, nothing will be allowed to change. While I'm encouraged by everyone's spirit in striking for better pay, I dont' think in the long run we'll ever make progress in this lovely corner of aviation.

 

They walk (and fly) among us.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/re...ns-states.html

Regional pilot have been blaming their lot in life on everyone but themselves.

I'm going to call them on it every time I get the chance.

Be it when they ride on our jumpseat or me on theirs.

 

These creeps are my potential competitors. I want to institute something like this in the US and get paid for it. I'll promise you quick turbine PIC and no need to wait for upgrade at the regionals. I'll charge you say $35,000 for 500 hours PIC on a regional jet. Beat that.... that's $70 per flight hour. Cheaper than a Cessna 172 these days. If you are an FO who can't get hired, I'll offer you some FO positions so you can build time and I'll undercut Gulfstream Int'l Airlines or at least have you in a jet for that kinda money.

There is no shortage of fools in the US pilot population. Everyone ****es and moans about pay, yet they do it because "how else are they going to get their time to move on?"

Well, I want to offer them a choice to allow them time to get their PIC time without having to wait their turn at crap regional. I want everyone to have their 1000 turbine PIC so they can move on right away... while I laugh my butt off all the way to the bank.

 

These guys have been around for years, even advertising in flying magazines.

Word is, they get you to plunk down a chunk of money, strand you somewhere for a quick & dirty groundschool while you wait your chance to fly the "big-iron", and never actually get any real stick time. They've gotten in legal battles from people suckered who want their money back.

So, on the original topic, I have a hypothetical question...if a start-up airline was to offer $50hr. for f/o and $100/hr. capt. with no seniority, no contract (FAA min's) and no benefits-just straight pay-would people be lining up for it?

I ask because I'm interested in what motivates pilots more...after looking at another thread on Pinnacle/Colgan reserve, (no offense)but all I can say is "holy crap!" ... there are some things worth more to me than just hourly payrates. Long Call, Short Call, block-or-better, min. duty day, max. monthly airport reserves, pass on a trip, junior manning, incentive pay.....

I work for a regional.
I knew the pay would suck.
A good contract would be more valuable to me than just raising the pay a few dollars.

My $.02

 

Sometimes being a sub-contractor is a biatch. The lowest bidder usually wins out in the sad world of subbing.

 

Your priorities are all out of order. You forget that mall cops gets to wear hats that are cooler than ours and better conveys a sense of authoritah!