I've been a part of that cockpit. Brand new CA w/ a former ATA L-1011 CA as my F.O. You would have been disappointed with the show. We went flying, got along great, and I had a heck of a resource sitting next to me to throw ideas and questions at.

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what CRM is all about. Regardless of what seat you're sitting in, recognize the possible wealth of knowledge and experience that may be sitting next to you and utilize it.

Good post G2TT.

 

There it is again, IBPilot. I'm starting to doubt your integerity based on your factual inconsistencies. You claim to be a senior Captain at 9E, but this is the second time now you've posted about flying with Captains. Your tone is obvious that you are a FO, and probably a pretty senior one. From the sounds of it, a downgraded CA.

And yes, ERDude32 has great points. He's mostly spot on. There's a reason why Pinnacle's old contract went from 12 year payscales to the new contract's 20 year payscale. There's not a single legacy carrier with 20 year payscales. There's a reason Pinnacle proposed a staple for Colgan pilots. There's a reason why, despite objections by a HUGE amount of junior CAs and FOs, the union tied the bonus distribution method of TA#1 to solely W2 wages. The answers to all these predicaments involves the words 'lifers' and 'seniors.' They are the reason all of the above happened like the way they did.

"Sell your soul, work for peanuts, take shortcuts, PFT, etc."
Guess what, that was the majority of Pinnacle's situation hiring after the 9/11 increase of RJ growth. The #1 source of pilots was Gulfstream. Gulfstream put out almost 550-600 pilots to NWA Airlink through its program. Who in their right mind would come to Pinnacle at $18/hr when Skywest, Eagle, and Comair were hiring at far, far better rates. Because Pinnacle was growing like crazy, and the 1999-contract-for-jets ensured that they wouldn't be making slave wages for anything longer than 12 months to 2 years max. This ended up being the case for everyone hired through 2006. Now sure, some came to 9E for its particular bases, but lets not pretend that this place was some sort of holy gospel of the regional industry. And speaking of PFT, wasn't Express I a PFT operation in the 80s or 90s?

 

Complacency on a contract feeder. You go to a major because a major isn't seeking contract feed for their mothership. They do their own flying, they don't have Airline Service Agreements due up every 5 years, nor do they compete for Request-for-Proposals (RFPs). They don't get their jets shuffled from one airline to another. Your comment is ridiculous about "half of what they're making." Even at a place like JetBlue, Spirit, or VA, the average 6-7 year RJ CA will be making his own wages in 2nd year pay, or maybe 3rd year pay. Especially at a place like 9E, where up until Feb 2011, even a 12 yr Captain topped out at $81.xx per hour. You'd have that beat at any major/LCC by year 3, once you consider the soft rules, retirement, 401k matching, etc.

To each his own. I have all the respect for guys who are trying to get out, or guys in the past who have tried to get out but didn't pass the interview (with Fedex, SWA, Emirates, etc). The ones I can't understand are the ones who are just sitting there and still haven't updated their logbooks. You're just asking to get screwed at that point. I mean, fine, stay at the regional if your life situation dictates that, but at least start updating the logbooks and the resume just in that case when your regional becomes the next Comair. Or not. Then it's less competition for others who do want to move on.

 

I never realized how many stupid pilots are out there until I read this thread.

 

Drat, you beat me to it...

 

I really don't give a crap what you think I am. Yes, I have flown with many lifers when I was an FO. I still do I fly "with" every pilot at my company. When I introduce another CA to my wife or friends, I tell them it is someone I fly with. When I introduce an FO I have never been in the plane with, I will use the same introduction-someone I fly with. Flying with= working with to me. I also sit right seat alot. And Left. Go put that in your crystal ball. Not that I need to defend myself from your cheesy accusations as to whether I'm an FO or CA. Get over your yourself and stop the FO stalkercrush fantasy on me already dude. Always gotta think you got the last word in and you're better than the rest of us, eh?

 

What does that have to do at all with the previous 15 posts???? just had to get in your daily knock of your former employer? Nobody said anything about 9e or how they were PFT. So was Comair and Coex.

 

This proves you have no idea what the "bonus" check was supposed to be. it was SOLELY supposed to be for the loss of the 2% wage increase over the 5 years we had no contract. Had nothing to do with senior guys shafting jr guys. Obviously, 2% raise of $80 an hour will be greater than 2% raise of $25 an hour. I thought that was the most fair, even though the new method got me 4K more. Why do you think that someone who came waltzing in in the middle of negotiations deserves as much as someone who has lost out since he beginning?

 

Give it up dude, even though I have known you for 3 years, if Shy says you are an FO, then you are an FO, period. There is no arguing with the great and powerful Wizard of Shy. Maybe he can make you a Virgin captain just by saying so on here?