I cannot argue with you on this point, it's a great one. I am not in your position and I don't envy your decision. We as a collective pilot group, regional pilots, need to determine where the line in the sand is drawn and say that's far enough. Haven't we reached that point yet? This segment of the industry is awful. Given the opportunity I'd take a few months/years off to help make the regionals disappear. It will come to that point, it is only a matter of time. Do you want to pull half your paycheck on unemployment at current rates or at lower concession rates?

Oh Saluki, how you can bring a smile to my face even in the face of this :)

P.S. what's with all this pilot shortage non sense when pilot groups *continue* to get flogged? Who the heck wants to start down the long expensive path for this lifestyle anymore?

If someone wants to stick around under new terms, so be it... if you want to be done with 9E, just quit..... don't even vote.... why vote NO to burn it down only to stick around?

The lifers are saying either pay your mortgage or stand on your principles. What happened to "99%" and "for a demonstration in unity, keep dragging your feet?" Now it's everyone for themselves, screw the industry, it's okay to make 77/HR as a 18th yr RJ captain and 35/HR as a 4+ yr FO? At some point, this job isn't worth it. Burn it down. Hold the line or you will screw the profession for the other regional airlines today and in the future.

Here's how it will happen. History almost always repeats itself. The Pinnacle pilots will sign a concessionary TA. Pinnacle will shrink. Pinnacle will eventually dissolve. Signing the TA will keep Pinnacle in business for 5-10 years. Standing your ground will end Pinnacle in 1-2 years. Again, the Pinnacle pilots are not going to stand their ground. There are pilots at Pinnacle that never will upgrade. There are captains at Pinnacle that will be downgraded and never upgrade again.

Comair, a group of airline pilots that held a 2 month strike, started giving concessions when threatened like Pinnacle is being threatened. Hell, Pinnacle is full of Gulfstream PFTers. The Comair pilots even tried to offer another concessionary TA a few months ago when they realized the end was near. The Pinnacle pilots will accept a concessionary TA of some sorts. The first offer might be turned down, but a concessionary TA will pass.

I'd like to add that all pilot groups are the same. US Airways' narrow-body first officers top out at $85 an hour. I don't know of an airline job out there that starts at $75/hour. These 18 year captains know this. Until we start paying well to start off, our industry will never recover. This is why I advocate getting rid of the longevity payscale. All we need is the max scale. A national seniority list will never happen. My idea is possible. At the majors, every single captain is already on max pay. They would just have to work on the first officer scale. Leave the seniority system alone. This is my alternative to the national seniority list that will never happen.

My fellow 9e pilots,
Five years down the road will anyone remember the 2400 Pinnacle pilots and their final stand against the industry? It is doubtful but I feel that it is coming and I think it is just. In the end you must do what you feel is right, we are facing a battle we can win, but a war we can not. In the end this will end up being a pyrrihic victory, a victory achieved at too heavy of a loss. For those of you that dont know what I am referring to read the following:

The armies separated; and, it is said, Pyrrhus replied to one that gave him joy of his victory that one more such victory would utterly undo him. For he had lost a great part of the forces he brought with him, and almost all his particular friends and principal commanders; there were no others there to make recruits, and he found the confederates in Italy backward. On the other hand, as from a fountain continually flowing out of the city, the Roman camp was quickly and plentifully filled up with fresh men, not at all abating in courage for the loss they sustained, but even from their very anger gaining new force and resolution to go on with the war.

Full pay until they shut us down

Some people might be of the opinion that its all a farce and you'll still be flying whether you give concessions or not.

Also, shouldn't concessions (if necessary) go both ways? Where's the outcry for Delta to pay more revenue to 9e?

We are on the Titanic. We have two choices: scream like frightened children, pleading to G@d for help and fighting our way to a life boat; or we can go down like men, giving our life vests to others.

Many of us have worked to improve working conditions and pay. We did... perhaps only a bit, but we did. To those who work at other respectable companies, I humbly ask that you tip your hat to us as we draw the line. We chose the wrong battle, but hopefully, our efforts, and those of our brethren will eventually win the war.

Honorable pay for honorable work. No concessions.

I, for one, choose honor.