Confused

Wicked true

minimwage4

I agree.. open a window and smell the fresh air. The sun is out. And best way is to vote with your feet.

Apokleros

So I have to ask, what is the point of this thread? It's an entertaining scenario to ponder for a minute, but the reality is that it will never happen for too many reasons that I care to list here.

If a vast percentage of regional-airline pilots were to quit, I reckon that it would quickly force airline management at least to take into account what is being demanded from them. There is just no way that the airlines could replace those pilots in time as things stand currently with retirements and what not, but...

...good luck persuading folks to cut off their means of supporting themselves and their families. Some pilots will even take advantage of the situation as noted by others, and use the opportunity to upgrade and to reap the rewards of those who would quit or strike. I can't really blame them, either. The whole gist of the OP sounds so laughable that many would just laugh it off immediately.

NoLightOff

Point of the thread is just to get people to share and discuss ideas on improving the industry. The career is broken and could use much improvement. I don't claim to know the answers but I like asking the questions.

I do know that in Gordon Bethune's book he describes how the airlines are at the mercy of the pilots joining up and bringing the operation to a stop. What would it take? Maybe 25% of the regional FO's just calling out the same week to take notice? There's a reason why it's illegal to organize something like that. Because it would work. There's a reason American pilots are some of the lowest paid in the world. We've been turned against each other and only look at the small picture.

Magpuller

The interesting thing about this idea is that is does not need to be taken out all the way to pilot's quitting.

If just 30% of all US pilots on a given day at a given time took an extended "lunch break"..say 4 hours, then you'd get everyone's attention.

The sad thing is that it would work but there isn't even remotely enough unity in the industry for it to ever happen.

MikeB525

If the tax calculator I found is accurate, it appears to be about the same as living in Jersey, except for Quebec and Prince Edward Island which are higher.

JoeyMeatballs

Not to start a debate but the L-XJT contract is superior to ASAs in every way, shape and form

Rnav

The poll is pointless. Since there is no realistic way 100% would quit, that means not one person who said yes would quit. If the poll was asked if 65% or 75% of pilots walked tomorrow would you too and people said yes that would have merit.

Besides if you guys quit everyone that is furloughed or sitting on the side lines would take your spot. The endless cycle would continue... Welcome to the airline biz, it is what it is.

skyxbomb

Internet polls and entertaining but useless threads will do nothing to improve our pay or qol at regionals. Maybe volunteering for hotel, safety, Jumpseat, CIRP committee and whatnot will improve our qol. Or do you guys feel like your 2% due should cover someone else in your airline to volunteer for free to improve your lives for you. Oh and the volunteers pay the dues as well by the way.

JamesNoBrakes

But the airlines have everything stacked in their favor and they know it. The guys working for regional airlines are typically the ones that can't go a few months without pay, most pilots in general lean far to the right, either from the military or their upbringing, and they are usually "against" unions, then you have the union itself, which is basically at odds with itself, trying to impossibly satisfy the needs of major pilots at the same time as regional pilots. Then there's the RLA, the public perception of pilots earning 200K/yr, the fact that they HAVE to make their flight across the country to go lay in the sun, and so on. You might even add into the mix that pilots go through a lot of training and have very good skills, but part of the allure is massive amounts of time off, once again tarnishing the public perception. It's an uphill battle all the way, and unless you actually walk, whether in force or individually to find better paths, there isn't much that can change IMO. Too much is stacked in favor of the other sides.