True, and much as the public *thinks* they hate little planes, they like frequency way more than they like comfortable seats...they just don't realize that bigger plabes mean fewer flights. Never heard of a PAX say he'd pass on the RJ and wait four hours for the NB.

Maybe they will not pass up an RJ but plenty certainly "book" a mainline flight in the first place. I fly for the military about every other month and get to book my own flights - I always book mainline.

Now if I got to the airport early would I pass up an RJ? Generally no, if it would get me home earlier.

Passengers "like" frequency but they "love" low cost. :D

Scoop

I agree. I have noticed business travelers hurry on board 50 seat RJs and fire off one last phone call talking about finishing up business sooner than expected and pleased to be getting on the earlier flight. I remember watching one guy hang up and complain to the guy across the isle about the size of the jet after such a conversation. In the future he will not have the earlier option at all. The economics are what they are, and frequency will be cut.

Newsflash, most people are selfish and fail to think outside themselves and put anything into the context of a bigger situation, especially as applied to complex ideas such as the economics of air travel. More on this story at 11.

just because there is a shortage does not mean they hire anybody

I know people at recruiting and I can assure you that they can't find enough QUALIFIED (not only holding ATP) pilots to fill the need and the year of retirements at the majors have just started and retirements will increase the coming years.

Most regionals are loosing 30 guys per month right now, XJT lost 80 guys in one month. All the majors are hiring even Southwest and the hiring is not up to speed yet.....

They will have to ground many airplanes to compensate 300+ pilots leaving per year and that is only one place.

We will see at the end of the year if there is a shortage of qualified pilots without failed checkrides, DUI and criminal records.......

we'll see

Why not? Because the FAA certification of an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) is not good enough for them?

Being picky is any employer's prerogative by all means, but when they are choosy it does not equate to a supply shortage. If you go to the grocery store and prime rib is too expensive and you pass on buying any because it is too costly for you, that does not mean there was a shortage of prime rib.

And this, because they would not risk it on a pilot with a busted checkride or two with an ATP? No sympathy, no sympathy at all. It is not a genuine pilot shortage by such definition. They could hire people with all ~9 failed practical exams and all ~5 failed written exams rather than park these airplanes, but they choose not to do so. That is not a pilot shortage as much as a deliberate choice not to hire the many qualified pilots available.

We already know there's a shortage of top choice pilots, such as those without any checkride busts, misdemeanors, bad breath etc. What's your point?

I too have a habit of doing this. I also think the public has gotten a little smarter too now that flight bookings must show who is actually operating the flight ever since Colgan. Many are choosing to drive a few extra hours to a larger city for a mainline flight, instead of a regional connection and a layover. Travel times are almost longer for me when I dont drive 2-3 hours to MSP instead of leave from a smaller regional served airport. Also tends to be cheaper... Tried to get a flight once from MKE to Kearney, NE(KEAR). Fly into Denver then to a GLA flight. over $1,200 round trip 6 months in advance!!! Screw that, im goin to Omaha then driving.

You really are naive, aren't you? I know of examiners who gave away ATPs in a light twin like it was candy. Don't you think that maybe the airlines are being selective because they are dumping thousands of dollars into new hires that end up failing checkrides, dropping out of training or getting "let go" due to not being able to maintain proficiency. There is a difference between flying a Seminole to ATP standards and flying a transport category jet.

But I do enjoy getting lessons from people who got everything they needed to know about economics from an 11th grade textbook.

Being a "professional" pilot includes making sure one never gets a DUI and that one never gets a Criminal record.

Big part of being a Professional Airline Pilot is having good judgement and DUI and a record shows a weakness in judgement.

When it comes to failed checkrides it is looked at every individual case and it depends what they failed and if there is a trend or not.

Any company in any industry that hires "Professionals" have requirements and a min acceptable qualifications.

Just because the min for the FAA is just to have an ATP does not cut it. If they would only follow that and something happens the FAA will make them explain what they were thinking hiring a pilot with a trend of failures and a record. We have seen what that can cause in the past.

I hope as a "Professional pilot" that we never hear that it is ok to hire pilots with DUI, criminal records and a trend of failures just because we have a shortage of pilots. I know some places will eventually because they are getting desperate.

I wish the Regionals would instead increase the pay and use that to attract enough "Professional" pilots instead of lowering the bar.

There are a lot of pilots outside the profession without any problems or records that are doing something else because the Regionals do not pay enough.

The jet is easier.