Banja

This is precisely the issue. In any other profession, employers know that if you increase the level of qualification of applicants then the pay must be commensurate with that increase. In other words, if you as a company require more experience you must match it with $$. I realize this was a government mandated change, however the natural laws of hiring people don't change at all. Regional airline management is simply "behind the curve" and is currently unrelenting to secure a future for themselves.

rickair7777

Glad to hear the GAO gets it, and is not going to recommend opening the floodgates for H1B visas. I doubt that would do any good anyway, most foreign pilots have far better prospects at home or elsewhere abroad than a US regional.

Iowa Farm Boy

This^^^

filler

E2CMaster

As a guy in his mid 30s with a family, I don't fly for the regionals because of pay.
I've started getting cold called.

I'll keep with the King Air flying until either a Major calls, or the regionals get real with first year pay.

As horrible as first year wages are for the RiddleKids with SJS and loans to pay living with Mom & Dad or 8 to a 2 bedroom apartment, it's downright impossible to live in a $1200/mo apartment (not unrealistic for needing a 2-3 br), feed my family and pay my student loans (still paying.. And no, it's not an aviation degree) nevermind eat or have a car on regional pay.

Even with drilling in the reserves on every day off, it's still not enough to live on. 1st year Regional FO needs to go at least to the high 30s/low 40s with 2nd year being a substantial raise like it is at most majors to have a realistic chance of getting a lot of ex mil guys, unless they are either retired and have that cash flow, or DINK.

SewerPipeDvr

These problems have been going for as long as pilots have been flying. I stopped back in the 1970s. While Viet Nam was winding down we got hit with the Oil Embargo. Pilot's were willing to work at anything. One friend was a former F4 Recon pilot and a Convair pilot for Texas International. Laid off went a long time working at Payless Shoes. He finally got a job flying a wheat farmer around in a Cherokee Six for three dollars an hour. After my third airline went broke I gave it up, not willing to work like that. Law has been much more stable and lucrative. I did miss the flying but thats life.

soakingpilot

Just adding something to this but if you earned 30K a year as a single guy in a western euro country what automatically will increase is QOL. I mean yeah 30k a year sux much more the starting 22K when you have to drive to work instead of hopping on the tram or pay for your healthcare or pay for your kids to go to a decent school etc.

JamesNoBrakes

Do you read, speak and understand the English language? I think I know what you are trying to say, but I'm not sure.

soakingpilot

Sent you a PM to figure this out instead of taking up space on the forum with the normal baiting language that goes on.

eaglefly

The pool was drying up significantly well before the 1500 rule kicked in. The REAL reason for the shortage of entry-level regional first officers is that young college age people will not, do not or cannot shell out at least another $50,000 on top of standard college costs to get a $24,000/year job that treats them like garbage. Their parents cannot or will not cosign such economical nonsense.

The majority of those with Commercial certificates or better are already established professionals in other fields that make switching to entry-level regional F/O positions laughable. The dopes in airline management now know their situation, they are just in the misrepresentation/denial stage. Congress has no clue as usual and the tsunami wave is gaining speed and will slam into the regional airline beach party with far more force then many realize. In 18 months it will be a full blown crisis for many of these carriers and many small/mid-size towns air service is on borrowed time.

You reap what you sow and the greedy airline managements have sown this successfully for decades, but as John McClain said. "the party's over, pal".

Nantonaku

I agree. The parking of 50 seater will only postpone the pain. I think this summer could be the bang moment, if not the summer after will definitely be interesting. When the Majors are unable to keep their 76 seaters in the air things will start to change. I don't think it is just the pay, these airlines need to provide careers.