I feel like I know who Cliff Craven is at least the name sounds real familiar but ATPCliff is not him. On the other hand it took all of 30 seconds to find him on linkedin.

 

I agree with you, but we are "eating" two different chickens. Mine is a Regional chicken, yours is a Major chicken. Both might taste ****ty, but I'm willing to bet yours tastes better .

I do agree with you in part that this profession and the methodology of hierarchy allows for guys/gals to achieve contracts favorable to those at the top of the seniority list. To an extent, that's what we are stuck with. Nobody is going to vote in a pay cut for themselves and in all honesty I don't believe they should.
At a testimony before congress, Bryan Bedford (Republic CEO) said they had offered to pay their First Officers more but the union rejected the proposal. On the surface, this makes the union look bad; however, the truth of that proposal turned out that Republic offered it's First Officers more but only if the Captains conceded a paycut. Hence my swipe at management.
Regarding your point, I do believe that some pilots are the issue. SOME of the senior guys may have forgotten what it's like to be the junior guy. SOME of the senior guys may not give a squat what it's like to be the junior guy. SOME of the senior guys may have the "paying your dues" mentality. I'm not sure what the answer is here. I'm sure it could be found somewhere in between management and the pilot group...somewhere in between the regionals and the majors.

I am certain of the fact that the Status Quo is no longer acceptable to the majority. I am certain that the luster is starting to dim ever so slightly....my thoughts in a jumbled mess.

 

I don't usually post much down here but this hit a nerve. One of my Captains learned to fly in San Diego. His first instructor was Pilot Certificate #975. #975 was taught and signed off by one of the Wright brothers. Can't remember which one. My Captain flew B-25s out of India in WWII. That must make me old. And the San Antonio Sewerpipe was work, but fun work. Kept you on your toes. How bad did we have it back then? Try night IFR in a TravelAire hauling checks with no vacuum system working. Needle, ball and airspeed. If the engine works and the lights are on, fly it or lose your job. Whippersnappers got it too easy today.

 

They don't have a shortage of applicants yet...but they (ual/aa/dal) have already had pilots calling and canceling out of their class dates...because they have a better job somewhere else.

 

Oo, oo...can I take one of their spots?

 

Probably Orville, who lived until 1948. Wilbur died of typhoid in 1912.

 

Just saw an ad for a recruiting company....they need 737 FOs in China. That is THE first ad I have ever seen for foreign FOs.

Maximum base pay is $15.5/month.

Previously, virtually all the Chinese slots were for Capts. And, 737s have not been in very high demand, either. Very surprised to see this ad, and it shows how more and more desperate they are getting in China.

Meanwhile, in India, a new airline started yesterday. In China it has been a new airline starting about every 5 weeks.

 

There is another big one due to start in a few months, Tata-SIA, which is a collaboration of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines.

Another one, which will work on the regional routes using 170's, is in the works as well..

India is going to get interesting in the next few months, may be it will be red hot next year..

 

Rather lose my job than end up dead.

 

Yep and when you crash into a school yard full of children you can tell their parents what a great pilot you are for getting the job done at any cost. The FAA now has a book called an MEL. It's designed to take the testosterone out of decision making.