It's not the regionals that whipsaw each other, it is the majors that cause the whipsaw to occur. An objective viewpoint here, or at least an attempt. Foreign carrier entry into the US market would be bad for the majors. The foreign carriers would do it cheaper because they would not be held to the same standard (i.e. operating cost), as their US counterparts. Therefore, over a period of time US majors would be forced to do one of two things. Move their business overseas or close the doors. No idea how long that would take.

Other side of the coin viewed by regional pilots and it has been stated previously. A regional pilot (FO) topping out at $45K a year looks at a foreign carrier willing to pay $60-80K a year as a definite improvement. If foreign carriers were allowed to operate in the US (cabotage), there would be a mass exodus from the regionals to the foreign carriers. I would not look down upon anyone who did so.
It would behoove all pilots to take a good look at what is going on in the regional industry and make an attempt to fix the payscale which is the primary driver of this thread. The guys at the majors (the ones still 20 years out from retirement) should look at what the possibilities are for their future employment. Help get the industry on both the regional and major level fixed.

 

So why don't you all apply and go to work for a foreign carrier?

Shanghai and Hong Kong are two of my favorite cities.

 

Regional airlines exist only because that's what major airlines want, the B scale. Regional airline pilots participate in the B scale and perpetuate the B scale because they have no other choice but to submit to the will of airline management, unions, and senior pilots. Having a regional airline exist also means pilots at the major airline make more money. Fix number one would be to bring all airline flying back under the umbrella of major airlines. We may actually see this in the future. If lack of qualified pilots means airlines must raise pay to attract pilots, then there is no longer a point to have a B scale regional airline.

At the regional level, FO pay is low because that's what union executive councils and the more senior pilot groups voted for at each regional airline. There is only one pot of money, regional airlines don't generally set their own ticket prices. Fix number two could be the pilots and union decide on how that pot of money will be divided up in a flatter way where Captains make less and FO's make more. Can you stomach that? Ideally, that pot of money would be increased, but if you ask for too big of a pot, said pot will be given to someone else's airline.

There is a disconnect on how long a pilot should be at a regional airline. Even under a best case scenario, the system is flawed. The system appears to be setup where a pilot enters the system as FO, upgrades in two years, and by year 5 leaves to go to the major airline for a pay cut. Nice in theory when it works, but it hasn't worked that way over the last 10 years. Many pilots are trying to make a career out of a regional airline.

In summary, this flow chart is probably a good way to sum it all up.

Should regional airlines (B scale) continue to exist?

If no, problem is basically solved.
If yes, should one expect he/she can make a career at a regional?

If no, then FO pay and Captain pay should be the same, flattened. Only longevity pays higher. You are forced to move up to a major or out. Hopefully there is a flow through program and the better airlines will have this. You want alpa representing your interests.

If yes, then Captains continue to make more at the expense of FO's, but all FO's have a shot at making a livable career at the regional. Hopefully you can get your hands on a bigger pot of money from the major airline. You don't want alpa under this situation, you need someone who truly represents your interests as a regional (B scale) pilot.

 

Very well stated.

 

If the NAI gets its way and we as a pilot group don't fix ourselves the foreign carriers WiLL come to us.

....and I have no desire to work for any foreign entity regardless of pay, but I would understand if others did. I'm sitting by my phone waiting for the "call" from one of OUR majors.

Any guesses when that will happen?

 

When has cabotage ever been mentioned during any of this NAI crap? Only by Moak and his boogie man in the closet band of thugs.

 

Cabotage: the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory.
restriction of the operation of sea, air, or other transport services within or into a particular country to that country's own transport services.

Is this not what NAI is after?

 

No. It's not. At all.

 

Roger. I crossed my "threads". Thanks for the correction.