Amazing. Can't even get a Caravan for $1000/hr on the 91/135 side.

Very very differently

What does this even mean? If you're trolling just ignore my question.

It's because the numbers are not accurate. There is much more to operating an aircraft than DOC. The DOC of an E145 is not that high.

The actual costs of operating an aircraft will vary from operator to operator and also between routes, days, seasons, etc.

Profitability is something entirely different also.

The numbers I quoted were hourly direct operating cost - fuel, maintenance, engine reserve.

The only possible way you get a CRJ2 to $1000/hr is if somebody else is buying the fuel. Oh, wait...

The only realistic way I can envision raising regional pay is to top off Captain pay lower. Squeeze the payscales towards the middle. People might say guys like Jonathan Ornstein are the devil, but really, is what he said here that unreasonable?
A top heavy seniority list of old Captains at a regional seems like a legitimate problem for both airline management and all the guys trying to flow through to a major ASAP. Lower Captain pay at a regional would encourage these guys to move on, improve flow, and enable significantly higher starting wages for the many multitudes of people coming and going at the starting FO pay.

I understand a few of these guys have special circumstances where it doesn't make sense to move on to a major, but can anyone explain why some regionals (Mesa, etc) have so many senior Captains who refuse to leave? And I don't mean to bash any senior regional Captains, just a legitimate and sincere question.

The benefits of having seniority, including schedules/vacation/other QOL factors?

And that makes some sense, but it seems like a tremendous example of selling oneself short when a 19 year Mesa Captain makes around 100k and a 2nd year Delta FO makes more than that. Not to mention Delta Captains top out at around 250k a year.

I understand an older regional Captain sticking around if their retirement isn't too far away (although why get into the game that late in life?), but they say your worst day at a major is better than your best day at a regional.

One has to place a value on quality of life; some value the ability to fly when they want and get time off when they want more than a total on their W2.

I agree with most of what you said, however, the notion in the industry is the belief that a regional is a stepping stone is a pretty big assumption. Sure...it's the natural progression of this career, but you have some that start this career later in life; have homes that are paid for; spouses with 25-30 yrs on a job; not to mention QOL/scheduling/seniority; etc. So being a 15+ year CA at any regional under those circumstances would warrant me or anyone else for that matter to stay where I am.

JMO though.


atp