Being a military pilot, I wonder the same thing. The only reasonable explanation I have is the formal flight school training we receive. On average, for the Navy, it takes about 18-24 months to earn the wings of gold as a fixed-wing pilot. All FW military guys start their training in a T-34 or T-6. After that, we move onto the T-44, T-45, T-38 or T-1. Then we go to our fleet aircraft.

It is not easy to get accepted into Naval Aviation. However, once you are in the training pipeline, I believe it is about a 10% attrition rate in every phase of training.

For a company hiring pilots, it is a known quantity. Doesn't make us better than anyone else, just a different type of experience we went through.

As for guys retiring, and separating, the timing puts many of us in non-flying jobs during the last tour. Regionals help get 121 experience and regain currency.

Just my thoughts. As mentioned before, it does not make us a better pilot.

 

Couple of things off the top of my head.

1. Union dues stop going to ALPA
2. Put's ALPA into a position of having to battle/refute both airlines and regional airline pilots
3. RALPA can prioritize regional pilots interests, pay and benefits. By contrast ALPA prioritizes major airline interests such as Norwegian Air.
4. The moment RALPA is born, major airlines have to really question whether its worth having the regional airline B scale
5. Major Airlines have to deal with RALPA for flow and pilot pipeline
6. RALPA becomes the new goto organization for students and universities for hiring information etc.
7. RALPA is not just a union but an association serving the interests of regional airline pilots and those aspiring to become regional airline pilots.
8. Better ability to strike

All I can think of at the moment. I wish IBT could be this union but I honestly don't know where their priorities lie.

 

Couple things;

1) Relative to what's forecasted, the hiring right now is barely above a trickle. So even amongst the 20 year mil guys, it's STILL pretty competitive.

2) Just because a guy did 20 years mil, he may not have flown his last 3-4 years and has a currency problem. One of the BIGGEST showstoppers in a hyper-competitive job market (LIKE NOW) is NOT being current. The regionals don't care so much, they need to fill a seat. The legacies have PLENTY of current mil pilots in the stack.

 

No, having the low paid regionals around has dragged down the Legacy pay rates, as former legacy flying gets outsourced to the lower paying regionals, where it is then whip-sawed to even lower rates, which drags all pilot pay, both regional and legacy, DOWNWARD, not upward.

Go back in time 30 years, run the numbers for pilot pay, then vs. now.

 

ALPA National could have, and should have, done all of the above when the RJ's first came on line.

 

When ALPA represents a regional, and its respective mainline partner, it is almost impossible to recapture that scope under any circumstances, except by management willingly giving it back. Look at 9E, who used its ALPA ties to mainline to negotiate the bridge agreement scope.

 

A no voter due to the highlighted items, especially the one in red.

 

I'd fly a turboprop. The pay and work rules have to be acceptable though.

 

Many mainline pilots came from the mighty C-130 Hercules..speeder springs and fly weights..more complicated systems and serious Vmca issues with 2-eng out on the same wing.

We have nothing but respect for turboprop pilots.

And remember, pitchlock is your friend..

 

Do you really think that would help? Your companies own no flying. How do you propose getting your own flying? Unless scope is made illegal, your company is just one of many sub-contractors used by the mainline to provide lift.