Why do I have to be 4 asterisked? I'm probably the least asterisked guy you don't know.

This business is nothing if not fluid.. I'm just offering a suggestion that allows the most suffering among us....with the least to lose... a way to accelerate the timeline.

35K is still too low. As Tom stated, if you're senior anywhere, odds are you're doing ok. It's the bottom of the list - which in some cases is the same people as they move from one furlough or bk to another - that's constantly hurting.

I'm not belittling you at all, in fact I salute anyone willing to propose solutions to problems as opposed to just complaining about them so for that I think you are on the right track. I've proposed several things myself and posted several polls over the months and many times feel attacked as well but its not personal, mostly just tired and disgruntled people.

I did not 4 asterisk you either, the web site did that.

Don't let my response keep you from considering new and creative ideas.

Tom

When I make statements like that, I see a payscale that starts at $40,000 and tops out in year 10 at $80,000, regardless of seat. That's a $4000 per year raise.

There is a chance in this model 2 10 year guys are going to fly together, but that doesn't mean the price tag isn't fair,.

Equipment size won't matter, it will be up to mainline alpa guys to decide on scope. You want a piece of larger airplanes? Then its up and out for you. Go to mainline.

Bryan Bedford of Republic proposed a flattened scale just a few short months ago. According to him, union said no. Anyone know the details of what he was proposing?

On the surface, many of you are going to be appalled by a recommendation like this, but think about this. What if you have to start over at a new regional because you want to move, you hate the company, the company goes out of business, etc... think about how much easier it would be to do just this. Right now, you are screwed, it's HARD to leave after the first year. And think about this, the company is now on the hook to make the place better otherwise they will have to deal with FO attrition and all the training costs of that attrition. All of the sudden they have a vested interest in keeping pilots happy if they know pilots have other options.

I've been making the same proposal for years. The CA's at the top will have none of it. The only way it will work will be a new regional.

Don't like the game? Don't play the game. Regional airlines as well as majors spend millions on psychology experts to keep the employees cowed. It works right up to the point where people decide that they don't want to work in the field or continue to work in the field. The average airline pilot works for a fair wage only after spending 1/3rd to 1/2 of their career at substandard wages at another "airline". If you think about the reality, airlines need pilots, every body else can be outsourced and can/ has been. Pilots can be outsourced only after another airline to outsource them from has been created(regionals). Airlines are about 20 years behind the rest of the economy, in every aspect. Outsourcing during the 90s has been proven to be less successful than it was anticipated. Companies are converting to insourcing, ie the major hiring process.

What are you recommending?

I think you know what is best for you....This job and lifestyle isn't for everyone. I can honestly say that I have never seen a larger group of professional hostages, its the most jacked up paradigm I have ever seen. You guys spend close to a 100K for a 24/7/365 job that pays welfare grade cash. I paid cash out of hand for my training and from the left seat wouldn't do it over again. This industry will steal your youth and dreams and pay you Walmart greeter wages for said dreams.

Tom, not really sure what your true agenda is... I keep trying to tell you that there are no overpaid pilots in the regionals, and you keep trying to insist on cutting the pay for half the regional pilots.
How about if the majors don't want to lose all their feed, then it's time for them to cough up more money in all their contracts and raise pay across the board. No more excuses, the 1.5 BILLION plus dollars in profits per quarter are proof that they don't need to keep hosing the flight crews for anymore concessions!

Not that I don't agree with you, I do. But that isn't within a pilots control. But dividing up pay is within pilots control.

I've been saying we need to get rid if the longevity scale for years. A first year fo should make the same as a 10 year fo. It's the exact same job. I am in the minority. It seems most of us like to be tied to our carrier thus having zero leverage to move to another job at will.

Longevity is fine, nearly every business has it. Nearly every other business requires their employees and anyone else to apply for a different, higher or supervisory job. The idea that people are rewarded for just staying employed and not dying exists in few other competitive businesses. PIC/captain position should be open to anyone who is appropriately rated. Then all of a sudden every airline would actually be competing with each other for pilots. Course that would kind of kill the golden-carrot that is used to ensure pilot staffing these days. FO wages would rise as the airlines quickly realize pilots have no loyalty without monetary incentive. This would make the industry transparent, rather than holding out indefinitely hoping for the elusive upgrade or major job.

My point exactly. Longevity is bull**** and a way to keep us where we're at all costs. Longevity is why startups occur. They all say they have a new magic formula. The magic formula is lower paid labor thanks to no longevity.

Of course it's within the pilots control. If the bottom feeders can't attract pilots to staff their aircraft, then either the pay and benefits come up, or the planes don't fly... This was already occurring at Great Lakes until they came up with their 135 ploy.