Summit closed to media, although photo-op permitted before start of session. Anybody recognize participants--- aside AA guy and Xpress Jet dude? http://mms.tveyes.com/MediaCenterPla...26Type%3dMedia

 

Far right, on the first peek inside of this exclusive event is none other than Roger "the Tan Man" Cohen, President of the Regional Airline Association.

 

Wow, that news report did not blame the shortage on FAR 117 and new ATP rule, and also cited low pilot pay as a barrier!!!! I am shocked at the "honest reporting"

 

You should tell us what is different about flying at the mainline then.

 

I am just curious, which mainline is "THE" mainline?

 

No, just your mainline ego.

 

You guys realize Brand X is the same one who started a thread about CR2/E145 time not being competitive anymore right. The amount of trolling is strong with this one.

 

It will be interesting to see what "solutions" these Titans of aviation are conspiring on. They seem absolutely hell-bent on trying anything other than increasing pay. Regionals just got addicted to the seemingly endless supply of starry eyed kids willing to spend 150k+ for a job that pays 23k. I find it quite amusing that ERAU, a company that specializes in the sale of 150k "degrees", is the company hosting this ridiculous summit. They have a direct financial interest in restarting the supply line. I believe anything they have to say about as much as I would trust RJ Reynolds showing me a study touting the health benefits of smoking.

I'm thinking we'll see some sort of proposals for Ab Initio programs or a new work Visa program allowing foreign pilots to come fly for the regionals. That's gotta be easier than actually paying an attractive wage to draw out all the eligible pilots that are interested in flying but unwilling to condemn themselves to a life of poverty.

Out of curiosity, was it only regional trash at this "summit"? There will never be any shortage at the mainline level when you consider the approximately 30-50 thousand pilots currently sweating it out at the regionals, cargo outfits, 135 outfits and shady south Florida operators. I don't even have a clue how to account for all the folks currently flying a cubicle because they've given up on the flying career.

 

The summit likely consisted of:

- How can we pay the least and still get butts in the seat?
- How can we spin this to be the fault of the pilots?
- How can we spin this to be the fault of the new ATP requirements?
- Here are the projected future hiring and ATP certificate entrants in the industry. How can we best use this to maintain downward pressure on overall pilot compensation?
- How can we maximize profit at the regional level by delaying advancement to the major airlines and using larger aircraft at the regional level? This will decrease total time at a major, thereby decreasing total lifetime compensation.

- How can we spin all of this to make it look like a great career despite the exorbitant entry costs and poor compensation?

 

Again, I expect more flow through type programs with regional compensation staying the same. "You have great career potential here once you move over to [mainline partner]. Just stay put here and it will only be for a few years!"