The person who wrote those financial reports sure believes it. Look I don't know why you are mad at me, I'm simply showing what the data presents. Do I believe it? Well, I know that the airline pricing model is so convoluted that it doesn't surprise if this was the case.

To explain why mainline is getting rid of regional jets is very simple, they aren't, they are dumping unprofitable routes. Where demand is strong, they are switching to mainline planes. On the surface it appears that mainline is recapturing flying. However, they are simply consolidating flying so they can better utilize the aircraft they have in the profitable routes.

The pilot shortage is not yet an issue, but will be in a year or two(this is a direct quote from management at my last recurrent).

It may be hard for some to believe, but legacy's don't make money in the routes they compete with LCC's in. You have to have pricing power in a market to make money, that is business 101. If you look at the legacy network as a whole, the places they have pricing power, is where the RJ's are.

It defies logic, and I know what you are saying, but here is maybe a video that describes what I'm talking about. Fast forward in this CNBC video http://www.hulu.com/watch/46550 to around 1:27 min, where he says the 767 transcon only makes $200. Just for reference, almost every RJ flight makes tens of thousands of dollars. Is it still so hard to believe?

I think the best way to sum this up, is Southwest has destroyed the Legacy model. It's now just a large operation that holds market share to feed the regionals.

 

Yup, so easy that everybody does it.
Guess that is why commercial (or higher) licensed pilots are less than 1% of the population of the US.

Yup, the commuters are entry level jobs not un-unlike Mickey D's.
One major difference. Mickey D's employees are unskilled labor while pilots are skilled labor even at the beginning of their airline careers and should be compensated higher than un-skilled labor.

The commuters have had a glut of available pilots over the last decade (or more) so they could be picky and pay (abysmally) lower wages. Now those days are coming to an end and the now those companies that have been making money hand-over-fist by not paying their pilots are the ones screaming bloody murder.
2bad2sad.

Come on Fegelin, what self-loathing management puke are you?

 

Where do I get my get out of jail free card from the FAA since I'm just an entry level pilot. According to what you're saying, I'm just learning how to fly airplanes, and am considered to be 'in training,' and therefore do not share the same responsibilities as the big boys nor deserve compensation commensurate said responsibilities.

When in your infinite wisdom does this entry level end? Why does it end at a different time for some? For example, if I was a minority or a woman, it appears I would gain the necessary skills to move beyond this entry level position faster. Why is that? Are they born with innate knowledge of flying? What happens when your airline goes defunct, or the pilot group gets too top heavy. Now you've spent 7 or 8 years as "newbie, entry level pilot," and have to start over at another airline. Are you still considered entry level by your standards?

 

 

None of this matters. You have already told the airlines you are willing to work for low pay. That's all you are going to get.

It just doesn't matter. You can fly a A380 around at Mesa and you are still only going to get 20,000 per year. You signed up for it. They know you will do it. Stop comparing yourself to others. Teachers and asphalt contractors are obviously more in demand than you are or know how to negotiate better. Alpa is begging your company to kick you in the face.

 

 

It won't make a difference, the company will simply say "ok the idiots got it out there system, now back to our regularly scheduled program".

Bottom line regional pilots are too young and dumb to even know what they are talking about. Most of you guys see this as a "problem" but the truth is this has been going on for 30 years. The only thing different is a new batch of pilots to say "hey this sucks". You'll soon be through it too and there will be a new batch of pilots coming in saying "hey we should do something about this".

Bottom line, pilots like to complain and b*tch alot but when it comes time to actually do anything meaningful, thats for someone else to do.

But don't worry, you are all going to get your big raises soon. And it has nothing to do with all your complaining, the union, or what your worth. It will simply boil down the lack of pilots and airlines having to compete for your talents. So when it comes, don't think you or alpa did anything at all special.

 

This is why you will never get better wages at the regionals...

 

 

Your point is? Not a single pilot in that picture will ever fly for a US airline company. Ever. Most of them are under 99 year contracts to their respective sponsor company. If they fail any part of training, they will return home to work off that debt to said company by doing other jobs within the company.

They will go home and sit in the jumpseat and "observe" and maybe work the radios for around a year. They also start at around $60-70k US. Most of them also had trouble flying a Seminole.