This is entirely realistic at SKW. If you need $120K at four years, become a LCA (It's more work, you'll earn it).

 

Not likely to happen to any of the larger players in the near/mid-term.

Business is booming, and there's a pilot shortage at the bottom end. If any major kissed off one of their large regional partners, that partner would probably just turn around and fly for a competitor.

The more likely doomsday scenario would be pilot shortage at mainline such that they systematically drew down their regionals with some kind of flow to get the pilots over to mainline. But that's a ways off if ever.

 

THIS
In addition (IMHO) the pilots who think regionals are only a stepping stone, a place to build PIC turbine time and GTFO without regards for increasing better work rules & pay for their carrier. Those pilots are deservice to our profession and industry.

Even at the FFD or WO level, the union & pilot group should stay strong, fighting for every increase pay & QOL possible.

Ranting... for example Mesa ALPA MEC and union folks saying the company can't afford increases in pay & QOL yet remain competitive. LOAD OF CRAP!

The same Union representing mainline can't fully fight and represent FFD pilots interest equally (IMHO). Million being left at the table by unskilled negotiators at the FFD & WO'd still.

Obviously the pilot (pay) shortage has been in our favor at the regional level. I see so many 40 & 50 yr olds entering / re-entering the 121regionals now.

This is not the regional industry of 1990's or early 2000's.

50 seater Jets & 76 seater Jets have flooded the market. FFDs & WOs need & must demand increase QOL & Pay.

We're not in Kansas anymore Dorothy...

 

Beat me to it! Until your paycheck matches the paint on the airplane you will always be at risk for losing flying. In addition to that a group of subcontractors will never truly have the upper hand in contract negotiations.

 

This seems that way. But its like speaking defeat before the battle even begins. So, what's the point of even showing up to the battle? Is it all for show? I doubt it. There are always suprises. Especially when your in high demand vs expendable.

 

100% agree. I forgot to finish that last sentence with "when compared to mainline pilot groups."

 

People who want the same things we all want (better QoL, better pay, less time spent working) are all about getting it for themselves, and care not as much about sharing it with others. It's human nature. If they allow us to have what they have, then we become the competition, not the support structure that feeds them.

Regional pilots will never achieve what mainline pilots have until regional pilots win the struggle to become mainline pilots. Mainline pilots will not give of what they have so that you can have better. It's not a defeatist attitude, it's reality.

 

Mainline pilots don't need to give of what they have for regional pilots to increase their standards of living. Regional pilots can fight for and win substantial gains in today's environment simply because there are not very many of them. This has little or nothing to do with mainline union policy. The mainline unions become important when there is a glut of regional pilots and their management is looking for ways to exploit that glut.

 

Correct. The regionals exist only to reduce costs. If regional pilots were in a position to demand and get mainline wages, the regional airlines would go away and the flying would be brought in-house.

But not all regional flying can be done economically for mainline wages, some of it (specifically 50-seaters) would just go away in that case.

 

Correct, relatively cheap subcontractor. Just like most sectors of industry.