There is an assumption in many threads that EVERY regional pilot aspires to be a major/legacy Captain with the associated "big bucks." How true is this ?

I once attended a class where an unwelcomed young bearded college professor told 500 mid level military officers what was wrong with the Air Force. He started by saying, "You don't have enough dumb people !" An hour later he got a standing ovation. Dumb was a metaphore for folks who don't seek advanced education and promotion (UPWARD MOBILITY).

You bring a guy named Charlie out of the hills, give him boots, a uniform, three square meals a day, roof over his head and teach him to be a crew bus driver. He is in heaven and the best driver you got. After three years you tell Charlie (and all the drivers) they have to attend supervisory management school so they can be in charge of the motorpool. Only one can be in charge.

Charlie says, "No boss. I just want to be the best crew bus driver and retire in twenty years then go back to the hills where I'll be somebody." You then rate him as unmotivated, kick him out after four years and go back to the hills for another crew bus driver.

WHY NOT LET HIM SPEND HIS CAREEER DRIVING THE BUS ?

The professor then turned to the mostly pilot audience and said, "Each of you left the cockpit and is here to get advanced management training so you can be a squadron commander. A small percentage will make it. Yet this is the only way you can advance in rank."

WHY DON'T THEY LET YOU SPEND A CAREER FLYING AIRCRAFT ?

I suspect many regional pilots, once they reach a certain income and quality of life level, ask themselves, "Why leave ?" How many think this way, I don't know. If the numbers are significant, it could cause eventual hiring shortages in the majors. There is an old expression, "If you shine like a diamond in a goat's a**, why change ?"

WHY NOT SPEND A CAREER FLYING FOR THE REGIONALS ?

A lot of CA's I fly with can't leave, House kid etc.................

I have no aspirations of ever being anything but a regional pilot. Honestly, what ever makes it easier to be with family will work for me...

-LAFF

well, as much bashing as I do of you guys, I must say. My hubbie flys for RAH(J4J), and he just turned down a USAIR recall. HE made over 80K last year with minimal overtime and he has a base close to home. WHy go sit reserve in PHL and never upgrade(or at least for a long time). Esp. with USAIR. It is a $hit company and hasn't done anything to him that is good. 3 furloughs in 17 years. Still an FO, after 17 years. what a joke. I say...God bless those who choose to stay at a regional. Who knows, maybe in 10 years peops will seek RAH, like SWA. And for all you youngin's....it wasn't THAT long ago when SWA could only attract losers with a ton of violations and/or dwi's

What happened to people like you in the AF? Those mid level officers must not have learn anything from that prof. cause things sure haven't changed.

can't, won't, don't - ???????

Yeeah...Right....SWA hired people with violations and DWIs. Do you go out of your way to make things up about one of the safest airlines in the world?

-LAFF

This is coming from someone who hates the regionals. I'm sorry, the only good regional is Eagle.

Nothing wrong with the decision your husband made.

I'm not sure if SWA only hired losers before "their time" but her thought process is correct - all the carriers that are the "to be" place right now were the crap places 10 years ago. Heck even UPS was a place where people went to wait for a call from Delta.

Airtran, CAL, UPS, FedEx, SWA, Spirit, Allegiant, (any ACMI) were all bottom feeders at one point (or still are). The legacies were so desirable because they were a great place to be, their union contracts made them like that. You think senior CA's at the regionals have good schedules/good W2's, you should've seen what it was like at the legacies pre-911.

And I would say you are nuts if you stay to work for a subcontractor. It's much, much, better to work for yourself. That being said, I can see how people can be lulled into it. Once you hit a certain point, and start living above or even at your means as a regional CA, you can't just take the paycut if you have a family. Moral of the story - don't do anything that will prevent you from making a good career move (ie get in debt, buy an expensive car, etc.).

what are you a private pilot? Once you get the wetness out from behind your ears, come talk to me. Yes, they used to hire people like that. A few years ago, they weren't the desirable company they are now. Once again, get some experience in the business, then question me boyeee.