The points you make are legitimate, but let me make some comments:
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Originally Posted by Bill Lumberg
I can't believe Satsair would actually operate SR22s without air conditioning in the South!!!! That's crazy considering the warmer climates these aircraft fly into.
"Crazy" is a strong word. The business' initial success and exponential growth was using the first 10 or so planes which were non air-conditioned. (The majority of the fleet is air conditioned now.) Lots of planes without air conditioning fly every day and people live through it. It's only a few minutes on the ground that it's an issue usually, within a few minutes you're cruising in nice cool air. Only time it's a big problem is during a wait in a long line to take off. This doesn't happen to us very often using primarily lower density airports.
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Very surprising and disturbing for passengers who would expect different - especially if they have previously flown on an air-conditioned version.
Not quite, "disturbing" although some are surprised to hear the plane doesn't have air conditioning. Very few complaints though. Sometimes because of payload (the air conditioning adds over 50 pounds) people who are wanting to fly a load close on the max are told, "we can do that trip but it will have to be in one of the planes without A/C." So they know what they're getting into ahead of time. What's not surprising though is that, a LOT of pax have been willing to be hot for a few minutes to get there in an hour or two instead of driving 5-7 or having to go through security and connect through a major hub to do a short trip. It's called $450 hr with no dead-leg charges vs. $1100 or more an hour plus dead legs for a turbine to carry only 1-3 people. People are really happy to have the affordable alternative for the short trips. Now, that being said, all the new planes will have A/C and the new SR22 G3 mitigates the weight penalty with weight savings in the spar (carbon fiber now) and new composite prop.
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I hate it when people say that pay is great "for flying a piston single." Who cares? Many of these same pilots have the qualifications to fly air-conditioned CRJs or Citations. The problem is called "opportunity cost." This is what you are missing out on when you are not flying for a better-paying operation even though you have the requisite qualifications. Sure, regional jobs don't start at $27K, but most Part 135 or Part 91 jobs will easily pay more than $30K for FO positions on turboprops or jets. You can find many King Air positions offering more than that starting salary - and I bet most King Airs offer air conditioning...
Why do you hate it if someone is happy doing what they're doing? Leave, "opportunity cost" in the Economics 101 textbook glossary where it belongs. Living in my home town, not having to deal with stress and expense (there goes some of those extra bucks from the "better" job) of a commute, not having to move around to chase a job, working for a good company that won't push you into dangerous weather, gives you exclnt maintenance, variety of destinations, etc. etc. PRICELESS. At least for me. . . not everyone likes it, but the majority of us do. Those who don't can move on to something else.