Definitely a very interesting thread we have going on here.

There is a reason that these retention bonuses are in multiple segments. I suspect that the first one is planned, and the second one is a plan B just incase they can't disable Endeavor on time. I think it's pretty obvious that by this time next year, Endeavor will be completely broken apart, and all the CRJ-900's will be flying for other regionals.

Endeavor has too many things wrong with it to stay afloat. Airlines have lifespans, and Endeavor has stage 4 cancer.

You guys are so funny! If you think that a 121 pilot at a major or a regional has any different job then you are just lying to yourself. If your airline has a good training program, and a good recurrent program than an FO can easily do the same Job. A regional pilot at 9E, SKW, Mesa, ECT is performing the same function in a CRJ 900 as he does in a 737 or and MD80. We have all been in each others jump seats and it is no secret what the job entails. There are great pilots, good pilots, and bad pilots at every airline. Have confidence in your training program, and your check airmen. If you don't think your company is capable of hiring bright capable pilots, than maybe it is not as great of a place to be as you think. Don't forget, the regionals provide 50% of the domestic lift in this country, and in my years as a regional FO, I was yet to see a mainline pilot too worried about the capabilities of the Capt and FO not to get on to commute or travel with his family for vacation. Stop fighting each other, and start figuring out a way to work together to make more money and have a better QOL. Get your pensions back, get your days off back. Do it before people realize that they can accomplish the same goals with foreign pilots or drones.

In ErDudes theory, a PSA Captain, who recently upgraded after 6 months on property will be more qualified than our 7+ year FOs? Really? There is a reason why PSA is giving our FOs a 10 minute phone interview and offering them a class, they need Captains, not first officers!!! They understand the value of years and years of 121 flying, regardless of the seat position.

I'm pretty sure you looked down on RJ captains as well until you either became one or began flying with former RJ captains. You probably came to a point when you realized they are not fools. As more mainline airlines begin to hire more and more RJ FOs you will probably come to the realization they are not as brain dead as you had thought. One day one of those FOs will save your rear and your ticket.

This.

I get to evaluate both "regional" and "major" airlines crews, but to the FAA, they are all the same, all "121s". They are more alike than different and for the most part, any decent size "regional" operates just like a "major", in terms of procedures and flying. There's nothing different when we step onto a 737 vs. a CRJ, nor should there be.

I'm not denying that there might be a pilot with less experience in the CRJ cockpit, or that a smaller regional airline with less resources and simpler equipment may not be "exactly" the same, but by and large what I described in the first paragraph is the way things are and as we move forward and data collection and oversight continue to become more efficient, they will only move closer to the same level.

I like the majority of your posts. And your smarter than the average poster on A LOT of levels. But I wouldn't agree your above post. Your statement is short, direct, and lacking any variance or details.

Although being an RJ FO sucks, I KNOW. 8 years worth. Plus a furlough/shutdown and a few CA displacements thrown in.

However, I consider myself LUCKY compared to a once/twice furloughed legacy pilot. Ya know, the ones that came up in the late 80's/90's, flew crappy turboprops 8-10 legs a day for abysmal/non-existent work rules and low pay. Only to get hired at the legacy, think they've finally made it to the show, only to take a furlough (or two) in the dark decade.

AGAIN, I KNOW, the prolonged FO tenure sucks. Imagine how much WORSE the example I outlined above had it? Sorry, I'm of the belief those guys have "paid their dues" on a level the whiney/entitled late 20's/early 30's 7 year FO CAN'T EVEN GRASP.

Perspective is EVERYTHING.

And before you retort, READ THE FIRST PART AGAIN. I KNOW, I sat FO 8 years. Combined with your post only reference a SPECIFIC demographic of "121".

Not only would I not want to be your FO... I wouldn't want you to be MY FO... You, sir, bring D-baggery to an entirely new level. It's attitudes like yours so common throughout Delta that make me want to work several other places over Delta. I'd have no problem with someone with 5 years experience in the right seat of an 88 flying with decent captains getting his first shot at the left seat as you described after going through a proper upgrade training program. News flash, that is exactly what is happening in CRJ's9 and E175's today, in some cases with less than 5 years as FO... in some barely over a year.

Erdude32, using your logic, how do you upgrade a regional FO to regional captain....After all they haven't ever been 121 PIC, so it must be dangerous to have them flying as captain in a 90 seat airplane with "Delta/United/American" painted on the side. What say you to that?

I'm pretty sure that (or something similar) is erdude's history.

DL has hired a handful of FOs this round, but it's been very few and far between. It's harder to score high enough in the interview without TPIC. They will have to prep and try even harder in the interview- the problem is that many of the questions in the interview surround command decision situations.

I believe this retention bonus and allowing the SSP to extend to FOs is bell ringing that this is the next phase to the end.