This sounds familiar. Almost sounds like something people would say to new hires back in 2007... and a lot of those people are still FOs.

But, you are absolutely right... Unless there's another market collapse, 9/11, recession, opec cutting oil production to bring oil up to $150/barrel, age 67 (or god knows age 70 or some bs), or some other unforeseen man-made or natural disaster that causes stagnation or collapse of the aviation industry, then everyone will be widebody pilots in 12 years.

Uh, NO. The problem with regionals are the guys(such as yourself)that take concessions, rather than making gains(during a time when the entire industry is making record profits)!

So I'm just curious. What if you're at a regional making 6 figures, live at base, you have any schedule you bid, and are most of all happy? Apparently you're part of the "regional problem" and should be flying a wide body?

You haven't been in this industry too long, have you?

He is just another PSA know it all. Probably been flying less than 5 years total.

And yeah, I am that guy. I had a few opportunities to move on, but they were riddled with uncertainty and much less pay initially. Recently, I could have flowed to AA. With less than 5 years remaining before retirement, I saw no point. I make around $120-130 any given year without breaking a sweat, have 5 weeks of vacation, get 17-18 days off per month, never work weekends or holidays. Why would I give that up? I wouldn't even break even at AA until year 4!

Beware the carrot that says you will be moving up to a mainline carrier quickly. It was promised to my cohort and not just 9/11, but bankruptcies, purchases(TWA - Reno Air - etc), whipsaws, gas prices, and a few more, all caused my career to stagnate and me to be pretty much stuck here. I'm not mad about it. Life is fine for me. I just laugh when I hear all of you talk about your career advancement opportunities like it is a certain thing. It isn't at all and airline management would like nothing more than to keep you all down here flying bigger planes for less. If they can find a way, or a way finds them, rest assured they will act against your best interests every time. Even you PSA guys, that are getting the reach around right now: the love affair will be over sooner or later.

These numbers make it painfully obvious what is actually going to happen to a "CQFO". You are not getting the plain old FOs needed to ensure CQFOs actually get ahead. For those bad at math, you seem to be attracting some CQFOs for sure, but the average 1500 hr guy out there won't come near you guys. Who would? Why come fly hand me down 50 seaters with a short shelf life, when one can go to virtually any other regional out there and do better?

For an upgrade in 1500 hours max???

Funny. We don't have the newest shiny under the wing 175's. We do have the most growth as a percentage of flying and a contract that's better than most. But why would anyone want to go to an airline with those things?

Says who? You? Put it in writing. All of that is only IF you can actually attract regular FOs, which you so far have not been able to do in any certain numbers. TSA management knew this from the start. Why do you think they came out of the gate with a "CQFO" program? The whole thing will fail if you don't get normal FOs though. How could TSA actually survive if they were paying the majority of their FOs substantially more than Envoy, the company they are supposed to be undercutting?

Growth in terms of FOs? Actual FOs, not CQFOs, praying you find enough regular FOs for this sham to work. Haha. Yeah. Good luck with that.