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FlyChicaga · April 10th, 2005, 21:56

No, aircraft are NOT getting parked due to the RJs. If you remember correctly, Continental announced an aircraft order not too long ago for 7E7s, 757s, and I believe 737s as well. The only mainline aircraft being parked were the MD-80s, but that wasn't because of the RJ. The RJs are filling in gaps on service in off-peak times on routes served by mainline, or they are flying routes which don't necessarily require a large aircraft. Like Midland/Odessa, TX, for instance? Oh sure, put a B777 on that route!

Yes, the regionals are working to get pay upwards of where it is. Some companies are getting the bar raised, and sadly others bring it down. Are you going to start getting on the case of the pilots at United, US Airways, Delta, Continental, Northwest, Air Wisconsin, Comair, and the others which have taken pay CONCESSIONS in the past two years? Oh yes, the regionals are lowering the bar alright.

I ask you, what is wrong with someone young saying "oh man I can't wait to be an airline pilot, I'll do anything to get there!" That statement does not itself ruin the industry. Neither does taking a $22000/yr RJ job. You do realize that is nearly twice what some people make as a CFI.

I'm curious why it matters to you anyways, since you and JonnyB are in a different (supposedly "better") sector of aviation. If you had chosen to go the airline route, where do you think you'd be working right now?

I'm sorry if I'm getting a little bitchy, but it makes me angry when pilots seem to place all the blame for the ails of the industry on the shoulders of regional FOs. "You destroyed the industry when you took that job!" Yeah, right. This industry was in shambles way before any of us RJ pilots got hired. What makes me even more uptight is when pilots outside the airline industry pipe in to tell us how horrible we are, and how wonderful life is on their side of the street. When you know that if things were on a solid upswing, with great pay, QOL and benefits to go around for all, those resumes would be ready.

I should add that it's easy to take your salary and divide it by hours flown in a particular month to come up with an hourly rate, but we know that's comparing apples to oranges. You can make $200 an hour, but if you only fly 10 hours a month that isn't really that great now, is it?

Sorry to come off as such an ass. But like I said above this is a sore subject with me. I hear mainline pilots all the time bitching about the regional pilots and their low wages, but yet do nothing to offer a lending hand. Brotherhood my ass. We know that regional pilots have no leverage, since we have a union that doesn't care. Why should they, we don't bring in the dollars like a United or Continental does. So without the help of those with leverage (major pilots), we will get nowhere.

If you really think that any regional pilots want to see major jobs disappear, I'm sorry but you are an idiot. Plain and simple. We aren't here to make careers flying an RJ. Maybe a few people are. We want to move on to the majors, and have made attempts to offer "one list" and "SSL" ideas to mainline. But they will have nothing to do with us "kids." So is it really the fault of the regional pilots? Or is it because everyone looks down on us, and needs a scapegoat to blame the ails of the industry upon... so they turn to the new, low paid small jet pilots.

April 10th, 2005, 21:56	#29
FlyChicaga Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,892	Re: B6 EMB190? No, aircraft are NOT getting parked due to the RJs. If you remember correctly, Continental announced an aircraft order not too long ago for 7E7s, 757s, and I believe 737s as well. The only mainline aircraft being parked were the MD-80s, but that wasn't because of the RJ. The RJs are filling in gaps on service in off-peak times on routes served by mainline, or they are flying routes which don't necessarily require a large aircraft. Like Midland/Odessa, TX, for instance? Oh sure, put a B777 on that route! Yes, the regionals are working to get pay upwards of where it is. Some companies are getting the bar raised, and sadly others bring it down. Are you going to start getting on the case of the pilots at United, US Airways, Delta, Continental, Northwest, Air Wisconsin, Comair, and the others which have taken pay CONCESSIONS in the past two years? Oh yes, the regionals are lowering the bar alright. I ask you, what is wrong with someone young saying "oh man I can't wait to be an airline pilot, I'll do anything to get there!" That statement does not itself ruin the industry. Neither does taking a $22000/yr RJ job. You do realize that is nearly twice what some people make as a CFI. I'm curious why it matters to you anyways, since you and JonnyB are in a different (supposedly "better") sector of aviation. If you had chosen to go the airline route, where do you think you'd be working right now? I'm sorry if I'm getting a little bitchy, but it makes me angry when pilots seem to place all the blame for the ails of the industry on the shoulders of regional FOs. "You destroyed the industry when you took that job!" Yeah, right. This industry was in shambles way before any of us RJ pilots got hired. What makes me even more uptight is when pilots outside the airline industry pipe in to tell us how horrible we are, and how wonderful life is on their side of the street. When you know that if things were on a solid upswing, with great pay, QOL and benefits to go around for all, those resumes would be ready. I should add that it's easy to take your salary and divide it by hours flown in a particular month to come up with an hourly rate, but we know that's comparing apples to oranges. You can make $200 an hour, but if you only fly 10 hours a month that isn't really that great now, is it? Sorry to come off as such an ass. But like I said above this is a sore subject with me. I hear mainline pilots all the time bitching about the regional pilots and their low wages, but yet do nothing to offer a lending hand. Brotherhood my ass. We know that regional pilots have no leverage, since we have a union that doesn't care. Why should they, we don't bring in the dollars like a United or Continental does. So without the help of those with leverage (major pilots), we will get nowhere. If you really think that any regional pilots want to see major jobs disappear, I'm sorry but you are an idiot. Plain and simple. We aren't here to make careers flying an RJ. Maybe a few people are. We want to move on to the majors, and have made attempts to offer "one list" and "SSL" ideas to mainline. But they will have nothing to do with us "kids." So is it really the fault of the regional pilots? Or is it because everyone looks down on us, and needs a scapegoat to blame the ails of the industry upon... so they turn to the new, low paid small jet pilots.