Jester1092
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2004
- Posts
- 42
aa73 said:Look guys.... "SIZE" has nothing to do with it - it is simply the routes that the aircraft flies which should classify it as "regional" or mainline".
If an ERJ-145 is flying IAH-BOI (Coex), how regional is that? How about LGA-XNA (Eagle). Folks, this is not regional flying, it is mainline medium segment routes.
AA use to fly the BAC-111 in the 60s, which I believe seated around 65 pax... TWA used to fly the DC-9-10, which was around 75-80... why weren't those regional jets? Simple, because those aircraft were retired and replaced with small jets that pilot groups gave away in the mid 90s and in doing so created a new standard of pilot and flying that is gradually growing and taking over the mainline stuff. Eventually "regional pilots" will become "mainline pilots" while being paid a "C-scale" (already happening.)
Granted, the E-170 looks like pretty big and nothing like an RJ - however, when mainline pilot groups cave under the threat of BK and give up scope to the regional feeders, it will become a "regional jet" instead of a "mainline jet." Maybe USAir and DL will become the first ones to break this trend in securing the E-190 flying - good on ya! - albeit for subpar wages. IMHO, they did it correctly - get the aircraft onto the property first, negotiate the pay upwards later. This way we will reverse the trend and keep the bigger jets at mainline -as it should be.
73
AA73.. All great points. I agree with you 100%.