The pay was like this when the economy was good and they had no trouble getting experienced pilots then. Again am I missing something here?
What do you not understand? Is it that there will always be regional or corporate FOs who will never get a chance to upgrade, or that there will always be jobless typed CAs with only a few more years before 65?
I can't talk for the older CAs but I have two good friends, both walked away in 2007 from a regional upgrade for Omni. One is in upgrade class now I think 767, the other has been recommended for upgrade. Both relatively young guys under 30. God bless 'em! I am happy for them!
This was their dilemma in 2007:
(It was only a dilemma because these guys had a quick regional upgrade lined up, but consider someone without one like an Eagle 2 year FO in 2007 or any regional FO right now. Why stay?):
- $56x60 vs $30x75... after upgrade $60x75 or so, still at best equals
- commuting vs home based
- get another 1000h of CRJ/ERJ SIC (in their case also PIC) vs 757/767 type + intl experience incl crossings and worldwide destinations.
- possible 2 year upgrade if the person was capable (it turned out to be true)
- long trips hotel time vs the regional 4-7 leg days
- land at Narita on your OE vs South Bend and Brownsville, TX the 1000s time...
Guess who will be in a better position to get hired at just about anywhere when things will turn around? A regional CA or a DC10/767 CA?
Omni will never be unable to fill a seat. Ever. And no, I have never worked there. I wish.