Perhaps you'd rather hear from a mainline (ML) guy that has actually taken the time to think this through.
This is what I see happening in aviation and our careers (bear with me, please):
First of all, the major airlines (management) LOVE you guys (regional pilots). I don't mean they love you personally (unless something happened on a layover you'd like to share)... it's all business. BTW, guys = guys and gals.
The reason they love you is take a look at your paycheck. See those numbers? Compare those to the numbers of a ML pilot. Yep, the major airlines LOVE you guys.
"That could be one reason. But I think they really like how we open new markets and steal market share from the competition."
Look at it this way (many ML pilots can't). Your typical 50-seat RJ pilot basically performs the same job as a 747 driver. Yes, it's true!! Complicated, high-performance aircraft, crappy weather, money-paying passengers... yes!! It's all there.
Why the pay difference? Hmmmm, most pilots are payed according to the revenue generating capacity of their aircraft. So, a big money-making aircraft like the 747 is going to support a higher salary for its pilot than an RJ. Ok, fair enough?? You get paid according to what you can haul.
"I agree with that, I don't know any other RJ pilots who believe that we should be paid 747 pay. However, on a per seat basis many of us are paid more than a 747 pilot."
Your 50-seat RJ is about half the size of a typical 737... correct?? That means an RJ pilot should be paid about half what a 737 pilot gets paid. Fair enough?? Sure. Does it happen?? Hell freekin' NO!! If you ask me, I'd say something you regional guys probably never hear from a ML pilot: You are grossly underpaid for the job you do. That's why the major airlines LOVE you guys!!
"Yes, some of us are. Some of us have pretty good jobs, and are glad to have them."
Now, here is where we get a little personal (but not personal, understand??) Why are RJ pilots willing to be underpaid?? A few reasons come to mind:
Reason #1: Some of you guys have all the money you need. Ok, let's see a show of hands. Which of you already have everything you ever wanted in life that money could buy?? Big house, fast cars, huge TV, shiny bass boat, Versace suits, comfortable retirement?? C'mon, let's see the hands. Ok, that's 2 of you!!
Reason #2: Who cares about money when you have a fun job?? Let's see the hands. Ok, about 5 of you in the back are holding up a sign that says, "Flying may not be as fun, but it pays better than surfing."
Reason #3: I'm making a career out of the regionals?? Put your hands down if you're over 45!! Ok, that's that.
Reason #4: This is just a stepping stone to the majors?? Ok, it looks like that is just about the rest of you. You are exchanging pay for valuable "turbine time", is that correct?? Pray tell, what do you plan on doing with all that valuable "turbine time"?? Unless you plan on being one of the select few hired at SWA, the answer is very little.
For your "turbine time" to be worth anything, the majors need to be hiring. With ML pilots on furlough, that's going to take a while. Keep building more valuable "turbine time" in the mean time.
The majors are retiring a lot of guys, right?? Big deal. They're also retiring airframes along with them. The majors must be taking delivery of new aircraft, right?? There will be more jobs again as the majors grow, right?? Maybe, maybe not.
Here is the crux of my entire message. How fast do you think the majors will grow when they continue to "farm out" their flying to the regionals?? In other words, the majors (management) don't want you flying for them on the ML, they like you just where you are now, ie, flying for "cheap".
"Like the typical ML pilot you like to blame the RJ for the demise of the profession. What about the discount carriers. SWA, JB, AirTran, and ATA are all flying similar sized equipment for half the pay and benifits of a ML pilot. That is where your jobs are going. Your airline, with its bloated cost structure just can not compete."
You may see the ML scope clauses as some unfair way of protecting a ML pilot's job, but remember - that ML pilot's current job is your FUTURE job. The number #1 way to protect the career of ALL pilots is for RJ drivers to get paid what they deserve and ultimately, keep the number of RJ jobs low, while keeping the number of ML jobs high.
"Scope is the most important part of any labor contract. I think most RJ pilots support strong scope. We need it also."
Unfortunately, we are well on the path of doing the reverse. If the majors continue to shrink, park their narrow-body jets while replacing their routes with RJ's, then you can all count on building that valuable "turbine time" for several years.
