3
350DRIVER
I am always amazed by posts on this board especially when their is a "debate" over regional vs major airline pay. What is just a little bothersome and puzzling is how the regional pilots always appear to have to justify "why" the deserve more pay, benefits,etc,etc, and so on ( a fight that appears never ending).... In my opinion whether you fly a 50 seat RJ or a 767 the "responsibilty" factor is the same as well as the objective which is pretty obvious in which you are paid to get the pax from point A to point B unscratched and not harmed. It is extremely hard to imagine why the pay varies so greatly from the regionals to the majors and so forth. I was once told from a major airline captain that being a regional airline pilot is comparable to being in the "minor leagues" and that a regional pilot should expect nothing more than "minimal pay"- I absolutely disagree with this mindset and outlook since the responsibilty is the same as well as the overall objectives and then the deciding factor now seems to be the "number of seats" that the equipment you fly has... I think it is not only unfair but also frustrating to read some of the threads and see the trouble that many regional pilots are facing during their continuing fight for "fair compensation" and benefits.
I can't see how most of the majority of entry level jobs pay much more than an entry level first officer positions at the regional level with much less responsibilty and training required for those jobs- I sure hope ALPA is fighting for better compensation and benefits for these guys although reading some threads I am not convinced that ALPA is doing this although I sure hope I am completely incorrect in my rush to judgement since I soon plan on being one of those guys at the regionals. I know and completely understand that being a pilot is not going to make one "rich" but is it too much to ask for "equal and fair compensation"???
Then their are those who continue to argue that you must "pay your dues" prior to making a decent and fair living BUT isn't "paying your dues" a never ending process in aviation??- I just wish the regional pilots who frequent this board were given and shown a little more respect and every once in awhile treated "equal" as the major airline pilots are treated.- Bottom line is whether you are a 67 jock or a CRJ pilot you are still doing the exact same thing EXCEPT getting paid equally and "fairly"- I sure hope that the future will offer a new beginning and some things will change since at 23 years of age I have a long way to go before I will be able to sit back, relax, golf everyday and best of all "retire" from an industry that has treated me so well this early on in my career- Just hope their are many changes that are in the works BUT after reading some posts it it hard to remain "optimistic" and upbeat seeing the many day to day struggles that face the regional pilot.
Cheers
3 5 0
I can't see how most of the majority of entry level jobs pay much more than an entry level first officer positions at the regional level with much less responsibilty and training required for those jobs- I sure hope ALPA is fighting for better compensation and benefits for these guys although reading some threads I am not convinced that ALPA is doing this although I sure hope I am completely incorrect in my rush to judgement since I soon plan on being one of those guys at the regionals. I know and completely understand that being a pilot is not going to make one "rich" but is it too much to ask for "equal and fair compensation"???
Then their are those who continue to argue that you must "pay your dues" prior to making a decent and fair living BUT isn't "paying your dues" a never ending process in aviation??- I just wish the regional pilots who frequent this board were given and shown a little more respect and every once in awhile treated "equal" as the major airline pilots are treated.- Bottom line is whether you are a 67 jock or a CRJ pilot you are still doing the exact same thing EXCEPT getting paid equally and "fairly"- I sure hope that the future will offer a new beginning and some things will change since at 23 years of age I have a long way to go before I will be able to sit back, relax, golf everyday and best of all "retire" from an industry that has treated me so well this early on in my career- Just hope their are many changes that are in the works BUT after reading some posts it it hard to remain "optimistic" and upbeat seeing the many day to day struggles that face the regional pilot.
Cheers
3 5 0