It might be time to come to terms...
04-03-2009, 10:31 AM
#21
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
The "regional jet" market isn't growing...it is shrinking. The 50 seat RJ is a dying airframe, and its death will be greatly accelerated if fuel has a rapid increase in cost as the economy recovers.
The growing market, the sweet spot, the gaping hole for many legacy carriers that will cause scope wars between pilot groups, is the 70-110 seat airframe....and an airplane able to fly 1000+nm with 60+ passengers, no matter if the engines are mounted under the wing or on the tail, simply isn't a "regional jet" regardless of what its manufacturer markets it as.
The issue has been and will continue to be this: will mainline pilots continue to sell their scope for their smallest airframes to regional pilots & their employers who are all too happy to have a larger top-out airframe at their company?
Expect to see some good news here regarding the 50 seat market soon
Another thing, just wait until UAL files BK, the first thing they will do is look at their 70 seat feed and bye bye s good majority of Skywest and RAH 70 seat flying...............
In my mind, mainline pilots can't blame regional pilots for "lowering the bar" on compensation for these Baby Busses because if mainline pilots didn't sell the scope for those airframes then they wouldn't have to worry about regional pilots moving up into those sized airframes.
For the sake of the industry and the piloting profession, I hope mainline pilots FINALLY have learned from their mistakes of the last 20 years and are DONE selling turbojet scope...
The growing market, the sweet spot, the gaping hole for many legacy carriers that will cause scope wars between pilot groups, is the 70-110 seat airframe....and an airplane able to fly 1000+nm with 60+ passengers, no matter if the engines are mounted under the wing or on the tail, simply isn't a "regional jet" regardless of what its manufacturer markets it as.
The issue has been and will continue to be this: will mainline pilots continue to sell their scope for their smallest airframes to regional pilots & their employers who are all too happy to have a larger top-out airframe at their company?
Expect to see some good news here regarding the 50 seat market soon
Another thing, just wait until UAL files BK, the first thing they will do is look at their 70 seat feed and bye bye s good majority of Skywest and RAH 70 seat flying...............
In my mind, mainline pilots can't blame regional pilots for "lowering the bar" on compensation for these Baby Busses because if mainline pilots didn't sell the scope for those airframes then they wouldn't have to worry about regional pilots moving up into those sized airframes.
For the sake of the industry and the piloting profession, I hope mainline pilots FINALLY have learned from their mistakes of the last 20 years and are DONE selling turbojet scope...
Also just wait for UAL to file BK............the VERY first thing they will do is look at their CPA's with Skywest and RAH, and you can say goodbye to a lot of that 70 seat flying, as well as 50 seat, or at least at a very reduced cost, Skywest has a sweetheart of a deal right now and it wont last forever same can be said for RAH
04-03-2009, 10:51 AM
#22
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Position: Clear Right 320
Posts: 79
Negative. Unfortunately what will happen is when they go BK, UA pilots WILL lose the bargaining power of scope and thats how RAH will introduce the 190's. Sad but truly possible
04-03-2009, 10:58 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Posts: 138
The regional level is where all the growth is and where it is heading. Mainline flying along with its perks and pay is shrinking. A high percentage of regional pilots should plan on flying RJ aircraft for the remainder of their career. I do not mean this to be a dig at anyone its just the way it is. Take a look at what has happened in the last 10 years, UA and AA are at least 30% smaller, NWA (pre-merger) shrank almost 30%, and the list goes on and on. Management will do whatever they can to bring down the cost of doing business.
04-03-2009, 11:27 AM
#25
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Best Plan
I think that the best plan is to get a real job. Raise your family. Pay off the house. Retire and then take up the airlines in your mid-50's.
The airlines have been reduced to that if a hobby job. In the near future young kids and financially independent old timers will be flying the line.
Skyhigh
The airlines have been reduced to that if a hobby job. In the near future young kids and financially independent old timers will be flying the line.
Skyhigh
04-03-2009, 11:37 AM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 193
Why pay higher prices to fly routes that regionals can fly for less? UALs 737s will park and regionals will compete for those routes based on who will do it cheaper and who has better performance numbers. 950 UAL pilots furloughed, 1900 American pilots forloughed. Why fly for mainline and start all over when you can make $75K+ at the regional level? We need to bring retirement back to age 60.
04-03-2009, 11:46 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 112
The bill to raise the age was singed December 2007. If my math is correct that means that December 2012 will be 5 years after the bill was signed. New retirement age 65, old retirement age 60...a difference of 5 years.
So, if one was an optimist they probably feel like the economy will be back on its feet by 2012. Pilots reaching mandatory retirement by 2013...a better economy...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put the pieces together.
Just my optimistic .02
So, if one was an optimist they probably feel like the economy will be back on its feet by 2012. Pilots reaching mandatory retirement by 2013...a better economy...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put the pieces together.
Just my optimistic .02
04-03-2009, 11:51 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
Like some are saying, Regionals are adding capacity and mainline is losing it. If you are content and don't mind working at a regional for your entire career you will be happy with the choice you have taken. Getting to mainline or the "dreamjob" may not happen to the majority of those who enter the industry. As long as they know that going in there won't be a problem. The reality is the industry's peak was a long, long time ago and will not be coming back...
04-03-2009, 11:56 AM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Port of Indecision and Southwest of Disorder
Posts: 587
I think that the best plan is to get a real job. Raise your family. Pay off the house. Retire and then take up the airlines in your mid-50's.
The airlines have been reduced to that if a hobby job. In the near future young kids and financially independent old timers will be flying the line.
Skyhigh
The airlines have been reduced to that if a hobby job. In the near future young kids and financially independent old timers will be flying the line.
Skyhigh
Another positive post by the one and only.......
04-03-2009, 12:11 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: UALFO 737
Posts: 173
I think that the best plan is to get a real job. Raise your family. Pay off the house. Retire and then take up the airlines in your mid-50's.
The airlines have been reduced to that if a hobby job. In the near future young kids and financially independent old timers will be flying the line.
Skyhigh
The airlines have been reduced to that if a hobby job. In the near future young kids and financially independent old timers will be flying the line.
Skyhigh
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
captain_drew
Flight Schools and Training
38
12-05-2012 08:29 AM
RVSM Certified
Flight Schools and Training
19
02-23-2009 02:26 PM
