johnso29

And that's exactly what you're doing. Thats what I did. Anybody who stays or goes is taking a risk. No one is any more safe or secure by staying at a regional. Look at ACA/Indy, Comair, Mesa, etc. It can end anywhere, anytime. It's unlikely oil will hit $147 a barrel again as speculation has been made illegal.

rickair7777

Correction...unlikely anytime in the near future.

But eventually the oil will start to run out for real...at that point larger airplanes really are more cost-effective. Frequency will be trumped by price and you will have 777 doing LAX-SFO...on Mon/WED/FRI/SUN. Unless a cost-effective Jet A alternative is available in mass-production quantities, airplanes will start to disappear, smallest ones first. When? Who knows for sure...but sometime this century and I suspect somewhat sooner rather than later.

johnso29

Agreed, but I think an alternative will be developed and in production by then.

rickair7777

I think it's entirely feasible technically...I just don't have a warm fuzzy that our industry (or government) leaders are capable of thinking that far ahead. Thye not only have to find and certify a solution, they have to somehow create enough production and distribution infrastructure to feed the beast. They generally don't want to spend any money on long-term problems since that would impact next quarter's financial performance and associated bonuses

Maybe the guvmint will take care of it after it becomes a crisis.

johnso29

Yeah & another problem IMO is getting the FAA to give the thumbs up on it. You know it'll have to be phased in & that could take 10 years from when it's first allowed.

TonyWilliams

Let me tell ya... Accra is paradise compared to Lagos.

rickair7777

My understanding is that the FAA at least understands how critical this could be and is already working with ASTM and researchers on this. Also I think if ASTM certifies a fuel to the "JET A" standard, nothing else would be required from the FAA. They don't certify fuels, they certify airplanes, which come with a specified fuel requirement from the factory, which would be reference an ASTM standard (or equivalent standard for Russian, etc fuels)

hoserpilot

Tony is right....Lagos sucks!!! The beer hurts your head. As far as regional vs major. My life is waaaay better at a major. More pay, more time off, more money in my DB plan, more flexibility (brokerage link) with 401k, less legs per day/year, no more "wow, this plane is small!", weekends off, christmas off, new years off, a contract....not a policy manual..... I could go on and on.

I do miss the younger crews and the family atmosphere of my old California regional base. Too bad the best Cali bases closed. The job security issue was a concern but my goal was not to reach the peak of my career in an RJ and stagnate for the next 30 years. Projected retirements helped reinforce the career advancement opportunity at a major. The guys senior to me were serious lifers at my old job.... I wasn't moving up till they kicked the bucket.

I felt I worked for the best regional and had many good years under my belt. Life would've been comfortable if I stayed but life is awesome now. I'll tell you in 30 years if I made the right decision.


For those who remember this....A decade ago the skywest policy manual really was printed on brown paper. We joked that it was used toilet paper and wasn't worth $hit. Sure is nice having a contract now and the benefits that go with it.

Even if the economy just drags along like this there are many many retirements at all airlines starting in a couple years. Maybe Kit Darby will finally be vindicated!!!!!

logic1

You are clueless. "heck go to Netjets and work...." Yeah, golly gee why don't you?

Blueskies21

Maybe so and I'm not advocating staying at a regional forever, however people forget Little airlines like... Eastern and Pan Am. How do you think that 10 year FO at Pan Am felt when they said.. oh by the way.. we're closing up shop you'll never get your upgrade.... Everything has it's risks. Majors can go out just as easily.