amcnd

But the difference is in 2-5 year as other 76 seat contract planes come up, or time out/you can add seats... Or you you can buy a 170/700 right now for the same price and not have that option...

WesternSkies

Sure but do we make 3% less per year relative to other contract airlines in total compensation.

I'd really like to collect a few non-new hire W2s.

word302

My issue is that SAPA loves to compare our payrates without mentioning this little tidbit.

amcnd

My friends i have at other Regionals i make more then them.. but I don't commute, they have to. And they spend money on crashpads, food ect that i dont have to.. but even pure W2 vs W2 ive come out ahead..

RemoveB4Flight

Not all of us voted yes.
I just wish more people had realized they dropped the ball before casting their vote.
Even if additional flying does come our way, it still doesn't make this a good pay contract.
Every single yes voter sold out their fellow pilots not only here but at other regionals in a time when we will probably never have better negotiating power.

RemoveB4Flight

I think part of what makes it lucrative is the fact that they don't have to give their pilots a reasonable raise for the next 5 years during a pilot shortage. I'd imagine that helps a bit.

rickair7777

They don't have to. But they may have retention issues, and I'm not talking about new hires.

RemoveB4Flight

I'm sure they will.

The sooner the better.

Bombardier Stev

Pilots tend to look at this issue with blinders on, only seeing what is in front of them and knowing what is behind them. You are all thinking about pilots either switching to other regionals, going corporate, moving to a major.

We all forget to think about all the pilots who just leave the industry. The large majority of guys and gals I flew with when I entered the airlines are just doing other things.

My first major airline was basically bought out but they didn't take all the pilots. The rest of us, probably only 60% kept going in aviation, maybe less. During the oil price spike of 91 there were lots of airlines that went under and lots of airlines that furloughed probably 10,000+ pilots. Then there were the post 911 furloughs and the 2008 furloughs. With no pilot jobs out there people start doing other things. When the airlines start hiring again look at their choices, keep the nonflying job they have or go fly for a regional or even a major and make 30k or maybe up to 60k, commuting to a crashed, little or no pay the first 2 months, no medical insurance for 3 months or longer.

The airlines complain about the lack of inexperienced pilots willing to work for 35k per year. We need to point out that the airlines just don't appreciate experienced pilots. They don't want to pay them for their experience. Why don't they want to pay an experienced guy to fly? If a medical practice needs a doctor they don't have to insist on one right out of medical school because he will work for less.

Aurora8

I think all the guys in my new hire class voted 'yes' because SAPA came into class and gave a big song and dance about upgrades and basically said 'you'll be doing the right thing by voting yes...' When you're new to a company without a lot of first hand knowledge or access to other points of view, and the pres of SAPA says 'vote yes,' you vote 'yes.' We weren't aware of selling out our fellow pilots. With the benefit of hindsight, I probably wouldn't have voted at all.