Originally Posted by
43Inches
Pay is only a small part of the problem wrt to Rex pilots leaving, its more about treatment and lifestyle. Economics will never allow a SAAB operator to compete for crew on a 'pay' basis with 737+ operators. But for a long time now they have been squeezing what was a fairly part time job into full time pilot hours, doing 6 hours a day for 4 days a week would be fine for current pay. Do jet job hours and rosters for turboprop pay, and the proof is in the pudding, mass exodus whenever the opportunity presents itself... I used to think the management there had some idea, turns out they just ran what was left of Ansett into the ground sucking whatever was left from the stone. That is they took something most anyone could have profit from and just cut costs to keep it afloat until the wheels fall off, the last ten years have seen pitiful management, and that is mostly in the role of staff management and retention. I remember hearing when they slashed the pay of a sim instructor, and thought, these guys want to run a high flow, through training airline, and are stupid enough that they don't recognize they have to pay the training staff more to keep up the rates.... It's like somebody within management there is actively working against the airline now.
Pay will be a huge issue going forward. The bew cadetship agreement is 9 years, 150k loan and 50k balloon payment at the end. How does a cadet survive on 50k while paying a cadet loan and expected to live in a capital city?
They will struggle to find willing participants.