So what do you suggest they do flyitboy. continue to bury their heads in the sand while the whole thing disintergrates around them?
The stepping stone that you refer to may be applicable to some. The pilots that REX are losing now, not only include these people, but those who would not normally have moved on. The loss of these experienced Captains, if left unchecked will lead to not only the destruction of REX, but also to the demise of many regional air services. There is a lot at stake here.
The major carriers have always paid more than the regionals. So why the problem?
- Once upon a time a Regional Captain was paid approx what a Domestic F/O was paid. The incentive to move on, pay for an endorsement, retrain etc..., was not as great for those settled in their job
- The gap between regional wages and their Domestic counterparts has widened
- the lifestyle at the regionals was considered superior. Now everyone is working max hours. The old addage, " I might as well get flogged over there for more money, than stay here and get flogged for less" is common.
- The regional airlines today are large companies in their own right. Professionally run (operationally at least), with revenue, turnover and economies of scale that simply did not exist a decade or more ago. They can and should pay more.
- The answer to attrition has always been to recruit. Unless you have been living on Mars for the last 12 months, you will see that is now not a viable option!
The only effective course of action is to compete for labour. Of the 60% of pilots that REX have lost in the last 12 months, I knew many of the F/O's, and most of the Captains. Of these Captains, virtually every one of them and many of the F/O's would have stayed for more money. If the amounts being offered by Surveillance Australia were on the table, REX would not be facing the "catastrophic damage" that it is today.
So don't be deluded into thinking it is not worth competing for "experienced" pilots. In the current environment it is the only thing that will save REX from losing another 60% of their pilots and collapse!