Said it before...say it again...
Airline pilots' pay should be tied to executive compensation. There needs to be an independent auditing group that looks at and evaluates the TOTAL compensation package of the CEO (for example). Then, the pilots get a percentage of that.
For example, Arpey's $8.3M is probably much higher when you figure in ALL the benefits, perks, stock options, etc. I'll bet that $8.3M blows up to maybe $12M or more when everything is added in.
So, pay the captains 2.0% of that figure...first officers get 1.3%. Forget sick leave, vacation, pension, etc., etc. Just pay the MD-80 captain 2%. Surely Arpey is not worth more than 50 times what a Super 80 captain is worth!
For $240K per year, I'll provide my own pension savings, sick leave, etc. And, I'll be sure to have a pension at the end of my career, as well. (The executives will be unable to steal it!)
(No, I don't fly for American!)
Fly safe,
PantLoad