Airline exec: Pilot on fatal flight shouldn't have been flying - CNN.com
And from Trenary's prepared statement -
When I arrived at Pinnacle Airlines 12 years ago, our average Captain salary was approximately $36,000. Today, at both Pinnacle Airlines and Colgan Air, our Captains earn an average of over $65,000 per year, and our First Officers earn an average of over $24,000 per year plus per diem allowances. These average salaries, as well as starting salaries, are consistent with the regional airline sector. While starting base salaries for co-pilots may seem low, they must be viewed in the context of many other professions where higher salaries are achieved through progressive levels of responsibility. Also, our pilots’ wages are subject to the collective bargaining process and are negotiated with our pilot groups.