The problem goes far deeper than economics.
The pilot workforce throughout the industry seems to becoming more and more fractious, and is degenerating into a non-unionised rabble, who is content to work piecemeal and who's only aspiration is a fast buck at the end of the month. Witness the bickering about how many block hours such and such is likely to do. This conversation amongst seasoned professionals would be unthinkable 20 years ago, except amongst the oddest of specimen, the aspiring management pilot.
Previous aspirations such as professional self-respect, status within the wider population and benefits that are less tangible on a day to day basis, such as income protection in case of sickness or retirement benefits appear to be setting in the sun. Many of the new breed simply don't seem to place value on these things. You will rue the day, mark my words.
I'm sure carriers such as FR have provided opportunities to many, either through a RHS in a shiny jet or rapid advancement into the LHS. There is a downside to all this. We have been collectively debased and those who have got somewhere far quicker in their career than was previously possible will start see what you've sowed in a few years time, when they realise they're on the verge of burn out and have another 20 years to go before they can draw their meagre pension.
This industry has and always will be about making money. FR have proved themselves very adept at this. But they aren't the only ones making money. Speaking about my company, which is a middling size operator in the UK and part of a far larger group, we make solid profits and provide some very strong benefits to our pilot workforce. Incidentally we are heavily unionised and the management simply wouldn't dare to stoop to the intimidatory methods which FR's evidently does - this is because if you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us and collectively we won't be bowed.
Pilot pay and benefits are only a relatively modest part of the costs of running an airline and once you realise this, if you value your worth fully and get yourselves organised, you too can start respecting yourself again.
But witnessing the singular lack of gumption on this forum, I don't hold out too much hope. Since historical quotations seem to be en vogue, in the words of the Sun newspaper circa 1992, will the last one out turn out the lights.
Over to the Nazi and his Quisling cohorts...
Last edited by Barden; 15th August 2009 at 17:09.