...(although I think low-cost is the cancer of aviation and it's spreading quickly) it's the fact that all T&C's in the entire aviation industry are under threat.
An excellent comment, and in one sense I agree, however my opinons are at odds with each other (I must be a fool!). I think that were it not for the Locos post 9/11 then the industry from a recruitment perspective, would have taken far longer to recover. There would have been no movement in the currency that is new recruits. Any Gordon Brown ecomomist will tell you that if there is no movement in your currency then there is recession (and probably then be off to the pub having borrowed even more money to move the currency which stopped moving due to money borrowed and lent in the first place, but that's another story). In a sense, for certain of those seeking recruitment, post 9/ll without Easy and Ryanair, there would have been none. It looks to me like that's the way it is now, today.
Now to the cancer: it is true, they are eroding terms and conditions because they can; market forces allow them. However the cancer goes further than this. They only recruit desperate newly qualifieds leaving experienced pilots wanting to climb the old traditional ladder finding that there are lots of rungs missing, and they have no rope. Before I worry about terms and conditions in a better job not being as good as they used to be I need that better job. Here and now my terms and conditions are far worse than at the Locos. So getting a job with them, would that be cancer or cure? I'm confused.
I would however argue strongly that with some solid experience behind me, and a few steam driven failures to handle in that time, I am far better placed to be the monkey to which Wind Check refers so glibly.
come on guys, i didn't want to pis.s you off...
Oh yes, I think you did.
...but that's how is our profession. Being a commercial pilot is not a glamorous job anymore. Our passenger buy a cheap ticket and don't give a s.hit of our job, they don't listen to the pilot's PA, and they feel like in a fast bus from A to B, and what they want is to arrive on time and get out of the airport as soon as possible. Airbus and Boeing are very modern airplanes, and they are easy to be operated by a low hour cadet.
Yes the passengers do. However you are wrong, they take it for granted you are not a monkey and you will keep them safe. Would you be able to do that yourself?