I am surprised that there has not been more focus on this forum on the fact that a lot of the regional FOs in the US live in "crash pads" on blow-up mattresses/sofas in the same room as several other pilots and cabin crew. How can anyone - with 25,000 hrs or 250hrs - be in a fit state to operate a 16 hour duty day (which the FAA seems to allow, correct me if I am wrong please) after spending the night in these Bombay slum style conditions?
I seem to remember one of the executives from Colgan Air saying that they "employ professionals" and expect there pilots and crew to turn up to work fully rested. If you want professionals maybe you should pay more than $18,000 per year eh?? Then they probably wouldn't have to be working in TGI fridays in there spare time.