PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Selfishness in the extreme?!
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Old 20th Nov 2002, 16:19
  #17 (permalink)  
BOING
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Ironbutt, please slow down and speak clearly. I am missing your point.

Remember the commuter evolution was a new experience for ALPA and the major airlines and as such it took a while for these people to adjust and nobody denies mistakes were made. If you wish to turn this situation into an ongoing feud on the lines of Serbia or Ireland it is up to you. It would seem, however, that solving the problem is more important than tearing the, admittedly flawed, system apart.

Here is your real long term problem. The majors, who were the career target of many commuter pilots are now going to be off limits for several years, at least, because of cut-backs and furloughs. Many of the present generation commuter pilots are going to be TOO OLD to be hired by the majors even if and when they do start rehiring. RJs are going to get bigger and the pressure is going to be applied to keep these larger aircraft with commuter operations. The majors do not want the large RJs in their fleets because of their own high operating cost structures. Therefore, as a commuter pilot you will be flying a 737 capacity aircraft for an RJ paycheck and work conditions. Your long term problem is going to be finding a way to turn your commuter career, which you may be locked into, into a career as good as the one you once had a chance of achieving. You will only do this by using the combined strength of the pilot group, you will not do it on your own.

Work within the system. Get elected. Change the policies. What ALPA did was to assume a role as seniority arbitrator and contract ratifier that was a sham even in the good times. ALPA never has had power to enforce any agreement between pilot groups, only ratify them, so it is no good yelling at ALPA when things happen you do not like.

Your present gripe seems to be that certain mainline pilot groups are trying to get their surplus pilots transferred to their airlines regional carriers. What do you seriously expect them to do? If you have a problem with that rather than ranting here organise your own group in defence. If you look at the situation you will realize you have powerful allies. If the major airline involved actually paid for the aircraft you are flying you may not have much of an argument. If your company is truly independent you should be OK. Many commuters grew because of large cash injections from the parent airline. If that is the case the major pilots have an argument which is "Our work paid for the RJs in the first place,. We did not complain when our money was used to buy your aircraft so why should you complain that we now claim the right to fly the aircraft we own?".

This may strike you as unfair but it also stikes a major airline pilot as unfair the his career is terminated, full stop, gone whilst pilots in your position continue to fly aircraft that were purchased by his company. I am not taking sides, just providing a viewpoint.