Pura Vida
Actually, the term SJ was termed quite a long time ago, and not by anyone at US Aiways. The general consensus is that a 70 or more seat jet is not a regional jet. I'd even say that 50 seaters are not due to the range. Embraer is as, if not more interested in selling thier new line of Ejets to larger airlines than to "regionals". This is why they dropped the "ERJ" moniker, and enlarged the rear doors from the original design. In the U.S, they would love for thier line to be a replacement for DC9s, F100s, and smaller 737s. Apparently Embraer was disapointed at US's use of Express titles as the North American launch customer.
Pura Vida, if you read back through many of my posts you'll see that I also wish US and its unions had handled RJs and flow through differently. I believe the mainline and wholly owned employees need to use thier leverage (concessions) to regain the flying that has been outsourced and stop the divide and conquer tactics. The issue of contract flying, and in-between size jets will be a huge issue in the next few years, I predict even bigger than it was with the 50 seaters. I see it coming to a head at each major carrier, and being resolved in the next five years. I think it will be much to managements dismay, as they will have to find other ways to breach contracts and whipsaw than profit solely off of young, dumb airline employees who'll work for $1000 a month.
But if you are trying to blame individuals (never a smart idea), you are blaming the wrong ones. Many of the junior mainline pilots also worked thier way up through the commuters to a major airline, only to be furloughed. The same goes for many F/As, myself included. Most if not all of the MidAtlantic-eligible crews were not around to even vote on the conditions of the MAA division. They certainly would not have agreed to fly a similar sized jet for such a sub- industry standard contract had they had the opportunity.
You said "Welcome to our world"- ask yourself who built that world where a pilot makes less than a Gap salesperson? Senior mainline employees may have voted the MAA contracts in (under a threat of liquidation its worth noting), but the idea of "regional" wages at a "commuter" while "making your time" came from regional airline people allowing it over the years through thier eagerness to work. Like Mr. Ornstein of Mesa is proud of saying, his pilots must still be overpaid, because he's not having any trouble filling classes. As a result of this, both sides are suffering- there is not much worth putting ones time in for anymore, because airline management has figured out that some idiot will fly any type of aircraft or flying pretty much for free.
The positive result of the MidAtlantic/Embraer division is that we (US Airways employees), for now at least, are taking back our flying. Same goes for PSA. The situations are not ideal, in fact they are downright insulting (AL and PI employees left out in the cold, furloughed pilots making below commuter airline collegues, furlouged F/As having to wait six months for medical coverage like a new hire, while still considered mainline for all other purposes that suit the company). Hopefully we can change some of those things.
These people have given thier time, energy and money to this airline for up to 15 years, and this is what they are getting. They chose to come back and hope to rebuild our airline. I'm not sure of your situation, but you dont seem like you have a very clear view on things, or on our people.
I'm glad your comment over the radio that was meant to be an insult wasn't taken as one by anyone but, well, yourself. Perhaps you should spend more time worrying about your own flight deck than concerning yourself with ours. I can guarantee you, those guys in that EMB are not concerned about you or your uninformed opinion.
Actually, the term SJ was termed quite a long time ago, and not by anyone at US Aiways. The general consensus is that a 70 or more seat jet is not a regional jet. I'd even say that 50 seaters are not due to the range. Embraer is as, if not more interested in selling thier new line of Ejets to larger airlines than to "regionals". This is why they dropped the "ERJ" moniker, and enlarged the rear doors from the original design. In the U.S, they would love for thier line to be a replacement for DC9s, F100s, and smaller 737s. Apparently Embraer was disapointed at US's use of Express titles as the North American launch customer.
Pura Vida, if you read back through many of my posts you'll see that I also wish US and its unions had handled RJs and flow through differently. I believe the mainline and wholly owned employees need to use thier leverage (concessions) to regain the flying that has been outsourced and stop the divide and conquer tactics. The issue of contract flying, and in-between size jets will be a huge issue in the next few years, I predict even bigger than it was with the 50 seaters. I see it coming to a head at each major carrier, and being resolved in the next five years. I think it will be much to managements dismay, as they will have to find other ways to breach contracts and whipsaw than profit solely off of young, dumb airline employees who'll work for $1000 a month.
But if you are trying to blame individuals (never a smart idea), you are blaming the wrong ones. Many of the junior mainline pilots also worked thier way up through the commuters to a major airline, only to be furloughed. The same goes for many F/As, myself included. Most if not all of the MidAtlantic-eligible crews were not around to even vote on the conditions of the MAA division. They certainly would not have agreed to fly a similar sized jet for such a sub- industry standard contract had they had the opportunity.
You said "Welcome to our world"- ask yourself who built that world where a pilot makes less than a Gap salesperson? Senior mainline employees may have voted the MAA contracts in (under a threat of liquidation its worth noting), but the idea of "regional" wages at a "commuter" while "making your time" came from regional airline people allowing it over the years through thier eagerness to work. Like Mr. Ornstein of Mesa is proud of saying, his pilots must still be overpaid, because he's not having any trouble filling classes. As a result of this, both sides are suffering- there is not much worth putting ones time in for anymore, because airline management has figured out that some idiot will fly any type of aircraft or flying pretty much for free.
The positive result of the MidAtlantic/Embraer division is that we (US Airways employees), for now at least, are taking back our flying. Same goes for PSA. The situations are not ideal, in fact they are downright insulting (AL and PI employees left out in the cold, furloughed pilots making below commuter airline collegues, furlouged F/As having to wait six months for medical coverage like a new hire, while still considered mainline for all other purposes that suit the company). Hopefully we can change some of those things.
These people have given thier time, energy and money to this airline for up to 15 years, and this is what they are getting. They chose to come back and hope to rebuild our airline. I'm not sure of your situation, but you dont seem like you have a very clear view on things, or on our people.
I'm glad your comment over the radio that was meant to be an insult wasn't taken as one by anyone but, well, yourself. Perhaps you should spend more time worrying about your own flight deck than concerning yourself with ours. I can guarantee you, those guys in that EMB are not concerned about you or your uninformed opinion.
