Originally Posted by exAC
So Taupo, if the pay for pilots is determined by their skill and good looks, then would that be a reason to choose one airline over the other? Jazz pilots flying the CRJ are paid less than their counterparts at the mainline. The pilots that fly you to YVR are paid a whole bunch less.
Does that affect your safety or decision on who to fly with????
Senior AC pilots get paid a lot because of a lucrative seniority system. They do not get to the top because they are better pilots than any other one out there.
My flying on scheduled carriers is limited to a handful of airlines, I do not have any safety concerns with any of them, I assume they all have qualified pilots flying safe equipment.
The pilots who fly the BEHs and I assume the Dash 8s' as well, are paid peanuts, I am unconcerned about that from a safety point of view. This is part of their (the pilots) cost to reach their dream of flying jets. Many of those pilots, with their skill and ability to learn, could get a job elsewhere at that particular time in their life earning more money.
I do not know the in and outs of the AC seniority system. My perception however, is that these pilots have "paid their dues" flying bush bashers and working their way up the heavies, and deserve a comensurate salary, given their knowledge, education, skill level, experience and responsibility.