Where is the dividing line?

[USMCmech]

Honest question,

Where is the dividing line between a "Regional" and a "Major" in terms of equipment.

Because from where I sit, it's become so blurry as to be almost invisible. An E170 and CRJ900 are so big that I don't see why they are not flown by mainline crews. They are almost as big as a classic 737 or DC-9, so what's the difference?

If say Alaska wanted to fly E170s why wouldn't the union take them? I know why management wants to call them RJs (so the "regional" crews can fly them), but why the bias against them from the pilots.

From where I sit, some of the "mega regionals" like Eagle, or Rebublic should be classed with places like Airtran or Alaska. They are bigger in size of fleet, number of pilots, and fly aircraft almost as big.

 

[A-300F4-622R]

Honest question,

Where is the dividing line between a "Regional" and a "Major" in terms of equipment.

Because from where I sit, it's become so blurry as to be almost invisible. An E170 and CRJ900 are so big that I don't see why they are not flown by mainline crews. They are almost as big as a classic 737 or DC-9, so what's the difference?

If say Alaska wanted to fly E170s why wouldn't the union take them? I know why management wants to call them RJs (so the "regional" crews can fly them), but why the bias against them from the pilots.

From where I sit, some of the "mega regionals" like Eagle, or Rebublic should be classed with places like Airtran or Alaska. They are bigger in size of fleet , and fly aircraft almost as big.

How bout by aircraft type? Boeing, Airbus, McDonnell Douglas major, the rest regional.

 

[USMCmech]

How bout by aircraft type? Boeing, Airbus, McDonnell Douglas major, the rest regional.

What if UPS used an CRJ-900 to replace the 727? Would you take it?

Same job, same pay(?), just a different name on the data plate.

 

[A-300F4-622R]

What if UPS used an CRJ-900 to replace the 727? Would you take it?

Same job, same pay(?), just a different name on the data plate.

Heck yeah. I wish we would take over the Shorts flying. I'd be all over that. $250,000/yr SDF-BKW! I'd never leave. Yes, I'm serious.

 

[BobDDuck]

Well, then manufacturer doesn't have much to do with Major vs. Regional.

Besides the 190 and the upcoming C series certainly look like 737s to me but aren't made by one of your aforementioned companies.

 

[jhugz]

Honest question,

Where is the dividing line between a "Regional" and a "Major" in terms of equipment.

Just an outsider looking in but anything w/ +50 seats should be mainline metal.

 

[SpiraMirabilis]

Turbofan engines. Or rather, thats what I would used to say but the era of huge turboprops is here.

 

[Patrick]

Just an outsider looking in but anything w/ +50 seats should be mainline metal.

I'd agree with this, though I don't think it's likely to ever happen.

 

[little_cricket]

Honest question,

Where is the dividing line between a "Regional" and a "Major" in terms of equipment.

Because from where I sit, it's become so blurry as to be almost invisible. An E170 and CRJ900 are so big that I don't see why they are not flown by mainline crews. They are almost as big as a classic 737 or DC-9, so what's the difference?

If say Alaska wanted to fly E170s why wouldn't the union take them? I know why management wants to call them RJs (so the "regional" crews can fly them), but why the bias against them from the pilots.

From where I sit, some of the "mega regionals" like Eagle, or Rebublic should be classed with places like Airtran or Alaska. They are bigger in size of fleet, number of pilots, and fly aircraft almost as big.

The dividing line between Major and Regional is not equipment in my opinion, but pay and work rules... i.e. Northwest DC-9s and American Fokkers.

 

[higney85]

Major vs regional in a business sense? If you sell your own tickets- you are not a regional. Regionals FEED mainline/LCC/national carriers and historically are not the direct "retailer"- they are contract.

Mainline metal? 50+ seats in my book. Compare a Crj-900 to a Dc-9-10 in terms of size and capacity and let me know how to justify it otherwise.


That's just my take.:dunno:

 

[KLB]

Heck yeah. I wish we would take over the Shorts flying. I'd be all over that. $250,000/yr SDF-BKW! I'd never leave. Yes, I'm serious.

My wet dream is that you guys buy out my current company and acquire all of the pilots. Heck most of the aircraft already have UP on the tales. Buy'em back and hire me to fly them. *gush*

 

[joliet]

If you sell a ticket for United Airlines, you should be flown by pilots whose paycheck, and training say United Airlines, not Mesa Air Group, or Shuttle America.

 

[A-300F4-622R]

My wet dream is that you guys buy out my current company and acquire all of the pilots. Heck most of the aircraft already have UP on the tales. Buy'em back and hire me to fly them. *gush*

I heard that the Ameriflight pilots were demanding DOH with us and that's why the acquisition has been shelved.

 

[USMCmech]

My wet dream is that you guys buy out my current company and acquire all of the pilots. Heck most of the aircraft already have UP on the tales. Buy'em back and hire me to fly them. *gush*

If your company would buy mine, it would hold almost all feeder flying west of the Mississippi.

At that point Amflight would actually have some leverage with big brown.

 

[USMCmech]

Major vs regional in a business sense? If you sell your own tickets- you are not a regional. Regionals FEED mainline/LCC/national carriers and historically are not the direct "retailer"- they are contract.

Mainline metal? 50+ seats in my book. Compare a Crj-900 to a Dc-9-10 in terms of size and capacity and let me know how to justify it otherwise.

That's what I see as well.

I don't know how the mainline unions let the 50+ seat jets get past them. But it seams like a huge mistake to me.

 

[A-300F4-622R]

If your company would buy mine, it would hold almost all feeder flying west of the Mississippi.

At that point Amflight would actually have some leverage with big brown.

Maybe you guys could get a flowthrough?

 

[SpiceWeasel]

Just an outsider looking in but anything w/ +50 seats should be mainline metal.

Why 50+ seats? Why not 0+ seats? That is the ultimate goal. All flying for a carrier should be done by its seniority list pilots - not by a contractor.

 

[N826AW]

The dividing line should be between whatever the mainline pilot group negotiated to bring in-house and everything they couldn't.

 

[jhugz]

Why 50+ seats? Why not 0+ seats? That is the ultimate goal. All flying for a carrier should be done by its seniority list pilots - not by a contractor.

Agreed, but it has got to start somewhere.

 

[Polar742]

Agreed, but it has got to start somewhere.

It did.

In 1970's it was Beech 99's and Metros (up to 19 seats)

In the 80's it was SAABs and ATRs (up to 66!! seats)

In the 90's it was CRJs and E145s (up to 50 seat jets and still the 66 seat ATR 72s)

In the 2000's it was CRJ-700/900 and EJets and 74 seat Q400s (the next explosive fleet segment BTW, however it won't be as big as the RJs IMO)

Anyone else see a trend?