Does it upset anyone that dreams of becoming a pilot are ruined by regional airlines?

They aren't ruined by regional airlines, they simply allow more people to become pilots by paying less.

Look at back during the 'glory days' of aviation. There was only one US international carrier and four main domestic carriers. In other countries, there was the main flag carrier then a hodgepodge of often short lived smaller carriers. Your chances of becoming an airline pilot were slim to none at any salary figure. Also, they were their own regional airline, so you started flying the DC-3s or the Convair 240s for not much more than regional airlines are paying now. The only (big) difference is that you got a seniority number right from the get go, but you often had to be a flight engineer once you reached the big tin (which would have been a DC-6 or Constellation).

If you want to make good money in aviation, it's there for the taking. Don't take the cookie-cutter route of the regionals to get to your 'dream job' which might not even exist by the time you get there. In the end, it is just a job and pay and lifestyle are the only things that will keep you there.

First of all, the maximum legal duty period is only 14 hours long (within which up to 8 hours can be flown), so get your facts straight. Granted, it's still a long day any way you slice it.

Second of all, if you don't like it, find another career. Things are the way they are and cannot be expected to change much in the foreseeable future. There have always been more applicants than flying jobs, and there have always been pilots willing to work for peanuts, free, or even pay to sit in the right seat in order to build enough experience that they might one day work for a major airline and earn decent wages.

If you aren't willing to slug it out in the "minor leagues", you'll never get a shot at the majors unless you can become a military fixed-wing pilot.

In the UK and Europe it's difficult even to just break into the regionals and low budget airlines,even after you've built up your hours(some airline pilots even pay to have a job see the pay to fly schemes,like ryan air).

The ironic thing is there is no shortage of people queing up to study for 2 years get around £100,000 in debt ,even though they know from the begining how dyer the situation is.

I wish it were otherwise in the aviation business, but no, it really doesn't upset me. In fact, it is a good way to separate those who love it and are serious about if from the ones that aren't. As the saying goes, if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

you fly because you love flying. you fly because you want to. you fly because you can't imagine doing anything else.

the rest is details.

not all commercial flying is regional airlines. my mom saw some dc-6 waterbombers the other day and asked me if i'd be interested in flying something like that some day. i said "sure!". flying twin otters up north? why not? flying tourists around who want to take pictures? when do we go? the left seat is what's important.

so you were expecting to get a job w/ a major airline flying 747's or A380's straight out of flight school?

If your primary concern is making money then don't even think about being a pilot. You won't like it.

NOPE GOTTA START SOMEWHERE