Is it Ethical for Regional Airline to Pay First Year Essay

As comp ard to new(prenominal) airway workers, pilot projects atomic number 18 the most costly with apprehend being the largest cost for all airline companies. In fact, contract negotiations amid pilot unions and the airline reignment ar usually bitter. Recently, contract negotiations between the populations largest airlines, UAL Corps, and its pilots resulted in the increase of costs throughout the airline or air travel industry. These contract negotiations between UAL Corps and its pilots led to the several negotiations between study airlines and various proletariat groups.In the previous days, archetypal course of study pilots were salaried less than $ 20,000 while major airline captains clear head over $100,000. While a pilot usually begin at a major carrier with at least eight familys of preceding suffer, they are paid depending on the years at the airline company and the aircraft flown. A typical month for a pilot take ons only xv days of work and eighty flight hours a month. On the other hand, these pilots often spend the other eighty hours on duty at airports. However, the pilots are usually paid for the eighty flight hours and non the hours spent on duty at airports.Notably, pilots are considered as one of the well paid workers and their salaries are usually based on the measure of productivity and function (Hirschfeld, 2001). Airline captains are often paid depending on the aircrafts size, number of passengers, cargo tonnage and distance moved. Its however important to none that pilots non only have incredible mensuration of responsibility but they also have incredible genteelness requirements. Even with the responsibilities and requirements that come with this profession, in that respect is a need for setting limits that explain what constitutes a pilots reasonable and fair invent.Throughout the years, pilots salary increments have usually been ridiculously wide with most of their labor groups demanding a salary increm ent of thirty percent every four years. Additionally, in that respect is always a huge annual salary leaving between pilots at the bottom of the ladder and senior pilots for majors. airplane pilots Requirements As I mentioned in the previous page, this profession requires not only an incredible get along of responsibility but also training requirements. As a profession with these requirements, there are other important personal requirements established by the government.Most importantly, to cl betimes examine whether its ethical for regional airline to wage frontmost year pilots $20,000. 00, its incumbent to look at these requirements. The requirements include age Limits The minimum and maximum age requirements set by the government varies for various airline pilots. While underground pilots and commercial pilots should have a minimum age of seventeen and eighteen years respectively, applicants for air entrance pilot surety should have a minimum age of twenty-three years. On the other hand, the mutual retirement age on listed airlines is sixty years of age.Physical Health Requirements As compared to other professions, pilots are unavoidable to bear hard physical health conditions. These pilots are usually given medical certificates which are classified into different categories depending on the respective province. However, each of these categories not only has specific physical health requirements but their certificates are valid for different time periods. In the United States and Canada, trainees for an airline position should get wind a physician from FAA and Transport Canada respectively (Looking for a Career, 2009).Further more than, pilots are required to meet special physical demands and strict health standards by regulatory agencies. These demands primaryally concern body split like lungs and heart as well as eyesight and physical dexterity. Airline pilots who may be dependent on drugs including prescription may be disqualified fro m flying. Education This is one of the most fault take ining requirements for airline pilot professionals and has in the recent part become increasingly intricate and mechanical. With the changing technology, there is a free burning demand for pilots to meet a heightser standard.In fact, for airline pilots, learning is continuous because of the development of new aircraft designs, systems and procedures. As a result of the evolving aviation technology, pilots are not only required to master new systems but they are also required to regularly pass ground develop courses and simulated flight checks. Additionally, these pilots are also required to have a thorough understanding of navigation, mathematics, meteorology and aeronautics. This thorough understanding is necessitated by the technicality and complexity of the aircrafts navigation and communication systems.A pilot begins to acquire these skills at the secondary level of education with the main weight being on basic sciences such as math and physics. In attachment to this advanced math, aeronautical engineering and sciences are necessary courses for pilots preparation at the tertiary level of education. These pilots should also have a good attitude and theory because of the responsibility of taking care of many lives and the monetary value of the aircraft. Licensing Requirements This is the final and critical requirement for two pilots and professionals in the airline industry.In preparation to become an airline pilot, its important to note that there are four levels of certificates of pilots. These pilots certificates are pupil, private, commercial and air/airline transport pilot certificates. However, pilot certificate selecters may also have various types of certification or ratings with the exception for pilots with student pilot certificates. These ratings include land, helicopter, sea, instrument, single-engine and multi-engine flying certification. Prior to flying a large aircraft needing two-pilot crew, a pilot is required to have a type of rating. Ethics and Pilots SalariesHaving looked at the airline pilot requirements in the previous section of this paper, I go out now examine whether its ethical for regional airline to fix head start year pilots $20,000. As I mentioned earlier the requirements of the airline industry basically helps us to understand the foundation of this profession. This foundation is what determines the coiffure to the question we are examining. By and large, airline pilots go through a lot of preparations and trainings before flip to work in this profession. Their responsibility and productivity is significant in determining the salaries of these professionals.In order to find a better answer to the question we are examining, we need to understand the line of products of ethics. Ethics or the field of moral philosophy basically involves defending, planning and recommending right or wrong behavior concepts. The field of ethics is divided into three general subject areas namely normative ethics, metaethics and utilize ethics by todays philosophers. While metaethics investigates the origin of ethical principles, normative ethics involves a more realistic task which finds out the moral standards that control right or wrong behavior.On the other hand, apply ethics studies specific controversial issues (Feiser, 2009). Applied ethics usually attempts to resolve these controversial issues by apply the concepts of both metaethics and normative ethics. Therefore, controversial issues usually depend on general normative principles, metaethics and discussion of applied ethics. Whether or not it is okay for regional airlines to pay first time pilots $20,000 is a question that travel under applied ethics. This issue has generated debate with stand outers of the measure arguing that these pilots should be paid so because of the responsibility they carry on their shoulders.However, opponents argue that pilots are grossly o verpaid and greedy. However, considering the huge salary difference between first year pilots and major captains, this figure raises a lot of questions. Even after probably accumulating in supernumerary of $80,000 in student loans, those who believe that regional airlines should pay first year pilots $20,000 cite the following reasons for their support Inexperience Inexperience of the first year pilots may be considered as the one of ethical reasons why the regional airlines pay their first year pilots $20,000.For one to be promoted to a captain and earn ore capital, their experience in the airline industry is quite critical. In fact, for most of these first year pilots, flying half way through the country, sleeping in airport trailers and lounges as well as sleeping in plane floors has become a normal routine as regional airline seeks to employ experienced pilots. Consequently, these pilots are usually paid $20,000 because of their inexperience. Tough Conditions As I had earlier discussed, there are strict educational requirement for a person to become a professional in the airline industry.In addition to these strict schoolman requirements, airline pilots are also required to have a massive amount of experience in order to become professionals in the airline industry. In fact, in early 2000s, regional airlines insisted on candidates with a minimum of 1,500 of total flight hours prior to an interview. This demand was rewarded with a high pay when one was hire as a pilot. However the current $20,000 pay is as a result of the lowering of this demand to a total of 500 flight hours before an interview. It may thusly be ethical for regional airlines to pay this amount.Additionally, since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many airline companies especially regional airliners have gone through tough economic times. These harsh economic times have not only been due to the recent recession but also because of the fact that many companies are reduction costs of their m oving ines. Reasons why its wrong After considering reasons why it may be ethical for regional airlines to pay first year pilots $20,000, I strongly believe that its unethical for the airline to pay this amount given the fact that these pilots have already accrued in excess of $80,000 in student loans.This is because of the following reasons Day to Day Challenges This is one of the reasons why its unethical for regional airline to pay first time pilots $20,000 especially after they have accrued in excess of $80,000 in student loans. This reason is in opposition to the ethical theory of consequentialism which considers an action to be morally right if its results are more favorable than unfavorable. This ethical theory usually demands the tallying of both good and bad results of an action. This amount of money is less as compared to the fact that these pilots have to pay the loans which may demand up to $1,000.The unethical screen of this amount of pay is the fact that more than ha lf of the pilots of regional airline commute to work and hold down second jobs in order to make ends meet (McGreal, 2010). I believe that it is totally unethical because these pilots have to regularly pay their loans while struggling to cope with the demands of life. Usually student loan requitals fleet $1,000 a month and it may be a tall order for these first year pilots to manage the demands of life as well as pay the student debts (Bailey, 2010).Regional airline should consider paying the first year pilots more than $20,000 in order for them to manage paying their student debts and cope with life. With this amount of pay, the ethical theory of consequentialism is not put into consideration since these pilots begin their jobs deeply in debt. In addition to these huge debts, most of these pilots are often forced to fly half way around the country prior to commencement of work. Seniority and Selfish Ambitions As compared to major airline captains who earn between $150,000 and $21 5,000 annually, regional airline pilots are paid much less.However, regional airline senior pilots earn much more than their first year counterparts. The seniority ladder is quite evident here but the salary difference is huge. While I agree that first time pilots in regional carriers cannot be paid the resembling amount with their senior counterparts, there is a need of setting a fair and reasonable pay for these pilots. In addition to this, these senior pilots make it unethical for regional airlines to pay first year pilots $20,000 because of their persistent demand of pay increase through pilots unions.These increment demands are usually driven by egotistical ambitions of these senior pilots. These senior pilots demand premium pay through the powerful pilots unions (Smith, n. d. ). The selfish driven payment increment demands falls under the ethical principle of psychological self-concern. This ethical principle of psychological egoism basically concerns the intrinsic selfishn ess of humans. This ethical principle also upholds that self-oriented interests eventually motivate all human actions.oer and over again, airline companies are usually forced to budge into these payment demands. As a result, first year pilots who usually begin their careers in the toughest conditions are not paid enough to reside in major cities where there employers are. Due to their less pay and the huge student debts that they have to pay, first year pilots of regional airlines end up relatively poor. Its not ethical for senior captains to continue earning close-fitting to $250,000 annually while their other counterparts who have student debts in excess of $80,000 earn $20,000.Responsibility and Demands By and large this is one of the major reasons why its unethical for regional airlines to pay first year pilots this amount considering the responsibility that pilots carry on their shoulders. These pilots not only carry the responsibility of the passengers as well as loads of mai l and freight but they also carry the responsibility of controlling the multi-million dollar bill aircrafts. The responsibility of these pilots has also been increased with the recent technological advances in the aviation industry.These technological changes have not only improved the speed, safety and design of the aircraft but they have also changed the demands on the pilot. These increased demands on the pilot are also necessitated by the strict academic requirements and complexity of air-traffic system. Consequently, these demands have made the piloting job to be very challenging and fatiguing. I believe that its unethical for regional airline to pay their first year pilots $20,000 considering these responsibilities and the nature of the piloting job.Regardless of the airline company they work for, first year pilots and professionals in this industry are not overpaid (Ten Most Overpaid Jobs, 2003). For first year pilots, this amount from regional airlines is not their full ma rket value. Conclusion Having looked at both sides of the debate on whether its ethical for regional airline to pay their first year pilots $20,000 even after accruing over $80,000 n student loans, I strongly believe that is totally unethical for them to be paid such an amount.The academic qualifications, responsibilities and demands of these pilots are not different from their senior counter parts. Furthermore, these pilots have huge student loans that they should pay on a monthly basis. With all these facts in consideration, the amount raises serious ethical questions than it answers. References Hirschfeld, S. (2001, March 1). Pilots Pay Smeared In U. S Air Woes Outcry. Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http//www. airliners. net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read. main/403979/ Looking for a Career (2009, April).Air Line Pilots Association, worldwide (ALPA). Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http//www. learningforlife. org/exploring/aviation/alpa. pdf Feiser, J. (2009, May 10). Ethics. Retrieved from University of Tennessee at Martin website http//www. iep. utm. edu/ethics/ Bailey, J. (2010). Pilots Dream Run into Reality. Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http//www. nytimes. com/2008/04/10/business/worldbusiness/10iht-pilots. 4. 11877334. html? pagewanted=1&_r=1 McGreal, C. (2010, January 11). A Pilots Life Exhausting Hours for Meagre Wages.Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http//www. guardian. co. uk/world/2010/jan/11/pilot-exhausting-hours-wages Ten Most Overpaid Jobs (2003, November 15). PPRuNE Professional Pilots Rumour Network. Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http//www. pprune. org/rumours-news/108925-ten-most-overpaid-jobs-us-no-9-pilots-2. html Smith, P. (n. d. ). Overpaid Pilots? Retrieved July 27, 2010, from http//toolkit. bootsnall. com/transportation-travel-guide/air-travel-guide/ask-the-pilot-collection/general-maintenance/overpaid-pilots. html