Scope clause

A scope clause is part of a contract between an airline and a pilot union. Generally, these clauses are used by the union of a major airline to limit the number and/or size of aircraft that airline may contract out to a Regional airline. The goal is to protect union jobs at the major airline from being eliminated by regional airlines operating larger aircraft.^[1]

Influence on airlines

Scope clauses place restrictions on how many and what size of aircraft a regional airline may operate. Some holding companies operate a large number of individual airlines, with each airline's fleet specifically tuned to the scope clause of that airline's contracted major carrier.^[2] Republic Airways Holdings is an example of a company structured in this manner.

Influence on aircraft manufacturers

Scope clauses have a major influence on manufacturers of regional aircraft. Manufacturers will create airplanes specifically tuned to the scope clauses of most airlines. For this reason and others, regional aircraft tend to be manufactured in families, and competing regional aircraft will often have identical seating capacity.^[3]

• 19 seats:
  • Beechcraft 1900
  • Fairchild Metroliner
• 34 seats:
  • Bombardier Dash 8
  • Embraer ERJ 135
  • Dornier 328, 328JET
• 44 seats:
  • Embraer ERJ 140
  • Dornier 428JET
• 50 seats:
  • Bombardier CRJ200
  • Bombardier Dash 8 Q300
  • Embraer ERJ 145
  • Dornier 528
  • ATR 42
• 70 seats:
  • Bombardier CRJ700
  • Embraer 170
  • Dornier 728
  • Dash 8 Q400
  • ATR 72
• 90 seats:
  • Bombardier CRJ900
  • Embraer 175
  • Dornier 928

Support and criticism

Scope clauses are supported as a means of saving union jobs. Additionally, major airline pilots are usually higher paid than regional pilots, and there is a perceived safety advantage in favor of major airlines. Criticism of scope clauses centers on the limits they place on the regional airlines they target. They are seen as a way of artificially maintaining the pay of major airline pilots when regional pilots will in theory fly the same size airplanes for less pay.^[4]

References