Continental Connection CRJ?

[Superpilot92]

I can't honestly tell people how the CRJ program is going at CHQ. I have talked to a few of the Check Airman that went to the program for the E145, who said that things are starting to get better. I know the Super-pilot wants to throw rocks at us CHQ boys and or just talk sh!t, but we do everything that we can to make sure flights get out on time. I myself have now ripped two pair of pants unloading carry on bags for our passengers in order to minimize their waiting time. Most of us are do what we can.
This is a new operation and it will take at least 6 months to hash out the problems. Furthermore, this is a new airplane for us. Look back at the E170's when we first got them. It was a nightmare!

Someone earlier said "that CHQ bit off more that they can chew". You couldn't have been more right. We are having true growing pains right now. To many planes (coming) and not enough pilots. This is a problem that management should have seen coming last year. Now for the first time in the 2 years that I've been here, we have started Canceling some flights because of no crews. Even with the override pay, they're still canceling some flights.
I think the problem is in training, We need 300 people RIGHT NOW, but you can't train 300 people in a month. SO....we're in a stump. Not to mention all of the people that are leaving. I moved up 30 numbers this month.

XJT will soon start to fly for Delta, XJET, and will experience some of the same operational growing pains. Delta is a classy operation and they don't take well to cancellations and/or non-weather delays. You operation will change to cater to the "Delta Connection" book, even if that means Canceling 2 COA flights and ferrying them out to LAX to cover Delta Flying. I've always had respect for the XJT guys and have friends there that have 90% good things to say. Skyboy himself is a friend of mine. No one could have deserved this flying more other than Delta themselves. I'm sure that XJT's pilots will provide the same level of service that we (CHQ) pilots provide for our code-shares.

Don't make this about pilot groups. The word pilot ishould be NO where in this equation.

Hey boss, I have never thrown rocks at you CHQ boys ever. I have nothing against yall in fact i say Hi and wave at yall everytime i see one of your crews. I waved at a guy out on the hardstand as we taxied by and it almost looked like it caught him off guard. I dont know why you seem to think i have something against you. Sorry you feel that way.

I am curious though when have i talked shiat?

 

[B727FA]

YES! Another "I hate RAH thread!" Whoo-hoo! Things were getting to civil around here.

 

[aewanabe]

Actually didn't see too much hatred here, but most of the pilots are rapidly hating this place. Management has invested nothing in the infrastructure and the crews are tired of picking up the slack. As far as the FAs, well, I'm really sick of having a flight booked to 20 on the release and having the FA say with glee "goody only 55 minutes long I can sit and read my Cosmo". Makes a real great impression on our customers.

 

[dogtown]

Actually didn't see too much hatred here, but most of the pilots are rapidly hating this place. Management has invested nothing in the infrastructure and the crews are tired of picking up the slack. As far as the FAs, well, I'm really sick of having a flight booked to 20 on the release and having the FA say with glee "goody only 55 minutes long I can sit and read my Cosmo". Makes a real great impression on our customers.

They changed that rule i believe; think its based on NM now. Just let them know they are required to do a service, and if they don't let them know you will call Amy S. A good flight attendent makes all the difference. On my last 4day our FA always had paxs happy and thanking her as the left the plane, no matter what mant. or delay we had. Its too bad there arn't more like her.

 

[JvW]

I have been flying under the CO colors now for about a month and yes it has been very frustrating at times sitting on the hardstands. In general I introduce myself to the gate agents about 45 minutes prior to departure and go over the loads (pax and bags) with them personally. I always tell them that I would like to board asap, and recommend to send the folks 35 minutes before departure. Numerous times the flight was held either by the gate for connecting passengers, late arriving buses or rampers would tell us that x number of bags were loaded instead of y after our paperwork was already filled out. I realize that our operation is new for CO and as mentioned before issues will have to be ironed out and I am confident that they will. But there is really not much you can do when problems arise, but deal with them the best you can; getting bent out of shape will not resolve too much. The rampers will get better (new to the airplane), the bus service will get better (I understand CO has a new bus vendor with more vehicles) and services on the hardstands will get more efficient with time (I hope). To me the most important issue is to be curtious and professional to anybody involved with the flight and help them to help us getting things smoothed out.
In addition I have to compliment the ExpressJet pilot group for being as professional as they have. I have had numerous of you guys come up to my airplane and introduced yourself. A couple weeks ago a captain came aboard and gave me heads up on the rides to COS where we were heading. All that is very much appreciated in my book and a seat will always be available going home or to work.

JvW

 

[Superpilot92]

I have been flying under the CO colors now for about a month and yes it has been very frustrating at times sitting on the hardstands. In general I introduce myself to the gate agents about 45 minutes prior to departure and go over the loads (pax and bags) with them personally. I always tell them that I would like to board asap, and recommend to send the folks 35 minutes before departure. Numerous times the flight was held either by the gate for connecting passengers, late arriving buses or rampers would tell us that x number of bags were loaded instead of y after our paperwork was already filled out. I realize that our operation is new for CO and as mentioned before issues will have to be ironed out and I am confident that they will. But there is really not much you can do when problems arise, but deal with them the best you can; getting bent out of shape will not resolve too much. The rampers will get better (new to the airplane), the bus service will get better (I understand CO has a new bus vendor with more vehicles) and services on the hardstands will get more efficient with time (I hope). To me the most important issue is to be curtious and professional to anybody involved with the flight and help them to help us getting things smoothed out.
In addition I have to compliment the ExpressJet pilot group for being as professional as they have. I have had numerous of you guys come up to my airplane and introduced yourself. A couple weeks ago a captain came aboard and gave me heads up on the rides to COS where we were heading. All that is very much appreciated in my book and a seat will always be available going home or to work.

JvW

Yeah the new bus service is a million times better than the old company. They were horrible! They even ran over one of our Captains and messing him up pretty bad!

Overall i don't believe there have been any conflicts between CHQ and XJT. Both groups have been very professional. There is no reason to get mad at one another as pilots. Picking fun is one thing but we are all just pilots once it breaks down.
Welcome to Houston! :beer:

 

[B727FA]

YES! Another "I hate RAH thread!" Whoo-hoo! Things were getting to civil around here.

Oops, "too" civil...

 

[Popeye0537]

Actually didn't see too much hatred here, but most of the pilots are rapidly hating this place. Management has invested nothing in the infrastructure and the crews are tired of picking up the slack. As far as the FAs, well, I'm really sick of having a flight booked to 20 on the release and having the FA say with glee "goody only 55 minutes long I can sit and read my Cosmo". Makes a real great impression on our customers.

If your sittin in the left seat, let them know that they need to do a service if it's a 45 min or longer leg also based on NM.... it states that in their FA manual last time I checked.

I agree, call Amy to get her/him on the ball

 

[Avpilot]

And now you are exaggerating, we never had an airplane painted in the old united colors. It's ok you can tell the truth, we'll still look bad.

Isn't the blue on bottom, white on top the older paint job for United express? Perhaps I'm wrong...I haven't really followed the sequence of paint jobs that closely. Regardless, it's irrelevant to the point I was making.

 

[Edge540]

Lets hope they can one up you guys. Not trying to throw rocks but CHQ service sucks. I think its really classy when your FLt ATTs walk threw the back of the plane on a 1 1/2 hr flight with their trench coat on and the box of water then sit down and stair at the passengers

If it makes anybody feel better, I was on a 1.5 hour expressjet flight earlier today... We didn't even get water. She did not do a service at all, just made announcements.

Every company has their sh*tbags.

 

[Booker]

Isn't the blue on bottom, white on top the older paint job for United express?

Negative. The previous livery was gray and blue.

 

[Superpilot92]

If it makes anybody feel better, I was on a 1.5 hour expressjet flight earlier today... We didn't even get water. She did not do a service at all, just made announcements.

Every company has their sh*tbags.

The only thing i can think of is that since it was bumpy everywhere yesterday the Capt "might" have asked the FA to just stay seated. Hopefully thats what happened. Every company has their lazy people though. The problem sometimes is once the cockpit door closes we have no idea if the FA is actually doing the service or not. I know one thing, if the capt didnt tell her to stay seated and she just flat out didnt do anything then she should be fired. imho

 

[bailout]

ok, cool 5 pages and question answered by second reply..