First nail in ASA's coffin....

[jegermeister]

Vee One. You are right. It amazes me that SkyWest is letting this place fall apart like this. When senior members of ASA's management walk into the Pilot Lounge and make comments like "anyone here who does not have an interview date at another airline has something wrong with them" things are clearly in free fall. I'm still not believing what I heard with my own two ears.

Then there is the Mary Jane shopping cart for everyone to drop their publications in when heading out the door.

Why? Why, when ASA is deferring aircraft due to lack of crews is the Company chasing away its pilots? Obviously the most marketable pilots are leaving. Has ASA got to have a few Pinnacle class "oopsies" before anyone cares.

Are we seeing revenge for the way we treated Jerry Atkin? Can anyone put a logical explanation with the objective facts? I'm in a quasi state of self denial, just so our crew can stay focused on getting the mission accomplished safely and on time.

What gives?

Fins,

I think you know what gives. This place was not meant to do well the past 2 years. Once this contract is done, so are we. I know that can't do anything if we have scope. Right. Well they also weren't supposed to do anything while we were in contract talks. But we still lost the 90's, some 70's, and SLC.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I keep hearing about Jerry's visit to the pilot lounge....what happened and how was he treated?

It was embarassing to me. One morbidly obese FO waddled up to Jerry Atkin with his shirt mostly un tucked, got in his face and started loudly stating that Management was a bunch of liars. Mr. Atkin asked who lied and said that if someone was not honest he would fire them. When pressed for specifics, Mr. FO looked at his shoes and mumbled "no one really, it was more an impression" (or something) and then he blamed ALPA. (In the FO's defense, there certainly are some good examples he could have given of management lying, but he did not think of them and to SkyWest's credit most of the worst management offenders are gone)

I don't like Mr. Atkin's game of cost boxes and aircraft transfers, but, he has the power to do these sorts of actions and thus far, ALPA has been unwilling, or unable, to stop him. Jerry Atkin has been tremendously successful and if no other reason than his power, he deserves respect. A line pilot is not going to get the pilot group anywhere by getting in a man like Atkin's face and screaming at him. Could we be seeing the wrath of a vengeful Jerry? I dunno.

I'm not sure why ASA is falling apart when by all objective measures it is not really that bad. Perhaps management finds some advantage in the lack of morale. But, pilots are taking their own little individual strikes by leaving and not coming back. Right now, I do not know how that is a good thing for ASA, SkyWest, or Delta.

With a good, experienced, crew I can stay on schedule. With a couple of malcontents, or a NOOB, there is little chance of being able to reliably deliver the product Delta sold their ticket-holder. When I try to care about Delta's passengers and delivering the product my own management team runs up, kicks me in the nuts and tells me I'm a loser for working here. It aint real encouraging.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Fins,

Once this contract is done, so are we.

Then why finish the contract at all? If the end game is to pull the plug, why bother?

Maybe the beat it into submission and merge it rumor is true. But, our own Brian LaBreque seems to be against that plan based on his stated abhorrence of longevity.

 

[atlcrashpad]

Why all dah Hatin'?.... ASA is jus fine.... Don Imus, I'd worry 'bout..... Bouyyyyyyyyy.... :-o

 

[atlcrjdriver]

"anyone here who does not have an interview date at another airline has something wrong with them"

I have got to spend more time in the crew room as I have never heard or seen this happen. As someone that seeks to move on at some pt I need very little motivation from mgmnt. It is no secret that every regional airline wants its more senior pilots to move on for, among other things, cost savings. The longer you stick around the more expensive you become. No offense but that is simply the way it is.

Jerry and Jerry have had its ASA game plan in action for a very long time now. The pieces will be shown only when JA is good and ready to show them.

Fly Safe...

 

[Tomct]

Kinda like United and AWAC/ ACA.............

What's to prevent this from happening.......a pilot shortage???? C'mon- everybody dumped on the street from ASA would be looking for a flying job. Yea, we'd lose a few pilots to other professions, but I think most would return to fill the ATL void with another carrier (SkyWest, CHQ, SHUTTLE, Mesa)

Not even the same. ACA was not willing to take SH!T pay and therefore told United to STICK IT! Delta/Skywst could not afford to let this happen...why, because they cannot even fill their airplanes with pilots now...let alone vacate another 160 airplanes. imp:l

 

[ASARJMan]

This is why DL is taking over the ramp/gate operations is ATL. IMHO, DL should have done this a long time ago.

Yeah, like when Delta OWNED ASA!

 

[DRIVIN402S]

Bye Bye ASA HELLO MESA!

 

[scarlet]

Soon you will receive a petition for single carrier list...We will force ALPA to file the petition and yes we know IT IS NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST ....=no job...

 

[Tomct]

Keep living in your bubble. And by the way, we're winning the war in Iraq. Right.

Yeager, put down the bottle. Jerry can't afford to let ASA die...he needs our experienced Captns. for Intl. flying. His low time hiring is about to bite him in the @ss. ICAO is now 3000hrs and a lot of his pilots that are able to upgrade...don't meet those minimums!!

 

[ironspud]

Nice job, fearless leaders!

Not quite. This issue lays right at the feet of the "fearless" workers.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Yeager, put down the bottle. Jerry can't afford to let ASA die...he needs our experienced Captns. for Intl. flying. His low time hiring is about to bite him in the @ss. ICAO is now 3000hrs and a lot of his pilots that are able to upgrade...don't meet those minimums!!

What int'l flying? You mean the flying Delta gives him? That they can give to someone else or take back to mainline?

Wake up, "chest thumper". Takin' it back means mainline takin' back the flying they sold and gave to us. We're about to see the industry cycle in the upswing where the majors are drunk with cash and can afford to fly 737s and Maddogs to our cities. DCI is being set up to fall, as an excuse for mainline to take that section of the flying back in house. Delta's E190 rate, and the coming demise of Comair (sans certificate) don't help our cause.

Look at the big picture. We had to refuse deliveries of airplanes due to lack of crews. Yet management is still encouraging pilots to leave and firing flight attendants left and right. The writing is on the wall. ASA isn't long for the world. Jerry has confirmed his opinion that our militent chect thumping pilot group is more trouble than its worth, and he's going to reduce ASA to its assets... and still make a profit on the sale.

 

[ASARJMan]

Jerry has confirmed his opinion that our militent chect thumping pilot group is more trouble than its worth, and he's going to reduce ASA to its assets... and still make a profit on the sale.

And "Jerry" told you this right?

The Sky Ain't Fallin'
Just Shaking A Bit

 

[Tomct]

What int'l flying? You mean the flying Delta gives him? That they can give to someone else or take back to mainline?

Wake up, "chest thumper". Takin' it back means mainline takin' back the flying they sold and gave to us. We're about to see the industry cycle in the upswing where the majors are drunk with cash and can afford to fly 737s and Maddogs to our cities. DCI is being set up to fall, as an excuse for mainline to take that section of the flying back in house. Delta's E190 rate, and the coming demise of Comair (sans certificate) don't help our cause.

Look at the big picture. We had to refuse deliveries of airplanes due to lack of crews. Yet management is still encouraging pilots to leave and firing flight attendants left and right. The writing is on the wall. ASA isn't long for the world. Jerry has confirmed his opinion that our militent chect thumping pilot group is more trouble than its worth, and he's going to reduce ASA to its assets... and still make a profit on the sale.

Chest Thumper huh...so you believe what Jerry has to say huh? Holy SH!T Johnny, how long have you been in this game? If Delta were to take it back...GOOD! Then we can move on to a REAL JOB and get out of this "Circus" we call a job NOW! Either way, I could care less. My point was that Jerry is going to cover himself and continue to make money, so to think that he has not already thought about this is a HUGE MISTAKE! He needs CAPTAINS that qualify for ICAO rules, NOT Brazilia rules. They fly plenty into Canada and who knows what else they fly out of ATL and the rest. Jerry's confirmation of us being to militant...well he is just P!SSED that we don't roll over like his pilots or should I say we can actually HAVE something to say!

 

[HoserASA]

Jerry's confirmation of us being to militant...!

What's the source, and how have you determined it's been confirmed? Or, is this just something you believe JA believes, or you believe, and want to make the rest of us believe?

Hoser

 

[MELIT]

It will be nice when ASA closes the doors. That will fix the whipsaw problem!

 

[Tomct]

What's the source, and how have you determined it's been confirmed? Or, is this just something you believe JA believes, or you believe, and want to make the rest of us believe?

Hoser

Maybe I'm confused, but what is your question?

 

[John Pennekamp]

Chest Thumper huh...so you believe what Jerry has to say huh? Holy SH!T Johnny, how long have you been in this game? If Delta were to take it back...GOOD! Then we can move on to a REAL JOB and get out of this "Circus" we call a job NOW! Either way, I could care less. My point was that Jerry is going to cover himself and continue to make money, so to think that he has not already thought about this is a HUGE MISTAKE! He needs CAPTAINS that qualify for ICAO rules, NOT Brazilia rules. They fly plenty into Canada and who knows what else they fly out of ATL and the rest. Jerry's confirmation of us being to militant...well he is just P!SSED that we don't roll over like his pilots or should I say we can actually HAVE something to say!

You missed the point. As usual. Jerry doesn't OWN any int'l flying. If Jerry lacks the crews, Delta will just transfer that flying to someone else who does. Like Mesa or GoJets or RAH or whomever.

I'm glad you could [sic] care less if ASA is shut down (btw, the phrase is "couldn't care less"... if you COULD care less, then maybe you should). That's disingenuous to your fellow crewmembers who may not want to move on, or may not be able to due to their life situation. If you want to leave, then don't let the door hit your ass. I'm tired of your "burn it down" rhetoric given that you don't even plan to stay here. Please don't try to tank a company you don't intend to stay at anyhow, if you have any shred of respect for your fellow employees who might wanto or have to stay.

Now the main point of your post: Why shouldn't we believe Jerry when he says these things? One thing Jerry has proven is that he doesn't play leverage games like the management we're used to at ASA. I think that Jerry has proven over his career that when he says he's going to do something, it usually happens. It's all about business to Jerry. He told the union he will transfer flying if ASA is more expensive. Yes, I believe him.

 

[John Pennekamp]

And "Jerry" told you this right?

The Sky Ain't Fallin'
Just Shaking A Bit

Kindly refute my previous post with facts instead of rhetoric. How many of Jerry's crew longe visits have you attended?

 

[Tomct]

You missed the point. As usual. Jerry doesn't OWN any int'l flying. If Jerry lacks the crews, Delta will just transfer that flying to someone else who does. Like Mesa or GoJets or RAH or whomever.

I'm glad you could [sic] care less if ASA is shut down (btw, the phrase is "couldn't care less"... if you COULD care less, then maybe you should). That's disingenuous to your fellow crewmembers who may not want to move on, or may not be able to due to their life situation. If you want to leave, then don't let the door hit your ass. I'm tired of your "burn it down" rhetoric given that you don't even plan to stay here. Please don't try to tank a company you don't intend to stay at anyhow, if you have any shred of respect for your fellow employees who might wanto or have to stay.

Now the main point of your post: Why shouldn't we believe Jerry when he says these things? One thing Jerry has proven is that he doesn't play leverage games like the management we're used to at ASA. I think that Jerry has proven over his career that when he says he's going to do something, it usually happens. It's all about business to Jerry. He told the union he will transfer flying if ASA is more expensive. Yes, I believe him.

Well IF people want to work at this "H3ll Hole" after the BS they have pulled for the last 5 years...that is THEIR PROBLEM! NOT MINE! If they had Half a brain in their heads they would NOT! If they have to stay...so be it! We are trying to make it a better place for everyone...in the event that they have to stay here for their career. What...you want no duty rigs, low pay and crappy QOL? YGBSM! Hope you like your 20yr pin from ASSA when the times comes! Lord knows that is ALL you will get in the end! And by the way, you keep saying that I am in the minority when in fact EVERYONE I talk to is feeling the same way. Hmmmm, I wonder who is in their own FANTASY LAND!

Jerry may not OWN the flying but you can bet your AZZ that he has protections built in to maintain the MAJORITY OF IT or they get back their 125million. With all those 900's they are flying, you can bet Delta wants their first class cabin going on those LONG FLIGHTS! INTERNATIONAL!!

And hey...thanks for the english lesson, me culdn't have thunk por miself! You are like a little girl with this grammar correcting BS! Get back to flying the line and leave FI.imp: