Comair to officially furlough 300 pilots

[RiddleEagle18]

Comair guys check your e-mails... goes back to Jan. 22nd 2007 new hires.

 

[DX Rick]

But we're merging!!!!!!!!

 

[PA44Jockey]

didn't get the email, because my mailbox was full. What did it say?

 

[DX Rick]

300 pilot. We'll find out by July 21st.
JFK will be the biggest impact.
Both CVG and JFK Capt effected
Number could change with VLOA's

 

[N813CA]

Nothing in my email

 

[wrigley23]

Comair guys check your e-mails... goes back to Jan. 22nd 2007 new hires.

This is a bogus source. There may be COLAs and what not but doubtful any involuntarys. We've heard gloom and doom for years so nothing will surprise though. Comair has been canceling flights all summer for bad staffing in the NE. I've said it before, Crew Forecasting and Planning is more of an oxymoron than Military Intelligence. Picture monkeys and typewriters.

 

[DX Rick]

This is a bogus source. .

So are you saying RiddleEagle is bogus, or the email?
Because I'll be more than happy to post Soapers email to us.

 

[wrigley23]

So are you saying RiddleEagle is bogus, or the email?
Because I'll be more than happy to post Soapers email to us.

If Soaper sent emails to FOs then that is very shady, but else what would anyone expect from him. The union is mum of course, more concerned about collecting those merger dues which will go way way up with furloughs. For the guys that do get the chop, I hope you find something better and don't have to come back to this dump.

 

[nwa_contrails]

July 7, 2008
TO: Comair Pilots and Flight Attendants
FROM: Dave Soaper, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations
RE: Aligning crew staffing with reduced flying

As was communicated last week, the significant reduction in our fall schedule will result in an overage of pilots and flight attendants, especially since we had just increased our crew complement to accommodate the additional flying we’re currently performing.

We are still making minor adjustments to the number of pilot and flight attendant displacements but the fall flight schedule calls for substantial reductions – 300 pilot positions and 220 flight attendant positions. For pilots, the displacement bid will affect both CVG and JFK CRJ captains.
However, we expect the largest impact to be in our JFK base for both work groups.

It is important to note that the number of displacements could still change based on the voluntary options we can put in place. We informed the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) of the reduction in flying last week. Since then, we published a joint letter to the flight attendants on July 3 stating that the company and the IBT have agreed on several voluntary options (part-time bid, base vacancy bids, early out opportunities, etc.) lessening the impact to that work group.

The next step for flight attendants is to release a part-time bid no later than July 9. For pilots, we expect the displacement bid to be released no later than July 21.

We recognize the reduction in schedule came as a surprise since we were recruiting pilots and flight attendants in recent months. As President John Selvaggio noted in his memo, our flying for this year has been a rollercoaster. In January, we said we would experience a 10-15 percent decrease in flying throughout the year. So far in 2008, we have been fortunate to be well above that plan. Our hiring plan was based on the fall schedule (which included the additional flying) and our desire to be in a strategic position to capitalize on short-notice flying opportunities.

The initial reduction in September and further block hour cuts in October through the rest of the year bring our actual flying much closer to the original estimate and seem even more dramatic given our good fortune during the first eight months of the year. As fuel prices continue to climb
to unprecedented levels and capacity is further reduced, we are faced with the unpleasant task of aligning our workforce with another revised plan.

We understand these fluctuations can be frustrating, and we continue to do our best to manage through them as proactively as we can. We appreciate your ongoing efforts to serve our customers and run a safe airline. We will keep you informed as we have more news to share. If you have questions, please talk to an Inflight supervisor or chief pilot.

Here ya go.

 

[DX Rick]

If Soaper sent emails to FOs then that is very shady, but else what would anyone expect from him.

I would think he sent it to the whole pilot group.
But I wouldn't put it past him to just sent it to FO's, although it says that CVG and JFK Captains will be effect.
As for the merger dues, I haven't spoke to one person who is paying them, both CA's and FO's....and I doubt they will start paying them not with furloughs on the way.
My friend and I haven't even gotten a bill yet.

 

[airdog]

How many aircraft does this equate to? My guess is about 30 at 9.5 pilots per plane. Sounds like about 1/2 of Delta's RJ parking goal/quota. Look's like Comair is eating what Delta wanted to cut by dumping Mesa and Pinnacle.

 

[V-1]

How many aircraft does this equate to? My guess is about 30 at 9.5 pilots per plane. Sounds like about 1/2 of Delta's RJ parking goal/quota. Look's like Comair is eating what Delta wanted to cut by dumping Mesa and Pinnacle.

Yet another of many contract violations at Comair.

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

Yet another of many contract violations at Comair.

Come on, MATE! Do you think YOUR situation is anything different than the rest of the rich airline pilot in this country?

PtP

 

[PA44Jockey]

I'm an FO and I didn't get the email.

 

[CRJ puppy]

The email was sent to your company email acct, accessible via "epic". Click on the "envelope" icon in the middle of the left side of the page (same user name and password as you use for epic) and you will find the email.

 

[V-1]

Come on, MATE! Do you think YOUR situation is anything different than the rest of the rich airline pilot in this country?

PtP

I know my situation is quite different from "the rest of the rich airline pilot" in this country. My concern is for those who are not so fortunate...I'll voice it by expecting the company and Delta to honor the commitment they agreed to that allowed Comair to exit bankruptcy just a little over a year ago.

 

[MIKE767]

my 4 day trip was modified and totally changed. i asked why and the scheduler said ohhh well we have no choice, we are understaffed. hmmmm

 

[Big Foot]

Got JMed to taxi a plane, they said they had no RR.

 

[laserman2431]

You never know how it will turn out. I have noticed that previous hiring and furloughing numbers never seem to come to what is projected.

When it's hiring time, they want to get the best applicants they can. By announcing big hiring plans, they can attract better candidates. By announcing big furlough plans, they may encourage some of the higher paid pilots to move on. And I can't say that I would blame them for that. If it was up to me, I might do the same thing.

Or, it could just be wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Big Foot]

well keep thinking like that, it make this whole thing not seem as bad. I hope my everyone including myself that you are correct