American Recalls and Hiring

[GIII Instructor]

From a management standpoint to be understaffed is not such a bad thing... During the recall BOOM that began in '05; many of the airlines were very aggressive in recalls. United; CAL; DAL. Now United is furloughing almost 1000 pilots; CAL furloughed roughly 150; American was able to stop recalling and those that are on the property are still there. (
Helps when 600 pilots retire as well.)

 

[rydog]

Letter 3 has expired, there will be no eagle flow thrus. Just like there are no more flow back captains due to the disp. bid a few months back. Eagles longevity prob will never be solved.

Even with a 1997 year seniority number, no eagle pilot would flow through and take a $70k/yr pay cut to fly a dinosaur. Only the junior flow throughs with out a number would want to go if they could.

 

[Full of LUV]

How does that translate though?

I find it interesting how everyone seems to have a theory. Dec.13th 2007 legislation passed for the mandatory retirement age to become 65. At the time if someone would have told me I would be roughly 600 numbers more senior at AA due to retirements; I would have thought they were nuts. Bottom line. We'll just have to wait and see. 737 deliveries to begin at the end of Mar; early Apr 2009; Rumor is management is crunching numbers in the month of Dec. to determine if we need to recall next year. Time will tell.

How does that 600 numbers translate into bidding power though? What would have the results been had age 60 retirement still been in effect? Those are the two key questions! ( I have no idea by the way, just asking).

 

[Starscream]

Letter 3 has expired, there will be no eagle flow thrus. Just like there are no more flow back captains due to the disp. bid a few months back. Eagles longevity prob will never be solved.

Even with a 1997 year seniority number, no eagle pilot would flow through and take a $70k/yr pay cut to fly a dinosaur. Only the junior flow throughs with out a number would want to go if they could.

This was already arbitrated, and the ruling was that Eagle pilots who obtained seniority numbers prior to letter expiration were still eligible to flow once new hire classes start. Whether that's anytime in the near future is a separate matter. And no, furloughed AA pilots no longer have the right to flowback, and as it turns out, furloughed AA pilots at AE do not get to exercise super seniority to hold on to the left seat in the event of a displacement.

The views on AA seniority number holders at Eagle varies wildly. Some have decided they will not flow no matter what, even if Eagle was shutting down the next day (someone please explain that logic to me!). Many are leaning towards staying at Eagle but can be swayed if a financial incentive is involved (i.e. huge exit bonus). Some buy into the hype that the sky is falling at Eagle and would flow. Several would flow due to QOL (i.e MIA domicile for FL guys who currently commute to JFK/LGA at Eagle). Some want to flow because of the work rules and because the worst day at AA is better than the best day at AE. Some are actually quite young and want to flow regardless.

There are approximately 520 pilots at Eagle with numbers. My guess: 200 will flow.

Another matter is whether the company can force Eagle captains with numbers to flow to AA. That has been a hot topic in the past, and might be again when we cross the bridge of classes starting at AA.

 

[igneousy2]

What percentage of the Eagle Flow-throughs are pre-TWA? I seem to remember that there are AE pilots still at Eagle that will be senior to all of the TWA guys that are currently furloughed when/if they finally come over even though the TWA guys will come back first.

 

[Starscream]

What percentage of the Eagle Flow-throughs are pre-TWA? I seem to remember that there are AE pilots still at Eagle that will be senior to all of the TWA guys that are currently furloughed when/if they finally come over even though the TWA guys will come back first.

Approximately 290 Eagle pilots have seniority numbers senior to the 10JUN01 TWA staple point. I say approximately, because it's based on the July 2006 seniority list, which is the only one I could ever find. Some guys might have moved on since then, but with age 65 I would think most are still here.

Then there are approximately 100 or so Eagle pilots who have seniority numbers below the TWA staple, but senior to the most junior furloughed AA pilot.

The most recent additions to the list (154) that obtained numbers due to the TWA acquisition are currently the most junior pilots on the AA seniority list, junior to the bottom AA pilot on furlough.

Hope this helps.


Some Eagle pilots have seniority numbers that go all the way back to NOV99 DOH at AA. Not too shabby if and when they go over in terms of bidding. Pay is probably going to suck though, at least the first 2 years.

 

[GIII Instructor]

How does that 600 numbers translate into bidding power though? What would have the results been had age 60 retirement still been in effect? Those are the two key questions! ( I have no idea by the way, just asking).

No benefit to bidding power. But it appears to have saved a few hundred jobs....

 

[AvroGuy]

In two pages this hasn't been mentioned. How many furloughed guys that would not have come back to AA would come back. They are on the street for one reason or another due to the down turn in the economy? There is also the possibility to consider since some are talking about hiring.

 

[stlflyguy]

Major correction: the staple point is April 10, 2001. We'll take whatever seniority we can get (back), thank you.

stlflyguy

 

[007]

Just out of curiousity...I have a buddy who us very far away from being recalled. He was saying that his recall rights expire soon anyways, and that he expects to never go back. Has that been fixed?

 

[magrs]

B.S. on the recall rights, last contract (ass pounding) they got indefinite recall rights. Now the pansies at APA may eventually sell the TWA (and furloughed AA hires) bretheren down the road, but for now, its unlimited.

I'm expecting a recall class in early March, as now they are giving away jet fuel and still charging ridiculous fuel surcharges. Go figure, the airline industry actually has levereage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyhow, the airline should grow, at least that's what my broker tells me!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, in summary, the APA better tighten the vise around AMR's proverbial sack if they plan on having any street cred!

My guess, nothing less than a 20% raise, with QOL adjustments!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[007]

B.S. on the recall rights, last contract (ass pounding) they got indefinite recall rights.

Well, at least something then!