DOT authorizes Shuttle America/RP Branded Flying

[BigLebowski]

I hope bb bankrupts that company.......ahhhh things to look forward to.

By the way I like my industry leading contract.

hahahaha...be nice

WWMD

 

[king10pin02]

I hope bb bankrupts that company.......ahhhh things to look forward to.

By the way I like my industry leading contract.

well i hope your industry leading contract doesn't lead to your company's demise

 

[kf4amu]

Every regional is a cheap sellout, spare me the grief! You should go cry to your mommma.

Some are cheaper than the others. I'd rather get paid a wage commensurate with the aircraft I'm flying so I can afford to live. I'd rather not participate in the race to the bottom...sooner or later you realize it was a bad idea.

 

[Captain Morgan]

Some are cheaper than the others. I'd rather get paid a wage commensurate with the aircraft I'm flying so I can afford to live. I'd rather not participate in the race to the bottom...sooner or later you realize it was a bad idea.

It was a bad idea long ago, when Comair got the first RJ. That was really bad. XJT had the most ERJs as they casted out perfectly good ATRs, Brasilias, and B1900s. I believe CHQ was flying Metros, Saabs, and Jetstreams at that time. So who was it again that was perpetuating the race to the bottom? You lecture and wane about leading contracts but you miss the big picture. The jet is meant for the mainline company. It doesn't belong at a commuter/regional, unless that regional flies on it's own behalf.

 

[kf4amu]

You lecture and wane about leading contracts but you miss the big picture. The jet is meant for the mainline company. It doesn't belong at a commuter/regional, unless that regional flies on it's own behalf.

I dont lecture or wane? about leading contracts. I just want people to stand up for what they deserve. F/O's flying mainline jets deserve more than topping out at 37k a year. Mesa's pilots deserve a hotel instead of a board in the back of the airplane. Everyone deserves cx pay and block or better.

Foregoing any of that because it will get you to a mainline job quicker is selling out the industry, in my opinion.

 

[Captain Morgan]

I dont lecture or wane? about leading contracts. I just want people to stand up for what they deserve. F/O's flying mainline jets deserve more than topping out at 37k a year. Mesa's pilots deserve a hotel instead of a board in the back of the airplane. Everyone deserves cx pay and block or better.

Foregoing any of that because it will get you to a mainline job quicker is selling out the industry, in my opinion.

I understand what you're saying, but I'm looking at it from a different angle. Everyone that knows me or has seen my posts, knows I have a hard on for turboprops. That's what should be flying feed for the mainline partners. We wouldn't even be having this discussion if it wasn't for RJ's. There would be more mainline jobs and the commuters/regionals would be a stepping stone for sure. I agree our F/O pay is not as good as it should be, but we are negotiating at this time and the last time our contract was written there were distractions with the merging of seniority lists and assimilation of pilots from Shuttle America. There were a lot of political things influencing the ability to have the upper hand. This time it's the economic downturn, however I am confident we will come out with better pay and work rules.

 

[kf4amu]

I understand what you're saying, but I'm looking at it from a different angle. Everyone that knows me or has seen my posts, knows I have a hard on for turboprops. That's what should be flying feed for the mainline partners. We wouldn't even be having this discussion if it wasn't for RJ's. There would be more mainline jobs and the commuters/regionals would be a stepping stone for sure. I agree our F/O pay is not as good as it should be, but we are negotiating at this time and the last time our contract was written there were distractions with the merging of seniority lists and assimilation of pilots from Shuttle America. There were a lot of political things influencing the ability to have the upper hand. This time it's the economic downturn, however I am confident we will come out with better pay and work rules.

I agree with your RJ comment.

Your attitude is different than many who seek out the bottom feeders for the "quick upgrade". If the pilot group gets what they should for the job they do and the aircraft they fly, then I dont care how big their company gets, Mesa or RAH included.

I just hate to see regionals who have good work rules/pay shrink because of pilots who are willing to work for peanuts to jump the ladder.

 

[Minimaniac]

How about it sitting in a bank idle they use it to pay there pilots a better wage.

We will get paid more when we get a new contract. I am sure by now you know that is how it works in this industry.

 

[Minimaniac]

Bring that $119 down to a 12 year scale and I'll be impressed. Also, if you don't get cost of living adjustments, that $119 is just a carrot. If you're a 5th year captain that $119 will only be worth $85 in 2024.

We did receive cost of living adjustments for the life of the contract, or should I say up until its amendable date. While the FO scale was erratic and uneven in its yearly increases, the captain payscale went up every october. The increase was about enough to cover general increases in inflation/cost of living. This was in addition to your longevity raise, which we still get.

 

[Minimaniac]

Getting permission to operate without codeshare has served two purposes, none of which results in a new airlines out there this year to undercut the others. First, BB wants another business tool in his bag of tricks. He now has a plan B (more like plan H, he really enjoys mainline money instead of earning it solo) for his two most important certificates (he wants to shrink CHQ , no offense guys). IF push came to shove, RW and S5 could go out and make their own coin. Secondly, and most importantly, BB has demonstrated to his shareholders and investors that the DOT believes in the financial stability of the company. In this current economy, he needs every vote of confidence he can get. He has shown former investors and new investors, along with creditors, that someone other than his own staff believes the airline is on solid financial footing.

In other news, the great Wexford Capital, the company that helped CHQ buy its way into being a jet flying, three headed monster, is reinvesting in RAH. They had bailed about a year and a half ago, as was planned from the inception of their investment. Now that they are contractually clear of RAH, they have stared reinvesting. They hold some serious dough, and have liked BB's vision. The future could get interesting here...

 

[Captain Morgan]

I agree with your RJ comment.

Your attitude is different than many who seek out the bottom feeders for the "quick upgrade". If the pilot group gets what they should for the job they do and the aircraft they fly, then I dont care how big their company gets, Mesa or RAH included.

I just hate to see regionals who have good work rules/pay shrink because of pilots who are willing to work for peanuts to jump the ladder.

Thanks. There are many more like me, who understand what's going on and are not just there for the upgrade. Believe me, we all don't wake up at the break of dawn and hit the alarm clock thinking, "who can I screw over today to get ahead?" All I ask is for other groups to have faith, that we are trying to get ahead.

 

[n757st]

Thanks. There are many more like me, who understand what's going on and are not just there for the upgrade. Believe me, we all don't wake up at the break of dawn and hit the alarm clock thinking, "who can I screw over today to get ahead?" All I ask is for other groups to have faith, that we are trying to get ahead.

By saying "I can't agree more" on your previous post that you don't want a industry leading contract you ARE screwing over every other company. Did you guys ever think of why the better contracts are losing flying and furloughing? Its because of pilots like you don't also want an industry leading contract and therefore take their flying. You are directly screwing over not only other pilots by taking their jobs because you will do it cheaper, but also are screwing over other pilots who are working to get that industry leading contract. You also are screwing over those mainline pilots, because you make it more and more attractive to farm out flying. Its kinda funny, all the republic guys are on this site blaming mainline pilots for giving up scope, while here RP guys are talking that you don't want an industry leading contract because you wouldn't get to grow and thus take more of those mainline routes in your semi mainline E175's. Do you not see the irony? I don't wish ill will on you guys, but if that is the mentality at RP, then I think a hell of a lot less of you as a group.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

we hold DIP for Frontier, if they go under, we get assets. (planes/gates/etc)..im sure we could sell off those assets and recoup any loss. Im sure if Midwest files bk, we would probably be one of their DIP as well.

Oh yeah, just like when a lender stops paying on their mortgage the bank takes the house... we can't possibly lose!!! Toxic airline backed mortgages. Caveat emptor.

 

[Caveman]

.....................

 

[ROSWELL41]

Our contract is old, and we have been in negotiations for well over a year. and last thing i want is an "industry leading" contract so we can end up like Comair-Horizon-Xjet....shrinking and unable to be competitive.

and to give you an example..our 190 pay tops out at $119/hr, USairways tops out at $95/hr JetBlue $110/hr (yes i know above 75 hrs for them is 150%)

I want an above AVG contract with above AVG work rules

Many of you RAH pilots love to tout out this pay difference between you and the majors on the E-190. What you are ignorant of or choose not to mention is that the E-190 is an entry level airframe at Jetblue and US Airways. It is the pinnacle airframe at RAH. Your few bucks more an hour means nothing after 18 years at RAH. At US Airways, after 18 years you may be a widebody F/O making a ton more money. Let's compare apples to apples.

On another note, your F/O pay and total compensation is a complete abhorration in this industry. Hopefully you guys improve on that this time around. Those guys may be sitting in the right seat a while longer than you ever had to.