Airtran job

[maxblast72]

I hear you guys at AirTran will be getting something like 50+ 737-800s in the future - will these supplement your current fleet or replace existing aircraft? Also, how much longer do you think you'll operate the 717s - another 10 years? Personally, I'm a big 717 fan and I hope they stick around for a long while...

The last official data given to Wall St about deliveries (last annual shareholder report put out in spring 2009), stated that Airtran had 51 737s on order with delivery dates between 2011 and 2016. Supposedly these are all growth airplanes (forecast ASM growth rate in the single digits for 2010, 2011, and 2012). Airtran leases most of the 717s and supposedly they are on 18 year leases. The first delivery of the 717 was in 1999 and the last 717 was delivered in 2006. So unless Airtran or Boeing wants to eat the costs due to early retirement, it looks the 717s will be around for another 14 years at least.

 

[Lear70]

Well, said no to a March 15th class. Not able to bypass was told accept now or will have to interview again. Which was not what I was told when I was hired. Originally I was told I could bypass once for six months without having to interview.

The decision... too much to risk at the moment but am hoping that a much improved contract gets ratified which would reduce the risk. Time will tell if I made the right decision.

Good luck AT Pilots, I'm pulling for ya.

That was ballsy. Seriously. Good on ya', and I appreciate your support, but I think you just gave up any chance to work at AirTran, just knowing how this company works.

Hope it was the right decision for you... Too bad they wouldn't let you defer, but I'm not surprised they wouldn't. March start dates will be online in time to be flying when we get down to release.

Good luck to you!

 

[Captain Jeff]

Well, said no to a March 15th class. Not able to bypass was told accept now or will have to interview again. Which was not what I was told when I was hired. Originally I was told I could bypass once for six months without having to interview.

The decision... too much to risk at the moment but am hoping that a much improved contract gets ratified which would reduce the risk. Time will tell if I made the right decision.

Good luck AT Pilots, I'm pulling for ya.

Good move. This place sucks. If you have a job, any job, dont come here.

 

[V1rowt8]

Thanks Cap. I sure hope that it sucks less in the future and AT pilots get a much deserved contract ratified soon, enough is enough already!!

 

[greyskyracer]

What is reserve like? min days off? call out? long call? do reserve pilots ever break guarantee?

 

[Raskal]

Employees do not "help build the company" at AirTran. Employees are no different than paperclips or copiers. AirTran views its employees as nothing more than any other cost unit to be minimized to the max extent possible.

I would seriously question that employees, specifically pilots, mean anything different to any other employer in current time. We are numbers, nothing more.

 

[Lear70]

What is reserve like? min days off? call out? long call? do reserve pilots ever break guarantee?

Oh boy... you just hit one of the biggest nerves there is besides SAP, insurance, and pay rates. I'll let one of the reserve guys go off.

 

[maxblast72]

What is reserve like? min days off? call out? long call? do reserve pilots ever break guarantee?

During the busy season (March until August) and during a prolonged stalled negotiation process, reserves get used each of the 20 scheduled reserve periods a month (with occasionally double duty period day), 10 or 11 days off (depending on 30 or 31 day month), 2 hour call out, no long call, and get paid anywhere from 95-115 hours with about 70-90 actual block (the remaining credit from deadhead, duty period guarantee, and other rigs etc).

For those wondering what a double duty period day is on reserve, occasionally reserves fly one leg inbound in the morning (for 4 hours credit), get put into rest for 10 hours in base, and then fly another leg to outstation at night for another 4 hours credit thus crediting 8 hours for the day with only 3 or 4 hours block.

 

[Lear70]

You forgot to mention what happens when staffing is good and what URP means...

The contract does contain a provision for Long Call Reserve.

The company has never used it.

 

[maxblast72]

You forgot to mention what happens when staffing is good and what URP means...

With the pilot group's overall happiness at record levels, I don't foresee much URPing until September.