AE/AA list, SCOPE, additional RJs
AMR has been trying to get around or deal with SCOPE issues in many ways. The sale/non-sale of my former employer Executive Airlines, and the use of the AMERICAN CONNECTION and the diversion of AE RJs to the CONNECTION. AMR is and has been at the ceiling of SCOPE and has been trying to poke a few holes in it or find a solution to it, as far as expansion goes for some time now.
There has been talk of an RJ base in RDU (a former AA base) and AA would like to add more RJs to match what the competion is doing. With one seniority list, most SCOPE issues could be resolved, AMR could buy more RJs of various sizes. This could bring back the furloughed AA and AE pilots to staff the equipment and maybe even some hiring.
One list could give AMR the flexibility to make better business decisions and employ more pilots. It would give the pilots a stronger position for bargaining in the future.
Here are a few examples of some things that might have been possible if there were one list:
The B717 might have made more sense to keep around after the TWA merger since it was up and running and doing well. Maybe even a smaller and a bigger version would have made sense to replace the MD80 and fill the void that the CRJ700?(stretch RJ) is being considered for.
Low cost carrier: DAL is looking to try the low cost carrier again. TWA could have meet that requirement for AA. It had some impressive performance numbers, on time, etc. As a former TWA pilot, I am not saying I would want to fly the same equipment for less pay, but most of the majors have tried the carrier within a carrier and TWA LLC could have been that solution for AMR. Or with one list, AMR could set up such an operation and the pilots could decide via seniority where they would like to fly.
As pilots we are always concerned about our own "rice-bowl" and who does the flying. There were 4 seperate Eagles when I flew there and AMR would shrink one and grow another at contract time or any other time they wanted to divide and conquer the pilot groups. Now that there is one Eagle list, you don't here the same grumblings about who is doing the flying out of MIA, DFW ORD, ETC. (Put your time table down,....ETC is not a hub!!!)
I am not advocating any of this, I am just saying that one list could give AMR more flexibility and the ability to make better business decisions. One list might add some pilot solidarity for a better contract and quality of life. One list could bring the total number of aircraft and pilots to a higher level.
It would be sticky putting it all together, but if it benefitted AMR and ALL the pilots that fly for AMR (AA, TWA LLC, and AE), it might be worth considering.
However, with AMR, APA, and ALPA in the mix, the forecast call for pain!