AA recalls starting to increase

[aa73]

Two April recall classes now... 20 in the April 2 class, 30 in the April 15 class for a total of 50 in April. Up to #1430 or so out of 2750 furloughed.

73

 

[spacecadet1]

But the bad news is that retirements have practically stopped in March. The ugly face of age 65 will become apparent soon. If you have a decent income outside this business, it may be wise to defer recall, and invest your efforts in a career where they are appreciated.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

Well let's just hope none of them curl up in first class for a little cat nap while on duty like one of the recently recalled F/A's did.

 

[plunger]

Whats up with American? Every other major has not only recalled everyone but has been hiring for a while now. What's taking American so long? Just curious. I'm only a regional FO and don't know much about the majors.

 

[aa73]

March only had 13 early outs. April will probably have more, based on the stock market/B fund unit value from three months ago. Either way you cut it, there will probably always be some early outs every month in the near future.

73

 

[aa73]

Whats up with American? Every other major has not only recalled everyone but has been hiring for a while now. What's taking American so long? Just curious. I'm only a regional FO and don't know much about the majors.

Plunger. Allow me. AMR had the most pilots on furlough (2750.) The big difference is... Every other airline decided to take advantage of recent positive cash flows and grew, added routes, took some new deliveries (except maybe UAL.) AMR has been slowly shrinking since 2001. They have parked or sold aircraft to competitors. They have seen their NYC market share dwindle to DAL and CAL's delight. In short, AMR does not have a long term strategy of growth. They are more concerned with whacking labor upside the head and defending their yearly PUP bonuses - which are based on the stock price, which - SURPRISE! - tends to rise when routes/capacity are cut.

Case in point - AMR is sitting on over $6B in cash. They are either preparing for a pilot strike or a big a$$ merger. But growth is not part of these plans, and that is why we have been so slow in recalling pilots.

Now factor in the 143 early outs (retirements) on Feb 1. These pilots came mostly from 767 and 777 CA bid statuses. They left AA critically short on manning. As a result, AA begins canceling HIGHLY PRESTIGIOUS 767/777 int'l routes - AA's bread and butter! - over the spring and summer months, due to lack of manning. February alone saw a bunch of LHR 777 flights cancelled...

So we have an airline that is not really interested in preserving market share, instead focusing on shrinking, whacking labor and keeping the stock price up. All this while DAL announces something like 10 new int'l routes per month, while taking deliveries of new 777LRs with massive pilot hiring. AA would rather cancel routes/flights and park aircraft. Painful, I tell ya! Now you know why AA pilots have a new motto: "Won't be fooled again!" (The Who) and our new war cry.

73

 

[L'il J.Seinfeld]

Plunger. Allow me. AMR had the most pilots on furlough (2750.) The big difference is... Every other airline decided to take advantage of recent positive cash flows and grew, added routes, took some new deliveries (except maybe UAL.) AMR has been slowly shrinking since 2001. They have parked or sold aircraft to competitors. They have seen their NYC market share dwindle to DAL and CAL's delight. In short, AMR does not have a long term strategy of growth. They are more concerned with whacking labor upside the head and defending their yearly PUP bonuses - which are based on the stock price, which - SURPRISE! - tends to rise when routes/capacity are cut.

Case in point - AMR is sitting on over $6B in cash. They are either preparing for a pilot strike or a big a$$ merger. But growth is not part of these plans, and that is why we have been so slow in recalling pilots.

Now factor in the 143 early outs (retirements) on Feb 1. These pilots came mostly from 767 and 777 CA bid statuses. They left AA critically short on manning. As a result, AA begins canceling HIGHLY PRESTIGIOUS 767/777 int'l routes - AA's bread and butter! - over the spring and summer months, due to lack of manning. February alone saw a bunch of LHR 777 flights cancelled...

So we have an airline that is not really interested in preserving market share, instead focusing on shrinking, whacking labor and keeping the stock price up. All this while DAL announces something like 10 new int'l routes per month, while taking deliveries of new 777LRs with massive pilot hiring. AA would rather cancel routes/flights and park aircraft. Painful, I tell ya! Now you know why AA pilots have a new motto: "Won't be fooled again!" (The Who) and our new war cry.

73

Mgt's exclusive purpose is to maximize shareholder value by getting/keeping the stock up. AMR's management is the best in the business. The proof being that AMR did not file bankruptcy while all the others did. AMR furloughed like mad and "shrank to profitability" post 9/11, and did not default on their debts and contracts like the others.

 

[Andy]

Glad to hear the recalls are increasing. Hopefully you guys will burn through the list quickly - I imagine that you're seeing a lot of deferrals.

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Is Mark Hetterman still going into recurrent classes and saying "you pilots just don't understand how management bonuses work?" I'm sure that makes the pilot group real happy. They really do need to start added more routes. They're sitting on a ton of route authorities that they either used to serve themself or from TWA that they still have access to.

 

[FreightGod]

Well let's just hope none of them curl up in first class for a little cat nap while on duty like one of the recently recalled F/A's did

She was probably TWA. Them gals had a habit of hanging out in 1st. class seats while on duty.
The world owes them something...I guess.

 

[#1 Windmilling]

From "Won't Get Fooled Again" (The Who)

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" (air guitar to follow)

#1 W

 

[Big Slick]

Another reason the AA recalls have taken so long is that AA purchased/merged with TWA right before 9-11. The TWA guys were stapled on the bottom of the seniority list and most got furloughed. So, there is no real sense of loyalty to the furloughed guys. It is common practice for senior guys to pick up extra trips to make a few more bucks. This keeps the furloughees on the street longer.

Remember that TWA went out of business before AA bought them, so it wasn’t really a merger in the normal sense. So, the AA guys can rationalize the TWA guys being furloughed. “They are just lucky to have an airline job to be recalled to in the first place” is a common mindset.

Bottom line, APA is a house divided. The ex-TWA guys are sort of considered expendable by the senior AA guys. So, they don’t feel any guilt about them being furloughed for 8+ years.

My humble opinion.

 

[GOULET!]

Can't wait to see how the negoitations go this year for the pilot contract. Going to be one bloody battle.

 

[75M]

Remember that TWA went out of business before AA bought them, so it wasn’t really a merger in the normal sense.

Not true. TWA never missed a day of operation, and did not go out of business prior to being purchased by AA. While it was an "assett acquisition" negotiated through the bankruptcy process in January-April of 2001, the last flight on the TWA certificate was on August 31, 2004. I know, I was there.

As far as the extensive length of the furloughs, AMR ended up being pretty fat as a result of the TWA deal. They had something like 11 different fleets including F-100s. 717s and DC9s. It was painful, but lile Li' J. said, they did what they had to.

 

[Big Slick]

I know what a sensitive subject this is - I did not mean to disrespect any ex-TWA employees. I'm actually under the TWA folks, so I feel your pain. Hopefully, we will all be recalled soon.

 

[Mkubwa]

aa73,

Seems like if the AA pilot group wanted real change they'd have a plan in place to take the company private, fire the management, replace the BOD in so doing radically alter the poisoned culture of the airline.

Remember, Continental used to be a joke - full of scabs and entrenched and incompetent management. At the owners' (Bonderman [TPG]) behest, Bethune was recruited as the CEO and purged the top ranks of management and rebuilt the culture. We see where they are now.

Unfortunately, the AA pilot culture is merely a reflection of the AA management culture which is to say, "I've got mine." My crystal ball is working just fine and this is what's inside it: nothing is going to change for the better.

 

[waveflyer]

I'm sorry- no matter the reason- picking up extra flying when there are guys on furlough is a step above scabbing. I can't believe APA (who i've really respected of late) is allowing that to go on.

 

[pkober]

I agree about the picking up open time while furloughed, it is scabbing (in a sense). It happens at many airlines not just AA.

I never thought I would say this, especially being a stapled/furloughed TWA/AA'er but, I feel the APA has done more for it's furloughees than I thought. I figured they would shi+ on the TWA guys and forget about us. I haven't seen it. I may be mistaken but I believe they want longevity for ALL furloughees in this next contract. They could have easily have said all nAAtive furloughees only, but didn't.

I do agree that the APA should put pressure on it's pilots to stop picking up open time during a furlough. However, I bet some of the open time is being picked up in STL as well as other domiciles.

 

[pkober]

I agree about the picking up open time while furloughed, it is scabbing (in a sense). It happens at many airlines not just AA.

I never thought I would say this, especially being a stapled/furloughed TWA/AA'er but, I feel the APA has done more for it's furloughees than I thought. I figured they would shi+ on the TWA guys and forget about them. I haven't seen it. I may be mistaken but I believe they want longevity for ALL furloughees in this next contract. They could have easily have said all nAAtive furloughees only, but didn't.

I do agree that the APA should put pressure on it's pilots to stop picking up open time during a furlough. However, I bet some of the open time is being picked up in STL as well as other domiciles.

Unfortunately many pilots are whores.

 

[AA767AV8TOR]

Another reason the AA recalls have taken so long is that AA purchased/merged with TWA right before 9-11. The TWA guys were stapled on the bottom of the seniority list and most got furloughed.

Big Slick,

I’m not quite sure where you are getting your information, but the TWA pilots were not stapled at the bottom of our list. I routinely fly DFW to HNL, our most senior trip, with former TWA Captains.

Moreover, furloughed former TWA pilots are coming off the street straight to the left seat of an AA Super 80. This is from a 17 year AA native FO that is still throwing gear.

I’m not trying to drudge up another AA-TWA flight, but just setting the facts straight.

AA767AV8TOR

 

[XTW]

Moreover, furloughed former TWA pilots are coming off the street straight to the left seat of an AA Super 80. This is from a 17 year AA native FO that is still throwing gear.

I’m not trying to drudge up another AA-TWA flight, but just setting the facts straight.

AA767AV8TOR

I can assure you that this is not completely true. There was one "furlough instead" that did come back straight to the left seat. She took a furlough directly and voluntarily from the left seat, out of furlough seniority. Every other former TWA furloughee has come back as an FO.



XTW

 

[AAbyDefault]

Big Slick,

I’m not quite sure where you are getting your information, but the TWA pilots were not stapled at the bottom of our list. I routinely fly DFW to HNL, our most senior trip, with former TWA Captains.

Moreover, furloughed former TWA pilots are coming off the street straight to the left seat of an AA Super 80. This is from a 17 year AA native FO that is still throwing gear.

I’m not trying to drudge up another AA-TWA flight, but just setting the facts straight.

AA767AV8TOR

Well, not all true......the ABC version is mid 1989 hires and below were stapled. Not all TWA pilots are going to the left seat. Captains that were furloughed have re-instatement rights to the left seat in STL only. If they leave STL, then they exercise their system seniority which is right seat somewhere else.

Hope this clarifies all the misleading info.

 

[CitationLover]

Big Slick,

I’m not quite sure where you are getting your information, but the TWA pilots were not stapled at the bottom of our list. I routinely fly DFW to HNL, our most senior trip, with former TWA Captains.

Moreover, furloughed former TWA pilots are coming off the street straight to the left seat of an AA Super 80. This is from a 17 year AA native FO that is still throwing gear.

I’m not trying to drudge up another AA-TWA flight, but just setting the facts straight.

AA767AV8TOR

your facts are wrong. are you confusing recall rights with actual recall positions?

no twa'ers are coming off the street to the left seat. in fact, one recently told me a check airman told him before a session, "That Supplement CC has really worked out for you."

To which his bewildered sim partner (a BOS based 767 FO upgrading on the 80 - a 90 hire) defended with, "Yeah, 4 1/2 years on the street worked out real well for him."

Some people still have blinders on in the Luftwaffe.

 

[pkober]

Big Slick,

I’m not quite sure where you are getting your information, but the TWA pilots were not stapled at the bottom of our list. I routinely fly DFW to HNL, our most senior trip, with former TWA Captains.

Moreover, furloughed former TWA pilots are coming off the street straight to the left seat of an AA Super 80. This is from a 17 year AA native FO that is still throwing gear.

I’m not trying to drudge up another AA-TWA flight, but just setting the facts straight.

AA767AV8TOR

Then how did I end up stapled below the AA pilots? This is from a 12 year TWA pilot who has been furloughed for 5 years yesterday. Luckily throwing gear at another airline, unfortunately there are still allot of "non-stapled" TWA/AA guys still waiting to get called back.

 

[Prog 2/2]

I dunno.

Something like a hundred years and a billion keystrokes might put a dent in it, though.

Some other items that the garden variety AA pilot absolutely, positively knows to be true about theTWA acquisition--

TWA was bankrupt, on the edge of liquidating, and all TWA employees were just about on the street. Never mind that the bankruptcy filing was a condition of the asset purchase, and that TWA had more cash in the bank at the time of acquisition than they had the previous year, and that the acquisition was the brainchild of our CEO, who was trying to keep his job.

AMR assumed billions in debt when they acquired TWA. Never mind that the bankruptcy process allowed AMR to shed the Karabu agreement, all subordinated debt, and many,many individual liabilities. Equipment lease rates were able to be renegotiated, Worldspan was put up for sale, and AA was able to replace some of their least efficient fleets with newer jets.

Had they not assumed that debt, they would have never lost a dime, never furloughed, and every native FO would now be a captain. Don't bother considering the effect of those two big buildings in NYC falling down and the subsequent economic toilet ride, it's clearly all TWA's fault.

And of course, AA got rid of all the TWA airplanes, and was stuck with the all pilots. Never mind that there are roughly 80 TWA airplanes still flying AMR colors, with only around 400 TWA pilots on the property. And don't ever, ever ask yourself, if you are a native in the bottom third of the seniority list, whether you would have been able to keep working post 9/11 had TWA not been acquired.

And finally, the catch all's. TWA airplanes were all junk, AA had to spend zillions just to get them up to "AA standards", they were all old, clapped out, and hadn't had any mtc done to them in years, since TWA was broke. Yet those very airplanes, most newer that AA's, were the ones that provided just enough cushion for the furloughs to barely touch the native ranks.

I'd say that AMR got value for their money.

And if they didn't, the junior AA pilot sure did.

(This was not posted to reopen the AA/TWA wound. I simply get sick of listening to the half-truths, misconceptions, and outright falsehoods that many continue to spout, and the overarching belief that all the problems at AA are directly the result of the TWA acquisition, that the acquisition directly harmed every AA native, and that the AA pilot group has made tremendous sacrifices because of it.)

 

[XTW]

Prog 2/2,

Stop it! Stop it right now! This is FI and there is no room for level-headed or fact based posts! I will report you to the Rule 32 police, whoever that is.:nuts:

XTW

 

[FreightGod]

I'd say that AMR got value for their money.

And if they didn't, the junior AA pilot sure did.

Hmm, guess I was too junior to get value for my money?

Got 4 years on the street instead.
In my recall class last fall we had several TWA dudes who got MD-80 capts slots, but witheld for 6 months as F/Os on the B-767.

Of course TWA would have been around after 9/11 just like the "new" Midway and the pilots would have been much better off if AA had not gotten involved.

The truth comes in many flavors for sure.

 

[XTW]

In my recall class last fall we had several TWA dudes who got MD-80 capts slots, but witheld for 6 months as F/Os on the B-767.

I am going to call BS on this one. There has only been one recallee that has gotten a Captain bid upon recall. That person was a FIS who returned in the first recall class in January 2007. I was recalled and deferred last summer, and I cannot hold Captain even under CC at this time.

What more likely occurred is that they got MD80 slots, but used a reinstatement right to get the 767 for QOL issues. What recall class were you in?


XTW

 

[FreightGod]

What recall class were you in?

Oct 3rd, 2007.

I am going to call BS on this one.

No need to use the BS card. Plenty of ex-TWA guys in my class, check the roster on AA pilots.

Some of them had Capt. re-instatement rights on the -80..

Lowest Capt seniority right now is # 8880.

Perhaps some of the guys in my class had previously deferred....Lots of gray hair among them.

3 or 4 of them came from Focus...Good timing.

 

[Prog 2/2]

Hmm, guess I was too junior to get value for my money?

Got 4 years on the street instead.
In my recall class last fall we had several TWA dudes who got MD-80 capts slots, but witheld for 6 months as F/Os on the B-767.

Of course TWA would have been around after 9/11 just like the "new" Midway and the pilots would have been much better off if AA had not gotten involved.

The truth comes in many flavors for sure.

You got 4 years on the street because of two things, both completely unrelated to TWA.

The first was 9/11, and the second was because you were on the bottom of the seniority list.

How hard is it for you to accept that what happened to you would have happened with/without the acquisition of TWA?

UAL, DAL, and anybody else you care to name, also furloughed junior pilots post 9/11, and they had acquired no one.

Why do you believe that anything different would have taken place at AA?

My point is that the furloughs at AA, post 9/11, would have gone much deeper into native ranks than they did had it not been for the TWA furlough fodder at the bottom of the list and the additional TWA aircraft.

That to me is a value for the junior AA pilot.

What happened is almost exactly the opposite of what almost every hardcore native proclaims is a truism when it comes to AA and mergers; i.e., AA dumps the airplanes and keeps the pilots.

In this instance, AA kept airplanes and dumped almost 3000 pilots, some natives among them, to be sure, but far fewer natives were furloughed than would have been the case w/o TWA.

It matters not if TWA would, or would not, have survived 9/11. I'm not arguing that point, because in the context of this discussion, it's completely moot. That's just something that gets trotted out when you run out of facts to argue, and it is completely irrelevant.

Congratulations on your recall, and best of luck on the line.:beer: