maxblast72
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2006
- Posts
- 931
Roughneck, here is the issue. TBN 13-08 just closed with a June 2007 AirTran new hire being awarded an August Dallas transition training class date. This pilot was awarded a TBA 717 FO slot in the transition bid that closed in December 2011.
There are 30 ATL 717 FOs, 118 ATL 737 FOs, and 13 MCO 717 FOs senior to that pilot who were awarded SWA 737 FO in the transition bid. The junior MKE 737 FOs had to assume their awarded TBA 717 FO position a few months back (when MKE closed) while the junior MCO 737 FOs are getting to go to Dallas in lieu of assuming their awarded TBA 717 FO position on this side of the partition (when their base closed in September).
Since SWA management and the ATN MEC could not come up with a solution for how to handle the 717 sublease deal, SWA management decided unilaterally to stop 737 to 717 training. It is pretty easy to understand their motive in doing this (reduce training costs).
The plan for 2013 had 12 crews crossing per month until after summer at which point that increased to 24 crews per month. That plan hasn't changed. What has changed is what base/aircraft/seat those crews will be coming from. It is a big deal to our first officers and some captains. Some will go earlier while others will go later.
There will be DRCs and grievances filed for the next few years (and maybe a few more DFR lawsuits). It isn't my fight anymore, and it isn't easy for our current MEC. If they change anything, some will benefit while others will be hurt.
