AirTran thoughts on Kelly's Disposal of SL10

[Citrusflyer]

I'm not sure why any of you are surprised. I said this almost 2 months ago...

^^^^^ THAT ^^^^^^

There will be 36 717's after 2015. The last e-mail we got form BJ stated 41 737's would stay on the AT side until 2014 (when they expect to get Int'l ops going - so it could be later?). Now it's down to simple math, math no one believes until the great SWAPA says its true. There is no facility that can convert 41 airplanes to SWA in a single calendar year. Not to mention the training of the almost 400 737 pilots (added to the 350 717 pilots from the 36 airplanes left over after 2015). I doubt the SW training dep't can get that many through in one year.

Again, it's a 'math' problem. But I guess it wont be official until SWAPA says its so, huh?

 

[humveedriver]

And 'new' training for the RSW pilots that want to bid the remaining 717? Still sounds like a cluster with extra training cost.

There would not be any 717 vacancies for those RSW pilots to bid. So no extra training costs.

 

[FIREMAN]

Oh yea, forgot that one.

An indoc class, new paint and rearranging of pax seats is what the FAA has already approved. Don't think the FAA really gives a hoot about the color or how meany seats are in the back.

Or SWA could go ahead and paint and send the crews for 36 aircraft across now as according to the plan already approved by the FAA. That would give them 2 to 2.5 years as a SWA airplane.

 

[redflyer65]

There would not be any 717 vacancies for those RSW pilots to bid. So no extra training costs.

What happens if the FAT guys bid off of 717 to the 737? After Jan 1, it's a free for all. Whatever your seniority can hold right? Will there be 'seat/equipment lock' by the company?

 

[redflyer65]

Those are your assumptions. How confident are you that they will be met?

Part of his assumption comes from the staffing letter this week...

NO HIRING for 2013. So basically just absorbing the retirements for next year.

 

[PCL_128]

So, what do the AirTran pilots think about Gary Kelly throwing SL10 in the trash now?

Sounds like a SWAPA problem to me. I'm doing just fine with separate operations.

 

[humveedriver]

What happens if the FAT guys bid off of 717 to the 737? After Jan 1, it's a free for all. Whatever your seniority can hold right? Will there be 'seat/equipment lock' by the company?

If there are 717s on property after 2015 they would be flown by FAT pilots until they went to Delta or storage. There are no displacement rights for RSW pilots to fly those airplanes. The pilots flying them have a standing bid for the 717 ATL base. They also don't have a bid to come over to SWA prior 2015 which is an issue being discussed on our side.

Again it's an utter lack of of communication and intent from SWA management. Is their intent to have our most senior pilots who want an ATL domicile fly those airplanes through the 31 Dec 2014 deadline? It sure sounds like it. So we have some pilots who can't cross the partition even if they want to and some pilots who will want to stay on the AirTran side through the deadline because their seniority will allow them to hold SWA 737 Captain. All of the vacancies will be for the 737 from here on out.

 

[Whine Lover]

"FAT pilots"

"RSW pilots"


WHY would you want to use such divisive terms , as opposed to trying to remain politically null, or ( Heaven forbid ) maybe use terms that might foster a little unity?

Whine

 

[madjack]

This is good news for the 717 (and perhaps AAI 737) pilots who are still on the AAI side of the partition come January 1, 2015...especially the senior AAI pilots who can hold CP in the master SL...

 

[humveedriver]

Whine;Because SWA management asked us to remain seperate until 2015. As long as there is a partition, as long as we are not represented by SWAPA, as long as there is inequality between pilot groups. There will not be the kind of unity that I believe you are referring to. A three letter acronym that we all understand is unity enough at this and it saves typing time.

 

[redflyer65]

I don't think he meant anything other than discribing the individual groups.

I get your point humvee, I'm just saying that an Airtran guy that wants the SW 737 slot after Jan 1, 2015 should be able to bid for it, and that would open a 717 spot with a vacancy. Does the company really want to train another pilot for that seat, only to hold it for say a year? This thing is already getting convoluted.

 

[madjack]

I hope the SWA pilot group is smart enough to not get in the way of the company's desire to operate the 36 717's on the AAI side of partition post 01JAN2015 and to not get their panty's in a wad if the AAI pilots still flying 717's to flex up to SWA pay and benefits post 01JAN2015.

 

[PropPiedmont]

I hope the SWA pilot group is smart enough to not get in the way of the company's desire to operate the 36 717's on the AAI side of partition post 01JAN2015 and to not get their panty's in a wad if the AAI pilots still flying 717's to flex up to SWA pay and benefits post 01JAN2015.

Never, in the history of Southwest Airlines, have the pilots got in the way.

 

[humveedriver]

I don't think he meant anything other than discribing the individual groups.

I get your point humvee, I'm just saying that an Airtran guy that wants the SW 737 slot after Jan 1, 2015 should be able to bid for it, and that would open a 717 spot with a vacancy. Does the company really want to train another pilot for that seat, only to hold it for say a year? This thing is already getting convoluted.

Thanks Red. I was tryin I keep it simple. Not start a new food fight about FAT/RSW. I don't even find it all that offensive. It's part of our history now, coming from different airlines.

The part that is missing in your example is ATL. If there is an ATL 737 base, then maybe it would play out like you say. But I think we are talking a dozen or less pilots. Plus it would depend how senior the 717 guy/gal was, their global seniority would influence their decision to vacate the 717 too. At this point we know the 717 is leaving, the number of 717 vacancies created after 2015 would be incredibly small. Also I believe the plane will be overstaffed during the entire transition as well. I just dont see your scenario happening. I see all future upgrades happening on a 737.

 

[madjack]

This could be a possible compromise:

If SWA does not comply with the CBA and Side letter that they also signed,
the AT transition guys SHOULD NOT be allowed to upgrade starting 1 Jan 2015.

Not great for the AAI pilots on the SWA side of the transition come 01JAN2015, but good for the AAI guys on the other side of the partition...it may keep the natives quiet...