Alaska 110M Profit

[igneousy2]

The feds won't approve a combi with a movable partition which has caused a lot of problems with the 400-C...so I think the company doesn't want to make that mistake again. I think a couple of freighters (700 or 800) with straight-passenger service on other flights thrown in, is the way the company is going to go.

 

[Dash8don]

The feds won't approve a combi with a movable partition which has caused a lot of problems with the 400-C...so I think the company doesn't want to make that mistake again. I think a couple of freighters (700 or 800) with straight-passenger service on other flights thrown in, is the way the company is going to go.

...or a couple of Q400's thrown in!

 

[AK737FO]

You guys are missing the big picture by just a smidge. The pieces are all there, we just have to put them together.
The 700 QC (quick change), currently flown by the Navy, is not certified for civilian use. The market is to small for Boeing to pay for it. That certification process makes it to expensive for us to pay for it. Therefore, we will not be getting a 700 QC - ever.
Now a combi? That is a different story. The FAA can't stop it, but they may not make it easy either. The main thing that the FAA hates is a moveable smoke barrier as in the QC. A fixed wall / smoke barrier as in a combi is something they are more comfy with. A straight freighter they are happy with because at most you will only kill two pilots and maybe a handfull of people on the ground.
So, BT has publicly stated that they will start with 5 or more Horizon Q400's in ANC to do some of the flying in State. The time line has not been publicaly stated, but the 737-400 fleet, and most important 737-400 combi / freighter fleet, is scheduled to be retired no later than 2016. So there is your time line.
The Q400 can not run around the State, full of pax plus 3 bags per pax. This brings up the concept of a Q400 combi? But lets not go there now... So if a big chunk of the Arctic is being flown by a turbo prop that can't haul all the bags and freight, then it makes sense to have a couple of 737-700's running around the State on a daily freight run.
I believe this is part of the reason they painted Eskimo's on the Q400's. Soon they will be running around in State, so it had to "look" the same.
I think there will be a Horizon base in ANC by next summer. They will need a couple of years to work the bugs out before we hand it all over to them. The Horizon ANC base will grow. The Alaska ANC base will shrink. The Alaska pilots will find themselves in SEA or PDX flying ETOPS. The Horizon pilots will find themselves in OTZ trying to re-learn how to land on the 500 foot mark firmly, not the 1500 mark - looking for a greaser on that unbearably stiff Q400 gear.

 

[charlieB]

I'm curious why the MEC has expressed their goal of signing a new contract by the amendable date. I don't recall timeline as a priority in the past. Is this a 5th cornerstone? I hope it's just pre-negotiation feel-good posturing and not something more sinister driving ALPA's sense of urgency: 1) ALPA national's economist sees a storm coming, 2) we might end up on some mega-carrier's plate

 

[CesnaCaptn]

I'm curious why the MEC has expressed their goal of signing a new contract by the amendable date. I don't recall timeline as a priority in the past. Is this a 5th cornerstone? I hope it's just pre-negotiation feel-good posturing and not something more sinister driving ALPA's sense of urgency: 1) ALPA national's economist sees a storm coming, 2) we might end up on some mega-carrier's plate

Having flown with someone on the NC recently, I didn't sense an ulterior motive. Basically, the union and the company can both benefit from getting a contract done "on-time."

 

[The Victors]

Nothing to see here....move along....AS is just a little tiny airline with an ugly FA on the tail.....nobody wants to buy us.....but we will code share with you!!

please buy SWA and Sh$t can GK.

 

[Singlecoil]

I'm curious why the MEC has expressed their goal of signing a new contract by the amendable date. I don't recall timeline as a priority in the past. Is this a 5th cornerstone? I hope it's just pre-negotiation feel-good posturing and not something more sinister driving ALPA's sense of urgency: 1) ALPA national's economist sees a storm coming, 2) we might end up on some mega-carrier's plate

I completely agree, Charlie. Getting a deal done by the amendable date is WAY down the list for me. For me it is scope, pay, a big override for backside of the clock flying, per-diem, and then the signing date.

 

[igneousy2]

I'm curious why the MEC has expressed their goal of signing a new contract by the amendable date. I don't recall timeline as a priority in the past. Is this a 5th cornerstone? I hope it's just pre-negotiation feel-good posturing and not something more sinister driving ALPA's sense of urgency: 1) ALPA national's economist sees a storm coming, 2) we might end up on some mega-carrier's plate

I think their is nothing wrong with having the goal to have a contract by the amendable date. I question the public declaration of the goal. One of the tools of negotiation is to apply time pressure to the other side..."there are two other buyers in the managers office that are looking at the diarrhea green Volvo that you're looking at buying too so we have to seal this deal now."

I think it's a great internal goal...I think the public message of the MEC should be we are going negotiate as long as it takes to get a proper contract...with retropay (or signing bonus or whatever you want to call it) calculated from the amendable date.

Later.

 

[Snapshot]

For me it is scope, pay, a big override for backside of the clock flying, per-diem, and then the signing date.

Someone finally figured out that aircraft don't make money sitting on the ramp all night. It's all about efficiency. Make no mistake, flying all night is a huge component in the future. Plan on half your flying being done after dark for the rest of your career. Seniority used to bring you good trips. From here on out, it will bring only bring you the ability to work while the sun is up. Put a price tag on it.