Alaska Pilots to resume negotiations.

[flx757]

Re: Chicago flyin'

"...the new Chicago flights are possible largely because of TANGO, the "turn aircraft ‘n go" initiative that trims turn times on select flights, generating more than 25 hours of additional flight time per day. That’s the equivalent of three additional aircraft."



It seems to me, if the equivalent of three additional aircraft are "created", then wouldn't it stand to reason that they might need a few more pilots to fly those legs? Or perhaps just use a few more guys sitting reserve.

First, I wll post my disclaimer that I am not a line pilot but a management pilot/flight instructor-simulator, and the information I get is from line pilots coming through training. The TANGO program is only in selected markets. And while it mght result in some shorter turn around times and increaded aircraft utilization that would approximate the equivilent of three additional aircraft, the lines are curently built to around 76 hours. This extra fying could easily be absored by increasing the lines to 8o or so hours, and therefore negate the need for extra pilots. I don't mean to be negative, just realistic. I do believe that pilot hiring will have to resme by the end of the year, to account for next year's retirements,

Again, this is just what I am hearing around the schoolhouse from the line pilots coming through, and by no means "official". As always, I will post whatever I hear,

 

[mach none]

Re: Re: Chicago flyin'

First, I wll post my disclaimer that I am not a line pilot but a management pilot/flight instructor-simulator, and the information I get is from line pilots coming through training. The TANGO program is only in selected markets. And while it mght result in some shorter turn around times and increaded aircraft utilization that would approximate the equivilent of three additional aircraft, the lines are curently built to around 76 hours. This extra fying could easily be absored by increasing the lines to 8o or so hours, and therefore negate the need for extra pilots. I don't mean to be negative, just realistic. I do believe that pilot hiring will have to resme by the end of the year, to account for next year's retirements,

Again, this is just what I am hearing around the schoolhouse from the line pilots coming through, and by no means "official". As always, I will post whatever I hear,

The FEB lines were built to an average of 82:11. That does not leave much room to have the existing pilots pick up the slack. Unless of coarse, they flex the base up. It will be interesting to see what happens inlight of the ANC bid that becomes effective in July. Small bid that could trigger lots more training events during the busy summer months.

Paul Majers Sec. responded recently to some inquiries about future hiring and she responded that we will evaluate later this year and plans can always change.

That is the best I can do to paint an optimistic picture. Be patient and don't pee in the pool.

mach none

 

[flx757]

mach,

Thanks for the help. Like I said, what I was saying was only what was told to me. I brought up this exact issue about TANGO adding additional flying which would be the equivilent of adding 3 airplanes, and would they be able to absorb this flying with the current pilots....hoping to get some insight to possible new hiring. The group I was talking to was made up of recent 737 pilots who are now being trained on the MD-80 (mostly from LAX, being displaced), and it was they who told me that the lines were currently averaging about 76 hours so that they could bring them up to 80 or so without any new pilots. They also said the same thing you did about the end of the year.

So we will see. However, I did post my disclaimer that I was getting my information from non-offical, second hand sources. I hope hiring picks up in earnest soon. For several reasons. Not the least of which is it will give me something to do.

 

['72Gremlin]

Bluto, I distinctly remember when my dad drove that thing off the lot. I was four. That P.O.S. drove so well, I ended up driving it when I got my license 12 years later. Mine was baby blue and had the same sweet Starsky stripe down the side. Loved the manual brakes and steering on that ride... V6, plenty of power when I wasn't stalled on the side of the road. Ahh... the memories...


EstuaryVictim: Do you have any idea how many pilots have been activated from the reserves?

 

[EstuaryVictim]

I think the number is about 45 remaining. I could probably get a more specific number at work tomorrow.

 

[SneakyJake]

I just heard a fairly credible rumor that Alaska would be stealing 20 to 30 people from the pool for a fall class. They would need to start hiring pilots pretty soon if this were true. It took them six months to put 35 people in the last pool.

 

[dogg]

Was talking with a friend who has been flying with a couple of alaska mec types. They are saying that Alaska,s position is to have a new pay scale/retirement program inplace for any newhires prior to doing any hiring.......kind of a permanent B scale deal......should be interesting to see who holds the line on that.............

 

[FL510GV]

at least this is entertaining...

Since none of the rumors, rumors of rumors, or "inside info" (including my own) have turned out to be even half-true... at least all of the stuff I read here irks my wife, entertains me and keeps me coming back for more.

Hang In There Poolies... I have new HOT information that Alaska will be hiring at least 1500 pilots by 2029!!! (I think that is the year that the last currently flying Alaska pilot will be 60).

 

[AK737FO]

close...

Close but no Cuban...
We have some young bucks that will be on property till 2033 if I recall correctly.

A new seniority list came out yesterday. The Captain I was flying with pulls it out for a look. A few minutes later he says "Wow, look at all the retirements coming up, we better start hiring soon to keep up with that". So even a line Captain who only looks at the "big plan" once a year can figure out that we better warm up the school house seats now...

05, 06, 07 will be big years - I will gladly move over to the left seat to make a hole for one of you guys

 

[Rhino]

talks...

no news, is no news.

 

[md83driver]

Sure has been awful quiet on here lately. Although, that is not always a bad thing.

 

[mach none]

This summer will be very interesting if we don't hire soon.

 

[md83driver]

Jumpseated on a 737 the other day. The cpt is in the training department and due to retire very soon. Apparently Alaska has approached him to do contract training after he retires next month. He mentioned to me that in order for the training department to keep up with the amount of hiring (for retirements) along with recurrent training etc., that the company would need additional instructors and that they are looking at using the sims over at Flight Safety and/or Boeing. Just something to think about. I believe that one of the previous posts hit the nail on the head with the issue of retirement/benefits for new hires. Patiently waiting to get off reserve.

 

[flx757]

As many of you know, I am in the training department at Alaska. I have seen the training schedule for the coming months, and as much as I would like to impart good news, there is NO initial qual training (other than transitioning pilots from one aircraft to the other) through the summer. We are consistently being told that there will be no new hires until 2005.

I hope this news changes in the near future, but that is the word directly from the school house as of today.

When the word changes, the FIRST thing I will do is run to my computer and post the news here on flightinfo. I promise...

 

[mach none]

It will be an interesting summer.

I wonder how many cancelled flights we will have because we don't have crews. We are retiring an average of 2 pilots per month this year. That jumps to 4 per month in 05. Than it gets crazy. If we start hiring now, we would have to hire aprox. 60/yr for retirements. If we wait until 05, that the number jumps to around 75/yr just to cover retirements. The 737 program at alaska last about 2.5 months from basic indoc to the completion of IOE. That is without any problems!

Some how management thinks it is our fault that they cannot grow the airline. Our pilot costs are inline or less than southwest (wallstreet arcticle from last year). The difference is, we have an A-fund. That is already doing better since the stock market is rebounding.

They are not going to get a Ch11 contract without even the remote possiblity of Ch11. But that is what managment wants. But is not going to get!

It is going to be an interesting summer

 

[flx757]

It will be an interesting summer.

I wonder how many cancelled flights we will have because we don't have crews.

mach none,

It's funny you mentioned this. Some of the instructors were talking about something very similar just this afternoon. Especially with the new TANGO program adding additional time to the daily average each aircraft is in the air that is the equivilent of adding an additional 3 aircraft to the fleet. Again, how do they plan to man these additional hours that would amout to 3 aircraft without additional crews?

Like you said, it should be an interesting summer.

 

[md83driver]

Regarding the "TANGO" flying and where the extra a/c are coming from. Apparently we kept 2 400's that were suppose to go back to the leasing company. Got that info straight from someone in flt crew admin about two weeks ago. Also, in November we were fat by 22 cpts in SEA on the Boeing. As of Feb, we are understaffed by 3. Again, straight from fca. I know things change, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[mach none]

NO VSA!

 

[flx757]

Regarding the "TANGO" flying and where the extra a/c are coming from. Apparently we kept 2 400's that were suppose to go back to the leasing company. .

When I mentioned "TANGO" and the "extra aircraft", these were not actual extra aircraft. The TANGO program's goal is shorter turn around times, which increase aircraft utilization. This "increased utilization", when taken over an entire year, creates the extra flying that s the equivilent of adding 3 aircraft.

My point was that however you look at it, there is enough extra flying hours...either via increased aircraft utilization or the addition of actual aircraft (which is not the case), then this addiitonal flying still needs to be crewed. That was the discussion in the traning dept. yesterday. I was just passing along what I heard. I will continue to do so.

As I said before, however...there is no good news as far as any new hire classes being scheduled.

 

[ACAFool]

NO VSA!

What is VSA?