Alaska Pilots to resume negotiations.

[av8instyle]

MD Bid

Yeah...the bid created more training events than they anticipated, so they cancelled the bid.

I looked on first class tonight and didn't see anywhere that they cancelled the bid. Is it posted somewhere?

 

[flx757]

AKFO: The rumor about the FO resigning his # is true! Not sure which a/c he was in but he was a new hire.

Could be true....and he hasn't completed instructor training yet and I haven't seen him in the "bowling alley" yet, which is where they house the full time instructors.

av8instyle,

Maybe I misspoke a little with that statement. I understand they are re-thinking the bid, and cancelling it is a possiblility. The word that they HAD cancelled it was talk among instructors, so it could very well be just a rumor and not official yet. What I do know is that they didn't get the results they anticipated, so they are re-thinking what they plan to do.

We are definitely understaffed, hence the attempt at reducing some Captains to SQFOs, but the standard company line is when the military guys come back, we will be between 50-70 pilots fat, so they are trying to make something work until then. Personally, I don't think it's possible. I guess we will see.

Believe me, I am for more hiring. The more, the better. It gives me something to do, better job security, and better long term viability for the company. This is defintiely my last stop, and I want desperately for it to work.

 

[mach none]

Re: New Hire?

Mach,

Can you define "new hire" at Alaska?

Does that mean he was hired in the past 2 years?

And if he was a "new hire", what are his instructor qualifications?

I guess if he was older, he might be better off financially taking an instructor job that will last beyond age 60.

Just curious.

Wannabe

He was hired within the last year. He was still on probation is my understanding. I don't know how old he was either.

 

[flx757]

Re: Re: New Hire?

He was hired within the last year. He was still on probation is my understanding. I don't know how old he was either.

One thing I can definitely say about this individual is he is NOT on the MD-80, at least as a flight instructor....and I think they decided not to replace the ground instructor who just retired.

So, if this is indeed a true story, he is a 737 instructor still in training.

 

[Singlecoil]

I think he was a fall '02 hire in his late 30's.

 

[flx757]

I think he was a fall '02 hire in his late 30's.

OK...I asked a few questions...and got the real story. He was originally hired as a 737 FO, got displaced to the MD, then decided instead of going over to the MD as a pilot, he resigned his seniority and is now in training to be a 737 instructor. So far, he is only qualified to do ground training...classroom, FBS, etc...but will eventually get sim qualified. Who knows when "eventualy" will come. Since he is not sim qualified, his salary is reflective of that.

He sits right behind me here in the "bowling alley". Just moved in a week or so ago...I just didn't know the part about him being a former Alaska line pilot.

But, that's the deal. True story. Nice guy, and will make a good instructor.

 

[av8instyle]

I heard there was a guy on probation that recently did not get through his probation check. Is this that guy? ie: an alternative offered as opposed to being jobless.

 

[flx757]

I heard there was a guy on probation that recently did not get through his probation check. Is this that guy? ie: an alternative offered as opposed to being jobless.

He's sitting right behind me as I type this. Do I have the guts to ask him directly? Probably not. But, I'll ask around the room. They seem to know everything about everyone in here. Give me a bit, and I'll be back with what I find out.

 

[md83driver]

Guy Sitting Behind You

Just curious if his initials are B. J.???

 

[flx757]

Affirmative.

 

[md83driver]

Hey flx, thanks for confirming that. I flew with him at my previous job. I had heard the story, but was unsure of who it was. I looked to see if he was on the latest senority list and he was not.

 

[mach none]

I heard there was a guy on probation that recently did not get through his probation check. Is this that guy? ie: an alternative offered as opposed to being jobless.

There is another guy that you are thinking about. He did not make it through probation and was not offered an alternative position with the company. He was a foreign national ( non US citizen).

 

[flx757]

Hey flx, thanks for confirming that. I flew with him at my previous job. I had heard the story, but was unsure of who it was. I looked to see if he was on the latest senority list and he was not.

Yep. The story I told earlier in the thread evidently is the real story...and is not related to not making through probation. Like I said, he is a nice guy and at least is working hard to try and become a good instructor. Maybe he doesn't have quite as extensive of a background as some of the others in the room, so that is why they are starting him slowly as a ground trainer only, but he will do a good job and eventually become fully qualified.