Alaska Update?

[ASApuppy]

Not being on the inside, I have a question for you Alaska guys/gals. I am wondering why you are cancelling your own flights at the same time you are sending Horizon aircraft to Frontier( are they not your competetion?). Maybe I'm missing something, but this really makes no sense.

 

[flx757]

I don't think the Alaska "guys/gals" here on the board...i.e. the pilots, have any say over either of these items. The cancelled flights or the deal that the Air Group made with Frontier to provide Horizon to do Frontier Jet Express. They aren't the ones who cancelled "their own" flights, nor "sent" Horizon aircraft to Frontier. I don't think you'd need to be "on the inside" to figure at least THAT much out.

Perhaps a letter to Bill Ayers, CEO; P.O. Pox 68900; Seattle, WA 98188?

He might have an answer to your question.

I wonder if your airline consults YOU or YOUR pilot group when making these types of decisions??

 

[dkwid]

Not being on the inside, I have a question for you Alaska guys/gals. I am wondering why you are cancelling your own flights at the same time you are sending Horizon aircraft to Frontier( are they not your competetion?). Maybe I'm missing something, but this really makes no sense.

I can not explain the cancelled flights you speak of. But the Frontier deal was pure money sense. Frontier, who was going to have another Regional partner, period, and yes Frontier does compete with several airlines and to a small scale Alaska, approached Horizon (not Alaska) and made Horizon a deal to gaurantee profitable use of 9 of Horizons RJs. So Frontier has a regional partner, horizon has 9 RJ's flying that get paid just to T/O and Horizon still maintains a consistant 98% or better flight completion rate system wide. In addition to all that the deal adds money to the Alaska Air Group. How can you go wrong here. If Alaska wanted Horizon to fly more RJ';s ( and they do not) I am sure more would arrive.

 

[Rhino]

back on page one...

Any more news on the July bid details???

 

[flx757]

Rhino,

Not really, that I have heard. Although the talk of a fall class is getting a little louder. We even had one of the Fleet Captains in recurrent last week use the term..."slim chance" when asked about hiring for this year, when all along they had been maintaing that there was no chance of hiring this year. So, even they are acknowledging the reality of the situation. So, all I can say is stand by to stand by......

 

[EternalOptimist]

Rumor Mill Fodder

I heard another rumor yesterday but I'm confused because I thought for sure I'd see it confirmed here and yet no one has posted any "exciting news."

Basically, I heard from someone "in the know" that the pool has been drained and that all poolies have been notified of a September class date. This person also said that hiring will be ramped up and that the company is going to hire a hundred or two pilots and soon.

Now, either this was some elaborate rumor that this person made up for fun or else you poolies are holding out... Anyone get a phone call? My understanding was that all but one of the 36 floaters accepted the September class date and that 35 new hires will begin training this Fall.

 

[ferlo]

There is no classes planned. Nobody in the pool has been notified of anything. That is fact as of 12:57 pm 6/21/04

 

[SneakyJake]

THAT "PERSON" is smoking behind your back.

 

[flx757]

There WILL be a bid before Aug 1st. That is the word from above as of yesterday afternoon. We were shown estimated training requirements on the MD as a possible result of this bid. These pilots will be trained over time, with the goal to have all on line by next June. As I understand it there will be two effective dates...Jan and March.

Whether this will require new hires is still unclear. Again, the training requirements we were given for the MD (roughly 3-4 crews per month beginning in Sept) are estimates, and no mention if these were pilots currently on the other aircraft, or if there will be new hires. I would imagine it would be a mixture. But, that is just my guess.

One thing for certain, is that between now and Aug 1, this plan will have changed several times. Nothing about it is carved in stone at this point...

PS...this just came across my email in the minutes from yesterday's Flight Ops staff meeting...


"The next position bid will be out in August and adding 30 new hires to offset the attrition due to retirements. 10 new hires are anticipated in 2004. (BJ) "

​

So, I guess that is the plan as of today, 6/23 at 12:30...

 

[flx757]

I even have a tentative date for the new hire class of 10. Sept 12th.

Ya heard it here first...

 

[AK737FO]

Good News

Good news and it's about time... I hope we can get through the summer without the Seattle papers dragging our name though the mud for all the cancelled flights due to lack of crews.

FLX 757, can we assume that after the pool is drained (spring 2005) that P.M. will open up the old silver bullet process for us?

AK737FO

 

[flx757]

Yeah...I hear that June has been particularly bad. July and August are looking a LITTLE better. That's what they are saying, anyway.

As far as the silver bullet, I have heard it will return. But, nothing official. I am hoping that will be the case.

 

[Rhino]

Thank you Flx757

Thanks again for keeping us up to date with all the latest. You are a great American!

One question... who is (BJ)?

 

[FL510GV]

Great rumor... most credible to date. Thanks 757.

 

[f28driver]

Information on Hiring!

From Paul Majer's newsletter today, June 25th, 2004

STAFFING AND HIRING

We are working on a staffing “white paper” which will be coming out hopefully in a week to explain our plans in this area. As far as hiring pilots, we expect to hire a small number, less than 10, close to the end of the year. These slots will be filled from the hiring pool. There will be no new interviews so don’t get excited about some of your candidates yet. The staffing paper will give you an idea of the numbers for next year but these will be to replace retiring pilots and unfortunately not for growth. I’ll keep you posted.



Thought I would pass this along to those of you in the pool.

 

[Z_Pilot]

That's it huh? Well, better than nothing. About how many retirements are coming in 2005? Dozens, or a hundred or two? I must give Paul M. some credit for keeping you informed.

Thanks,
Z_Pilot

From Paul Majer's newsletter today, June 25th, 2004

STAFFING AND HIRING

We are working on a staffing “white paper” which will be coming out hopefully in a week to explain our plans in this area. As far as hiring pilots, we expect to hire a small number, less than 10, close to the end of the year. These slots will be filled from the hiring pool. There will be no new interviews so don’t get excited about some of your candidates yet. The staffing paper will give you an idea of the numbers for next year but these will be to replace retiring pilots and unfortunately not for growth. I’ll keep you posted.



Thought I would pass this along to those of you in the pool.

 

[flx757]

Retirements for 2005 number around 60 or 70. Keep in mind the "10" number is for the end of 2004. There will be additional new hires in the first part of 2005 to be ready for the line by June.

You are right. It is better than nothing, which is what we have been told it would be all year up until now.

 

[av8instyle]

Retirements for 2005 number around 60 or 70. Keep in mind the "10" number is for the end of 2004. There will be additional new hires in the first part of 2005 to be ready for the line by June.


You are right. It is better than nothing, which is what we have been told it would be all year up until now.

Actually, the # of retirements next year is exactly 40. This does not include any guys that hang it up early.

 

[flx757]

Thanks for clearing that up. I was guessing, and using numbers that I had heard.

 

[FL717]

Sorry to change the subject for a minute... but hey Flx757, I forgot to ask you on the phone earlier today, what is that new guitar in your avatar? Is this one of the new ones you're getting?

 

[flx757]

FL717,

Yep....that's the one. Mine will have black hardware and no inlays, but other than that, it's identical. I just got an estimated completion date today of 7/27....so, I should have it around the first week of August.

 

[Rhino]

no news?

Any updates in the past couple of weeks? Things have got to be heating up soon, I hope!

 

[flx757]

No new updates. What was discussed earlier is what is pretty much it, for now. A class of about 10 new hires later this year, with the remainder in the pool to be in classes early next year. Nothing on additional interviews. Retirements for next year are about 40, with that number increasing to the 60-70 range for the next 3 years. As of now...and I will repeat that this is as of now...the hires are for attrition (retirees) only, and not for new growth. There is still a possiblility of SOME growth, but it will be minimal until and unless the company becomes profitable again. This is the latest word that comes from the top to the guys going through recurrent.

 

[Singlecoil]

I think some guys are going to suddenly retire this December. They will know then how much their lump sum retirement will drop under the 2005 rules, feel the threat of looming concessions, decide not to risk it and take the money and run. Probably not a whole lot will do that, maybe 20 or so. I've even heard of some guys that would rather do that even though they don't have 30 years in. They will take about an 8% per year (early) penalty but are going to do it anyway.

 

[flx757]

Yep. That is one thing I have been hearing that I forgot to mention. It DOES sound like some guys are going to take the early out before the next contract, with their retirement in it's current form, rather than risk seeing what it might look like with the next contract.