anything new @ ACA?

[acapilot2003]

Just curious how things are going with getting Independence Air kicked off. Also, what's going on with the J41's these days?

 

[GogglesPisano]

Don't you work for ACA?

 

[T-Gates]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he's furloughed.....

 

[acapilot2003]

furloughed since May

 

[zkmayo]

Acapilot2003,


Ill give you the bad news first.

Straight from management's mouth, as of last week..."the furloughed guys will not be coming back for at least another year." Even though we are very short of pilots in some seats, particularly the FRJ FO in both domiciles, they are not recalling. They are asking for a voluntary displacement of 15 J41 FOs, and if they get no takers, 15 captains will be displaced. Ultimately you will see prob the 15 most junior CRJ FOs get bumped to the FO seat of the FRJ. They say that the only thing that will get you guys back is to get Indy off the ground and grow it. They say that some models of the training bubble for training as we transition have us short of about 100 pilots in early 2005. Most estimates say half the furloughees have moved on to greener pastures and another half of those remaining will by the time a recall comes around. If I were one, I would.

The company is also in jeopardy of breaking the DAL CONN contract due to poor completion factor over the last two months. There is a provision apparently that allows DAL to cancel it with no penalty (ie ACA eats the FRJ leases) if completion factor drops below 95% for three consecutive months. This would be a very bad thing needless to say, and would prob result in another 500 furloughs and 33 FRJs parked on the ramp at IAD and cost the company bigtime $$$. We are being encouraged to not call in sick unless your sick. Several FRJ FOs quit recently that the co didnt anticipate. They have had the FRJ unproperly staffed for months though, and now its finally bitting them. Scheduling keeps dropping the ball too, ex burning thru reserves needlessly, letting people time out, not returning phone calls etc.

BOS will close this summer. Apparently there is a meeting in about 10 days to two weeks in ATL with DAL to discuss the closing of BOS. Latest word from management seems to say a MAY or JUNE closing with everyone going to CVG. ORD is being phased out as we speak with a transfer bid closing in early APRIL. Not a moment too soon either as ARW ramp is damaging our airplanes daily. ORD is a complete mess.


Perhaps worse news...morale on the line in general is pretty poor. Management needs to take steps to improve it pronto...


Good news...

Independence Air planning seems to be going quite well and there is a fair amount of excitement garnished with a little anxiety. Ad campaign rumored to start in April with launch 60 days later, prob June/July. First batch of CRJs will prob be painted soon as ORD is unwound. First airbus is supposed to get here in Sept. Purchase order for airbus supposed to be firmed by end of march.

In general...

Again, my perception from other pilots, FAs, Mechanics is morale is pretty poor. Most front line people are hearing a lot of cumebyeya talk about the future but are waist deep in BS on the line and waiting to see the "culture change."
Maybe I shouldve put that in bad news too...
People are trying to be upbeat and doing what they can to get the furloughed back while anchoring the company's bottom line.

Dont mean to sound negative, I am trying to be anything but negative, and keep a positive outlook. This is just verifiable news I have heard and perceptions I have encountered on the line. I hope it helps.


Best of luck to you.

 

[46Driver]

Closing the BOS base will help the company with the number of reserves - pooling everything together in CVG will give the company more flexibility. Also, we have a number of FO's on leave (most are military) and there is nothing the company can do about that: Cinci has 19 of 109 FO's on leave, BOS has 10 of 62 FO's (Captains are 8 of 109 and 4 of 62 respectively). If the trips can't be covered, I would bet that we are going to see a displacement bid (we are overstaffed on CRJ captains) before we see a rehiring of furloughs. In any event, if we lose the DCI contract but are forced to eat the DoJet leases, ACA is hosed....

Big arguments are going on both at www.aca-lounge.com as well as on our ALPA boards. Some of the CRJ guys (actually one in particular) are trying to sell out the FRJ pilots and send them away with the Dorniers if Skyway or anybody else takes them over. Considering that a substantial number of our captains can hold either left or right seats in the Airbus and that many of our FO's are on CRJ pay, you can imagine that there is a bunch of screaming on the ALPA boards.

 

[House_X]

zkmayo and 46 are correct...the last two months have been bad. I haven't heard one bit of good news since I completed IOE and that was a looooong time ago when we had a LGA base. Now this issue with completion factor and engines is another hit in the jaw...the question is...how much of a beating can we take on the Dornier? Nobody "downtown" seems too concerned about the DCI contract.

The advantages for closing BOS does not neccesarliy benefit ACA. Airlines need to expand or face extinction and closing bases is not expanding. Expecting Delta to keep the same number of lines when closing BOS is foolish, considering the result of the DCI RFP award. There is way too much competition and we have consistantly come in LAST in DCI performance numbers. It's frustrating to see nothing being done about these issues...seems like they are taking the "red headed step child" of ACA and locked him in the attic, kicking and screaming...

 

[FlyComAirJets]

Hang in there, ACA, we're all pulling for you guys and gals to set a new standard in the industry.

 

[Cappy]

I just attended two important meetings. One was a quarterly instructor meeting and the other was the "brand training" that every ACA, or should I say Independence Air, employee will go through at least twice. Maybe three times!

From the instructor meeting I gathered some tidbits:

- All acft will have a fully automated Wt/Bal that begins working the numbers as people get their boarding passes. The moment the flight closses out the info is beamed to somewhere(?) and computed for you. On the push or sooner the ACARS will send you for confirmation the BOW, Max T/O wt, Actual T/O wt, %MAC, landing wt, and trim settings. You don't do anything.

The system is actually pseudo-operational now but will not work with the UAL Apollo system.

- Like your flight bag? Tough. You wont need it anymore. The projection is that by late this year or very early '05 every acft will have the "electronic flight bag." What this allows is all your approach plates, FOM, FSM, charts, etc. are stored on cd's that you can use on the jeppview-like computer things. They will be attatched in every acft with a "swing-arm" STC that can move it out of the way if you have the "grande" coffee.



I attended the brand training for checkairmen and it was quite interesting. I couldn't possibly tell you everything and I probably shouldn't so all I can say is "It's going to be a hell of a ride!" I would say that from my discussions with other pilots at other regionals I am surprised at the support we have from them. I am under the impression that we are being watched by our fellow regionals as much as UAL, right now.

Cheers to all.

 

[w4mch]

If you want to aca2003, there are a couple of web casts that might give you some perspective from upper management.

CEO Skeen talks at JP Morgan conference:
http://www.wallstreetwebcasting.com/webcast/jpm2/acai/

CFO Surratt talks at the Raymond JAmes investors conference:
http://www.wallstreetwebcasting.com/webcast/rjii04/acai/

They both talk from a powerpoint presentation that can be found at the ACA web site:
http://www.atlanticcoast.com/NonFlash/for_investors_nf/012804.pdf

And then President Moore addresses employee questions on the employee web, which you will have to log on with your employee ID to get to.

Anyway guy, I for one am truly sorry that you got left without a seat because of the UAL mess, and hope to see you back soon at flyi.

 

[BoilerUP]

BUMP

Found out today I was selected for the ACA Internship program. The day before the interview a representative of ACA gave a presentation about Independence Air, and it was exciting to see where the company is and where it could possibly go.

A big selling point for interning with ACA is the bridge program. I've been reading everything on here about the J-41s going away when the United flying finally dries up and all the possible outcomes for the Dorks. I know about the current furloughs.

I would probably intern in Fall 2004 and graduate school in August 2005. When do you guys and gals flying the line think Independence will have the furloughs recalled and will be hiring off the street again? What is the projected expansion plan?

This won't be the deciding factor in accepting the internship or not, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't important. I think it would be an awesome experience to see the start and expansion of Independence Air, but it seems wise to get all the facts before committing to spending 13 unpaid weeks living in DC. Anybody out there that wouldn't mind a college student in their crashpad?

Former interns and bridge pilots, your input is appreciated. Everybody, thanks for any info or advice you could provide.

 

[ACAFACVG]

I've heard if we don't lose the Dojets the furloughs may be back late next year and we may be hiring again in 2006. If we lose the Dojets before mid 2005 then there may be furloughs and nobody has any idea when we'll be hiring again. Thats based on the current delivery schedule on the Airbus (1.5/mo starting in Sept). Actually who knows? A lot is based on external factors that won't be decided until this fall at best. Initially I heard we were going to have 3 Airbii on the property by December. Now I've heard that has been upped to 10. FlyI's strategy depends on having the CRJs feed the Busses so I think we will get more than 1.5/mo and will have many more than 33 by the end of 2006. Look for Fly I to buy used 319s in addition to the new ones once we figure out how to fly and maintain them. Also a lot of this depends on what happens to US Airways and United. If they both go under, then there will be more demand for us to fill and we will probably try to expand faster. I don't really think you can make a reasonable estimate until the end of this year when we know more about United, US Airways, and the Delta situation.

Hope I answered your question.......I think the best you can say about the whole situation right now is that its clear as mud........

 

[Slye]

I interned with ACA a year ago. They stopped interviewing interns while I was there. You do learn a lot about how an airline is run, since you switch positions about every two weeks. You'll also have some jumpseat privileges. Dulles is an expensive place to live, but there are some pretty cool and inexpensive sights to see around the capital. The internship can't hurt in the sense that unless ACA ceases to exist, you'll eventually get an interview there down the road. I guess you have to weigh your options. If you can afford 3 months in Dulles w/o pay and don't have a good job already lined up for when you graduate, then it might be a good thing to do. It'll also give you more time to try and find a job for when you do graduate. I'm glad I did it, but the state of the company was a little better and more promising at the time. Sorry, I don't know much about what's going on at ACA at the moment. If you do go, try to fly on the side when you can to build time and experience. Flight instructing during the internship though isn't very feasible since you'll be busy and most schools know you'll be gone in a few months.

 

[Billy Madison]

Dude, your time is better spent building time. I was furloughed from ACA, I wasn't an intern, but I know a lot of guys who were. There are a lot of interns in front of you waiting for interviews. Interns from summer of 2002 are about the last ones who were able to actually get a job flying there and now they are all furloughed. Of course the management is going to butter you up on how great an opportunity it is, they're the ones getting your free labor. Build your time, you'll have a lot of options once you do instead of hoping ACA will come through for you.

Billy

 

[subin30]

hmmm, I just interviewed for the ACA Internship. I'm having second thoughts about accepting it now... Also, they did say they won't be hiring for another year or two depending upon how well Indy Air performs...

 

[smellthejeta]

The million $ question. Don't base ANY plans on the presumption that ACA will hire anytime within the next few years. Everything coming out of KS and TM's mouths is subject to change without notice.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

You do learn a lot about how an airline is run, since you switch positions about every two weeks.

You learned about how A airline is run. A certian dulles based airline. It's like working for the mob, then claiming you have real world legitmate business expeirence. (it's no you....it's them )

 

[WhiteCloud]

Don't base ANY plans on the presumption that ACA will hire anytime within the next few years.

With 1500 pilots and one (projected) scenario calling for less than a 1000 I think it's a fair bet that ACA will not be hiring anytime soon. With Airbusses on the scene a furloughee might be temped to come back from whever they are currently working.

 

[exphojump]

If you intern it is simply an interview later on. I believe the days of hiring 600 hour pilots is gone. The Goldilocks(i) LOA stipulates that new hires only start Airbus seniority when they get on the Airbus(left or right seat). Airbus FO will pay better than CRJ CA for newhires. Because of this contractual language the CRJ CA will go very junior when we get over 50 Airbus.

The company will be forced to hire CRJ CA qualified pilots.

So intern and line up a time building job immediately when your internship is finished. The LCCs have orders and options of around 1,000 aircraft over the next 10-12 years. This could be 15,000 pilots but will probably signal the end of 2 or more legacy carriers.

Good luck, we hire a lot of interns.

2006 is a realistic year for hiring, the FRJs are likely to be off property by summer 2005.

JMO

 

[platinumclub]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!ACA Interns!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BoilerUp and Subin, you guys need to run from the ACA internship opportunity as fast as you can! I interned there last year just as Slye did, in fact, it was with Slye. Mgment kept blowin smoke up our A$$ about how we would still be on top of the call list and blah blah blah, nothing never negative was said to us, because WE were the free labor keeping them afloat.

Here are some of the things you may have to look forward to as an INTERN (Bridge Pilot-gimme a break), these were some of the jobs myself and others did: Making soup for the rampers, revising jepp plates and the AFM and FOM, writing passes for employees, and being treated like you were an intern. All for 13 weeks and not getting paid, while living in a very expensive area.

Those are the big downers, of course, I did meet some really cool people that I still keep in touch with. It's a blast partying in DC if you have cool peeps like Slye around. Jumpseating is awesome too. I think, however, with the state of the company, you would be better off interning with a Northwest or Continental...many more opportunities to jumpseat/nonrev and more destinations, not to mention you are appreciated. If I had the opportunity to do it again...NO!