Asa - 22 Crj900

[Going2Baja]

SkyWest is the Borg (sp?) from Star Trek - they assimilate anyone in their path!!! Look out DAL and UAL - SW just might have the purchase power to do it!

If I had stayed #170 of 2200 would be kinda nice right about now - come to think of it naw. Schedules have only gotten worse in the last 6 years.

 

[Erlanger]

ASA won't get any bigger airplanes unless Skywest Holdings can get them to fly them for the same rate as the 700 or even less. They almost got the Skywest pilots to do it for the 50 seat pay. Eventually, the Skywest pilots will agree and while we'll get a pay raise, it will be alot less them the ASA pilots would of done it for. Our pilot group, is weak. The last contract as you all know was voted down. It was the first time in Skywest history that the pilots voted down a contract and that was because it was ridiculously low, like 50 to 80 cent raises for everyone so it wasn't hard to vote no. But if Skywests offers $2 or $3 more, you can bet the pilots will take it. Expect Skywest pilots to fly the 900s for 50 pay out of ATL eventually.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

SkyWest is the Borg (sp?) from Star Trek - they assimilate anyone in their path!!! Look out DAL and UAL - SW just might have the purchase power to do it!

If I had stayed #170 of 2200 would be kinda nice right about now - come to think of it naw. Schedules have only gotten worse in the last 6 years.

If I'm reading your profile correctly you left SkyWest for a 727 job. Are you saying that being furloughed is better than being a senior captain at SKYW? That's an interesting perspective.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Dave,

My bet is on the -700 series.


Bye Bye--General Lee

That would make sense. Hopefully your MEC will be able to negotiate to get anything over 70 seats on the property and get your furloughs back in the cockpit. I just hope the DAL mainline pay rates don't lower the bar for the regional industry.

 

[Bluto]

Ooh! Ouch!

 

[ohplease!]

I, for one, hope we get as many new planes as possible. The bigger, the better for me. Someone is going to get them and it isn't going to be mainline. Might as well be me.

 

[General Lee]

That would make sense. Hopefully your MEC will be able to negotiate to get anything over 70 seats on the property and get your furloughs back in the cockpit. I just hope the DAL mainline pay rates don't lower the bar for the regional industry.

Dave,

That is the CR7. Dalpa just offered the company a new deal with 200 TOTAL 70 seaters involved. No 79 seaters etc. And, as far as the rates go, the new benchmark for 100 seaters was set by Jetblue. The new rates proposed by Delta are almost exactly the Jetblue rates, without the 1 1/2 pay over 70 hours that Jetblue has. We are working on that. Thank you for supporting the idea to get our guys back in the cockpit. Many on this board do not care about that.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I, for one, hope we get as many new planes as possible. The bigger, the better for me. Someone is going to get them and it isn't going to be mainline. Might as well be me.

Are you sure we won't get them? Really? We'll see there chief. You may get some more CR7s, but I don't think anything bigger than that. Time will tell, but Dalpa just offered some CR7s, nothing bigger, and the judge noticed that Delta's 79 seat proposal "outsourced" Delta pilots. She figured it out, and she may be the one who decides this whole thing.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[michael707767]

Who knows how serious ALPA is about 70 seat scope. They said they would trade it for pension gurantees, .

For the record DALPA never said they would trade scope for the pensions. They said if Delta would ensure the pensions, they would negotiate a deal right now. The position of the MEC is currently that scope stays at 70 seats.

By the way, DALPA knows the pension is history, they just want to get Delta to admit it so we get credit for that savings before we negotiate any deal.

 

[~~~^~~~]

General:

The Judge has made it obvious she wants ALPA and Delta to work something out so she will not have to rule on this complex issue. From the bizzare comments she has made to suggestions that she is favoring one side or another, it is all created to generate uncertainty in both parties and force them to a negotiated resolution.

I do not expect ALPA to cross the arbitrary 70 seat line in the sand. So again, I think ALPA is going to force Delta into ordering an airplane that is not best for the Company as a whole. Delta is not going to start an RJ program at mainline for a small fleet of aircraft.

Of course, the other issue is whether or not SkyWest wants to fly a 70 seater when better airplanes are available that they might use in a post Delta World. SkyWest might still get the 90 seaters and put 70 seats in them. I think the operational costs are very close, within 5% (same wing and engines, slightly more weight, less range)

Michael, I hope the pensions, or some part of them, will remain in effect.

 

[ohplease!]

Are you sure we won't get them? Really? We'll see there chief. You may get some more CR7s, but I don't think anything bigger than that. Time will tell, but Dalpa just offered some CR7s, nothing bigger, and the judge noticed that Delta's 79 seat proposal "outsourced" Delta pilots. She figured it out, and she may be the one who decides this whole thing.


Bye Bye--General Lee

Am I sure? Hell no I'm not sure. I'm not sure I'll have a job to go to next week. I'm not sure what the industry is going to look like tomorrow, next week, next year or 20 years from now when I retire. Its just an opinion. I don't think mainline wants to fly our "light twins" that you guys seem to think are so far beneath you. I don't think your "heavy" ego's will allow you to stoop to our level. Its too bad you guy's blew us off before when we tried to get some kind of flow through and put all this under one house.

I don't wish anything bad on ANYONE but, you guys are trying to limit my future and the truth is you don't give a dang what happens to me as long as you get what you want. You think I'm going to fall on a sword for you? Not going to happen. Not when I know (because you've proven to me more than once) you would NEVER do it for me.

I don't get to make any of the decisions about what direction this company goes or what we fly. You can rest assured though that I'll welcome any new planes that come to us and the bigger the better.

Will you get everything over 70 or 100 seats? Maybe. I doubt it though. I still believe you guys are going to do International, long haul domestic and very high volume domestic with really big birds. We'll do the rest.

Just my opinion.

 

[General Lee]

General:

The Judge has made it obvious she wants ALPA and Delta to work something out so she will not have to rule on this complex issue. From the bizzare comments she has made to suggestions that she is favoring one side or another, it is all created to generate uncertainty in both parties and force them to a negotiated resolution.

I do not expect ALPA to cross the arbitrary 70 seat line in the sand. So again, I think ALPA is going to force Delta into ordering an airplane that is not best for the Company as a whole. Delta is not going to start an RJ program at mainline for a small fleet of aircraft.

Of course, the other issue is whether or not SkyWest wants to fly a 70 seater when better airplanes are available that they might use in a post Delta World. SkyWest might still get the 90 seaters and put 70 seats in them. I think the operational costs are very close, within 5% (same wing and engines, slightly more weight, less range)

Michael, I hope the pensions, or some part of them, will remain in effect.

Fins,

First of all, I saw on the news tonight that Verizon Wireless, a healthy company, is dropping their defined benefit plan in favor of a Difined Contribution plan. The days of "knowing your pensions checks will come every month" may soon be over for everyone. We have $10.6 Billion in obligations, and it doesn't sound like the company wants to pay for any of it.


As far as the 70 or 79 seat deal, I think there are some planes out there that could help us out in that arena. Are you familiar with the Air Canada situation? They went through bankruptcy and then came out ordering 15 777s and 18 787s, and also got Emb175s and Emb 190s, and all flown by mainline. The Brazilian manufacturer is supposedly looking for buyers, and the EMB product is a lot better than the Canadair version. The EMB is also cheaper than the 737-600 or -700, and probably just as comfortable. I believe our furloughs and junior folks would LOVE to fly them(I'll fly it left seat for sure), and as far as the rates go, we would try to get a fair rate (like AWA/USAir did--a bit better than the Jetblue rates), and would work on better rates for the next round. We'll see how it goes.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Am I sure? Hell no I'm not sure. I'm not sure I'll have a job to go to next week. I'm not sure what the industry is going to look like tomorrow, next week, next year or 20 years from now when I retire. Its just an opinion. I don't think mainline wants to fly our "light twins" that you guys seem to think are so far beneath you. I don't think your "heavy" ego's will allow you to stoop to our level. Its too bad you guy's blew us off before when we tried to get some kind of flow through and put all this under one house.

I don't wish anything bad on ANYONE but, you guys are trying to limit my future and the truth is you don't give a dang what happens to me as long as you get what you want. You think I'm going to fall on a sword for you? Not going to happen. Not when I know (because you've proven to me more than once) you would NEVER do it for me.

I don't get to make any of the decisions about what direction this company goes or what we fly. You can rest assured though that I'll welcome any new planes that come to us and the bigger the better.

Will you get everything over 70 or 100 seats? Maybe. I doubt it though. I still believe you guys are going to do International, long haul domestic and very high volume domestic with really big birds. We'll do the rest.

Just my opinion.

You're right, there is a lot of confusion out there for both of us. But, we will NOT accept your strategy of flying only long haul or high volume stuff, along with INTL. It would BEHOOVE you to want us to fly more, since it could allow you an avenue out of DCI. More jobs with better benefits and pay is GOOD for the industry. It is guys like you with your shortsightedness that plauge this industry. It is time for you to FOCUS. Come on, try it, FOCUS. I don't want you to fall on a sword for me, but you better hope we don't fall on a sword ourselves---because you will come along with us. Sounds like you have SJS. Bigger is better-----that is something you should say to your wife, not your company when your pay is the same. And, who says the CR9 or E175 is "beneath us?" We never said that. The E190 and even the E175 is as big as a 737-200, and that is the airplane type that would be replaced. We won't lose that shorthaul domestic flying if we don't have to, and the judge seems to agree about the "outsourcing of Delta pilots." We will see.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[ohplease!]

You're right, there is a lot of confusion out there for both of us. But, we will NOT accept your strategy of flying only long haul or high volume stuff, along with INTL. It would BEHOOVE you to want us to fly more, since it could allow you an avenue out of DCI. More jobs with better benefits and pay is GOOD for the industry. It is guys like you with your shortsightedness that plauge this industry. It is time for you to FOCUS. Come on, try it, FOCUS. I don't want you to fall on a sword for me, but you better hope we don't fall on a sword ourselves---because you will come along with us. Sounds like you have SJS. Bigger is better-----that is something you should say to your wife, not your company when your pay is the same. And, who says the CR9 or E175 is "beneath us?" We never said that. The E190 and even the E175 is as big as a 737-200, and that is the airplane type that would be replaced. We won't lose that shorthaul domestic flying if we don't have to, and the judge seems to agree about the "outsourcing of Delta pilots." We will see.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

SJS? cute phrase. Yeah thats me.
Bigger is better for me because the guys above me will think they are so much cooler because they fly the newest or the biggest thing we have. That'll make my QOL continue to go up. I'll stay right here on my 50 as long as QOL stays good. Hell, I'd gladly go back to ATR if their lines were better. I really don't care what I'm flying.

More jobs and better pay/benefits are always better. I agree. My avenue out of DCI isn't there. Not going to happen for me. No 4 yr. degree and I'd rather spend time with my children while they're growing up than go back to school and chase mainline. By the time they're gone, I'll be 50+. Even after crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's, the odds of getting the job are just too slim for me to bet that much on. If Airtran calls, I'll gladly go there but, thats about it for me.

You may not have said it but, your actions SCREAM it.

 

[Going2Baja]

If I'm reading your profile correctly you left SkyWest for a 727 job. Are you saying that being furloughed is better than being a senior captain at SKYW? That's an interesting perspective.

For the most part you are correct. One thing I have learned is that things happen for a reason. Staying at SW would have been a very complacent for me. Bouncing from f/a to another. Same routes and $55k a year if I had stayed. Now even with the growth of SW I still wouldn't have left Diego. So it would have been the same old thing - four on three off, no pension, and no upward movement. The top 10 senior guys still have over 10 years with the CO and are going NOWHERE fast. Don't get me wrong - it was the most fun job I have ever had - great people, owners.

Once furloughed I was able to really live and do things that I would have never been able to do or would not have done: 4month trip to Baja Mex, get married with three month honeymoon in Asia, have a daughter and stay home to help raise her and watch her grow. And devote all the time I want to for the family business. Enough of that - SKyWest is a great Co but not a career for me.

 

[General Lee]

SJS? cute phrase. Yeah thats me.
Bigger is better for me because the guys above me will think they are so much cooler because they fly the newest or the biggest thing we have. That'll make my QOL continue to go up. I'll stay right here on my 50 as long as QOL stays good. Hell, I'd gladly go back to ATR if their lines were better. I really don't care what I'm flying.

More jobs and better pay/benefits are always better. I agree. My avenue out of DCI isn't there. Not going to happen for me. No 4 yr. degree and I'd rather spend time with my children while they're growing up than go back to school and chase mainline. By the time they're gone, I'll be 50+. Even after crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's, the odds of getting the job are just too slim for me to bet that much on. If Airtran calls, I'll gladly go there but, thats about it for me.

You may not have said it but, your actions SCREAM it.

Well, you have set your future in stone. It is great that you want to spend time with your kids, and don't plan to go online to get a degree. That is your decision. But, your narrow minded view is ruining it for everyone else, and you could easily turn that attitude into an RJDC commercial. Most guys who think they are "stuck" get desperate, and start thinking irrationally. That's fine, enjoy your life.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[79%N1]

GL....

Once again your posts smack of arrogance and elitism, which is why so many on this board detest you! Why does one have to fly at the Majors to be rational, and thinking clearly. Why does the Majors have to be the pinnacle that we all seek to obtain? Yes, I understand that pay and work rules and retirement and other benefits were superior there, but much of that is eroding.....and that IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE RJ OR ITS PILOTS! Many fly a King Air or Beech Jet as their career pinnacle, and are quite happy! Why would they choose this and not aspire to reach the lofty heights of 'Major Airline' pilot??? Some are Challenger or Gulstream pilots for charter or part 91 for a corporation. Some fly Citations, or Lears or Hawkers for a fractional, and this is what they want for their career! And yes, some are happy to call a "Regional" the final stop of their airplane driving career!!!! Why, the reasons are many, and I wont attempt to list them here. Not all of them have DUI's, lack the college degree (Online or otherwise), or have an accident or incident on their record. Quite contrarily. I fly with many of these pilots on a daily basis. They are good pilots, most worthy to fly your big iron. But they dont, or dont care to. This does not make them lazy, or lacking ambition as you seem to tend to believe. They are happy with where they are at, and there IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! You seem to think that every pilot wants to, or should want to be a pilot at Delta, American, etc....Well, not all do! But to you, anyone who does not is lazy and wants their company to grow (with bigger planes or not) because they lack the ability or drive to get to "the big leagues"! Enough with that already!!!!
There is nothing wrong with wanting your company to get more and larger airplanes to enhance their QOL at that company! Much like the guy flying a Citation I may hope his company buys a Citation X or a G-V. Whats wrong with that? Oh, but they must all be RJDC supporters too, because they are lazy! Well, the pay, rules and bennies at the Majors has really taken a hit, and a life at a "Regional" or LCC looks even better in this post 911 era. Many still want those careers at the Majors, and many dont. But quit looking down at those who do not!

 

[ohplease!]

GL....

Once again your posts smack of arrogance and elitism, which is why so many on this board detest you! Why does one have to fly at the Majors to be rational, and thinking clearly. Why does the Majors have to be the pinnacle that we all seek to obtain? Yes, I understand that pay and work rules and retirement and other benefits were superior there, but much of that is eroding.....and that IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE RJ OR ITS PILOTS! Many fly a King Air or Beech Jet as their career pinnacle, and are quite happy! Why would they choose this and not aspire to reach the lofty heights of 'Major Airline' pilot??? Some are Challenger or Gulstream pilots for charter or part 91 for a corporation. Some fly Citations, or Lears or Hawkers for a fractional, and this is what they want for their career! And yes, some are happy to call a "Regional" the final stop of their airplane driving career!!!! Why, the reasons are many, and I wont attempt to list them here. Not all of them have DUI's, lack the college degree (Online or otherwise), or have an accident or incident on their record. Quite contrarily. I fly with many of these pilots on a daily basis. They are good pilots, most worthy to fly your big iron. But they dont, or dont care to. This does not make them lazy, or lacking ambition as you seem to tend to believe. They are happy with where they are at, and there IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! You seem to think that every pilot wants to, or should want to be a pilot at Delta, American, etc....Well, not all do! But to you, anyone who does not is lazy and wants their company to grow (with bigger planes or not) because they lack the ability or drive to get to "the big leagues"! Enough with that already!!!!
There is nothing wrong with wanting your company to get more and larger airplanes to enhance their QOL at that company! Much like the guy flying a Citation I may hope his company buys a Citation X or a G-V. Whats wrong with that? Oh, but they must all be RJDC supporters too, because they are lazy! Well, the pay, rules and bennies at the Majors has really taken a hit, and a life at a "Regional" or LCC looks even better in this post 911 era. Many still want those careers at the Majors, and many dont. But quit looking down at those who do not!

very well said.

 

[800Dog]

SJS? cute phrase. Yeah thats me.
Bigger is better for me because the guys above me will think they are so much cooler because they fly the newest or the biggest thing we have. That'll make my QOL continue to go up. I'll stay right here on my 50 as long as QOL stays good. Hell, I'd gladly go back to ATR if their lines were better. I really don't care what I'm flying.

More jobs and better pay/benefits are always better. I agree. My avenue out of DCI isn't there. Not going to happen for me. No 4 yr. degree and I'd rather spend time with my children while they're growing up than go back to school and chase mainline. By the time they're gone, I'll be 50+. Even after crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's, the odds of getting the job are just too slim for me to bet that much on. If Airtran calls, I'll gladly go there but, thats about it for me.

You may not have said it but, your actions SCREAM it.

Please do this Auburn grad a favor and change your avatar. Embarrassing.

 

[ohplease!]

Please do this Auburn grad a favor and change your avatar. Embarrassing.

not gonna happen.

 

[No.W.]

So maybe I want to spend the rest of my days at a regional, I still agree with the General. Short term, yeah it might suck to have no movement at SkyWest, but long term, guys above me will move on and I will move up. Eventually, I might even be number one in the company. That's not going to happen right now, not even with the current rates of retirement. You see, that is the General's point, and really it's everyone else's as well. The fact is movement IS good, and, in the long run, it doesn't really matter where the movement happens. The end result is everyone in the workforce "moves up". The thing about mainline is, once all the furloughs are back in a seat, their hiring will pick up and cause some serious movement in SENIOR regional ranks. Either way, regionals get new jets or mainline gets new jets, I am going to eventually move up at my current carrier. I've been furloughed, it freaking sucks, and seeing some guys get a seat back is a GOOD thing...for the WHOLE industry. Especially since either way the regionals are going to see movement(from expansion on property or hiring due to expansion at mainline). Not that anyone cares....

N

 

[General Lee]

GL....

Once again your posts smack of arrogance and elitism, which is why so many on this board detest you! Why does one have to fly at the Majors to be rational, and thinking clearly. Why does the Majors have to be the pinnacle that we all seek to obtain? Yes, I understand that pay and work rules and retirement and other benefits were superior there, but much of that is eroding.....and that IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE RJ OR ITS PILOTS! Many fly a King Air or Beech Jet as their career pinnacle, and are quite happy! Why would they choose this and not aspire to reach the lofty heights of 'Major Airline' pilot??? Some are Challenger or Gulstream pilots for charter or part 91 for a corporation. Some fly Citations, or Lears or Hawkers for a fractional, and this is what they want for their career! And yes, some are happy to call a "Regional" the final stop of their airplane driving career!!!! Why, the reasons are many, and I wont attempt to list them here. Not all of them have DUI's, lack the college degree (Online or otherwise), or have an accident or incident on their record. Quite contrarily. I fly with many of these pilots on a daily basis. They are good pilots, most worthy to fly your big iron. But they dont, or dont care to. This does not make them lazy, or lacking ambition as you seem to tend to believe. They are happy with where they are at, and there IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT! You seem to think that every pilot wants to, or should want to be a pilot at Delta, American, etc....Well, not all do! But to you, anyone who does not is lazy and wants their company to grow (with bigger planes or not) because they lack the ability or drive to get to "the big leagues"! Enough with that already!!!!
There is nothing wrong with wanting your company to get more and larger airplanes to enhance their QOL at that company! Much like the guy flying a Citation I may hope his company buys a Citation X or a G-V. Whats wrong with that? Oh, but they must all be RJDC supporters too, because they are lazy! Well, the pay, rules and bennies at the Majors has really taken a hit, and a life at a "Regional" or LCC looks even better in this post 911 era. Many still want those careers at the Majors, and many dont. But quit looking down at those who do not!

I love you too 79%N1. I never blamed the RJ pilots for this mess, since I know they don't make the decisions (except the lack of apparent support for our furloughs after 9-11 on the Comair side) on who flies what. But, newhires with SJS and old timers who don't want to leave but want to reap the benefits while mainliners get furloughed are both shortsighted. I can understand people who didn't get their degrees and have kids wanting to stay around for the schedule, but then they should understand the pay and benefits NORMALLY associated with regional flying. That is the way it goes. To bring down larger planes for less pay is WRONG. Yes, things are eroding at the Majors currently, but that may not be forever, unless pilots are willing to fly larger for less at the regionals. You know I am right, again.

As far as the corporate pilot flying the Citation, good for him. He has no dog in this fight. I have plenty of friends at Netjets and Options, and they seem to enjoy it. I also know people who fly corporate for corporations and like the benefits over there. Good for them. I am not including them or their lifestyles in the debate, since they aren't grabbing for our planes that could replace our 737-200 flying.

Again, I don't hate any group of pilots, at the regional or Major level. I just think there are some people who aren't looking at the big picture. I can see why someone on an individual basis might want to better their own life, but taking away opportunities for others that have worked hard and want to move on is greedy. Not everyone at the regionals is like that, of course.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[DrProc]

In the aviation world, movement is good. People in CRJ-700s will go to the 900, people in the 200 will go to the 700, and that means that I will go up in seniority on the 200. It is rediculous to think that the "majors" are going to survive in their current state, so the people trying to hold the status quo had better think twice. Changes are going to happen.

Regionals are now career choices, so if I'm making a career here, I want a large number of aircraft of any type at ASA.

Guess what, if the majors don't survive, ASA won't survive. Don't beleive me, ask the guys at ACA or Chicago Express. I was once a regional pilot and would have loved 900's to come onto property, but now that I have moved on, I have realized the errors to my thinking.

 

[ohplease!]

I love you too 79%N1. I never blamed the RJ pilots for this mess, since I know they don't make the decisions (except the lack of apparent support for our furloughs after 9-11 on the Comair side) on who flies what. But, newhires with SJS and old timers who don't want to leave but want to reap the benefits while mainliners get furloughed are both shortsighted. I can understand people who didn't get their degrees and have kids wanting to stay around for the schedule, but then they should understand the pay and benefits NORMALLY associated with regional flying. That is the way it goes. To bring down larger planes for less pay is WRONG. Yes, things are eroding at the Majors currently, but that may not be forever, unless pilots are willing to fly larger for less at the regionals. You know I am right, again.

As far as the corporate pilot flying the Citation, good for him. He has no dog in this fight. I have plenty of friends at Netjets and Options, and they seem to enjoy it. I also know people who fly corporate for corporations and like the benefits over there. Good for them. I am not including them or their lifestyles in the debate, since they aren't grabbing for our planes that could replace our 737-200 flying.

Again, I don't hate any group of pilots, at the regional or Major level. I just think there are some people who aren't looking at the big picture. I can see why someone on an individual basis might want to better their own life, but taking away opportunities for others that have worked hard and want to move on is greedy. Not everyone at the regionals is like that, of course.


Bye Bye---General Lee

there you go again pulling out that sword for me to fall on....

 

[~~~^~~~]

I never blamed the RJ pilots for this mess, since I know they don't make the decisions (except the lack of apparent support for our furloughs after 9-11 on the Comair side) on who flies what.

they should understand the pay and benefits NORMALLY associated with regional flying.

As far as the corporate pilot flying the Citation, good for him. I am not including them or their lifestyles in the debate, since they aren't grabbing for our planes that could replace our 737-200 flying.

Again, I don't hate any group of pilots, at the regional or Major level. I just think there are some people who aren't looking at the big picture.

Bye Bye---General Lee

General: Like you said, Regional Pilots do not make the decisions.

The BIG PICTURE is that our union has to go about the business of stopping alter ego. Jet Blue is not your competition for 89 seat, or 100 seat rates, DCI is. Can you not see that alter ego is the enemy? Pilots should not be fighting pilots over flying. This is ALPA's failure.

The RJDC is the only voice in the wilderness arguing that pilots should be empowered with all the tools in ALPA's representational arsenal.

As for me, I have the qualifications to move on to another carrier and may very well do so. However, my position on the RJDC's effort and the representational rights of all pilots in ALPA would not change because I know that this profession was built on pilots jacking up the house, one corner at a time. Without a strong National Union coordinating the lift, each MEC engages in predatory bargaining, undercutting the lifting that other pilots have done.

If ALPA continues to favor one group of pilots over other pilots, why would any of us want to be in ALPA? The only thing we get for the expense of maintaining a national bureaucracy is the benefit of making a coordinated effort. Obviously that has not happened in a long time and is less likely to happen given the political belief that ASA pilots are somehow less deserving of ALPA's full representation because as you characterize us, we are lazy, incompetent and uneducated.

General, your MEC unleased a horde of barbarians.

 

[enuffalready]

big picture??

OK GL, FDJ, 737 pilot, etc....and any other mainline guy/girl . I have been reading these boards off and on for a couple years. Been flying at ASA for over 5 years and here's a perspective that you might want to think about.

You talked about big picture... here's your big picture. I am an RJ pilot that flys for free ( I know $50 per year)to my favorite destinations on Delta. I am an FO because I choose to be. I make more money than your most senior 777 capt with another career and I have absolutely zero desire to fly for American, FEDEX, UPS, united and even, yes mother Delta. I don't care what planes you fly, I don't care about your problems and yes, I will fly a 90 seat jet for cheaper than you. I think it would be fun to fly it and couldnt give a rats a$$ how much that affects your big picture. I don't care about your upgrade, I don't care about your QOL and I certainly couldn't care much less about your big picture. I know, I know, I am ruining YOUR industry. What I care about is my friends I fly with at ASA. I have jumpseated plenty of times and have been on more than one delta flight with misfits less suitable to fly than the stews. I like my RJ job, have the money, and don't need your preferential hiring ( umm, yeahh right). I don't have a DUI, speeding tix, or a felony and have a masters degree in something other than aviation. Yes, I do realize that there is someone out there that is willing to do my job cheaper, and I am ok with that. It's called the free market. When that day comes, and I am requested to fly for less than what I think this job is worth then I will happily walk away and know I had a good run. Until then, I will continue to ruin YOUR industry and not lose a winks sleep over my inability to see YOUR Big Picture.

 

[737 Pylt]

The RJDC is the only voice in the wilderness arguing that pilots should be empowered with all the tools in ALPA's representational arsenal.

Fins:
That has to be the funniest thing you have ever typed.....And I thought you didn't have a sense of humor!!! With that type of spin, I guess you could sell a refrigerator to an eskimo! Keep those checks going to Haber, he's about to go out and buy a new benz!
737

 

[US Flyer]

I went back.............

I went back to school and finished the degree while here as an F.O. It was some late nights spent on the computer after the kids went to sleep, but will be worth it if it gets me out of here someday.

I'm not willing to fly an RJ900, RJ1200, RJ9999 or whatever else they come up with that has 200 plus seats for 50 seat wages. Why should I? Part of the problem with SOME of the pilots at ASA is that they think they can't do any better and have settled. Management wastes money on EVERYTHING on a daily basis, including their own salaries (especially). Management also knows that probably half the pilots at ASA are too afraid "in this current environment" to stand up and strike.

Our company makes money in spite of itself- just think what it could do if it really had its act together. It reminds me of the local Home Depot. If you go shop there, no-one knows what the hell is going on, they can't ever keep things in stock, priced correctly, etc. Its a huge pain in the rear to shop there, and always some kind of hassle or problem, but their corporation is one of the most profitable ones in the nation because everyone loves their prices.

The problem is that things here will never change (unless you start over completely with entirely new mgmt. from the bottom up.) I'll be in my grave before they ever get their act together in ATL. I'm not patient or willing to settle.

Let ASA stay with 70 or less seats and go on strike if needed to get higher wages. Skywest can afford us and should have never bought us if they weren't willing to get the contract resolved. Delta can keep the larger airplanes and RAISE TICKET PRICES (what a novel concept!) to afford their pilots and cost structure. They should also hit up all the "key" executives they paid millions to let leave in 2002 for some kind of refund.

 

[General Lee]

General: Like you said, Regional Pilots do not make the decisions.

The BIG PICTURE is that our union has to go about the business of stopping alter ego. Jet Blue is not your competition for 89 seat, or 100 seat rates, DCI is. Can you not see that alter ego is the enemy? Pilots should not be fighting pilots over flying. This is ALPA's failure.

The RJDC is the only voice in the wilderness arguing that pilots should be empowered with all the tools in ALPA's representational arsenal.

As for me, I have the qualifications to move on to another carrier and may very well do so. However, my position on the RJDC's effort and the representational rights of all pilots in ALPA would not change because I know that this profession was built on pilots jacking up the house, one corner at a time. Without a strong National Union coordinating the lift, each MEC engages in predatory bargaining, undercutting the lifting that other pilots have done.

If ALPA continues to favor one group of pilots over other pilots, why would any of us want to be in ALPA? The only thing we get for the expense of maintaining a national bureaucracy is the benefit of making a coordinated effort. Obviously that has not happened in a long time and is less likely to happen given the political belief that ASA pilots are somehow less deserving of ALPA's full representation because as you characterize us, we are lazy, incompetent and uneducated.

General, your MEC unleased a horde of barbarians.

Fins,

Again, if you don't like it, get other representation. We are negotiating for us. ALPA negotiates for us with Delta, and ALPA negotiates for you with ASA. Delta is incharge of the flying, and we are negotiating directly with them. The RJDC may not be uneducated, but they are surely lazy. Go to Continental if you want larger planes---they are hiring. What? You can't handle being on reserve, being an FO, and the $30 an hour for 1st year pilots? Tough. That is what happens when you go to another airline. The RJDC wants the best of both worlds, which isn't reality.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

OK GL, FDJ, 737 pilot, etc....and any other mainline guy/girl . I have been reading these boards off and on for a couple years. Been flying at ASA for over 5 years and here's a perspective that you might want to think about.

You talked about big picture... here's your big picture. I am an RJ pilot that flys for free ( I know $50 per year)to my favorite destinations on Delta. I am an FO because I choose to be. I make more money than your most senior 777 capt with another career and I have absolutely zero desire to fly for American, FEDEX, UPS, united and even, yes mother Delta. I don't care what planes you fly, I don't care about your problems and yes, I will fly a 90 seat jet for cheaper than you. I think it would be fun to fly it and couldnt give a rats a$$ how much that affects your big picture. I don't care about your upgrade, I don't care about your QOL and I certainly couldn't care much less about your big picture. I know, I know, I am ruining YOUR industry. What I care about is my friends I fly with at ASA. I have jumpseated plenty of times and have been on more than one delta flight with misfits less suitable to fly than the stews. I like my RJ job, have the money, and don't need your preferential hiring ( umm, yeahh right). I don't have a DUI, speeding tix, or a felony and have a masters degree in something other than aviation. Yes, I do realize that there is someone out there that is willing to do my job cheaper, and I am ok with that. It's called the free market. When that day comes, and I am requested to fly for less than what I think this job is worth then I will happily walk away and know I had a good run. Until then, I will continue to ruin YOUR industry and not lose a winks sleep over my inability to see YOUR Big Picture.

Wow, you're awesome. You go girl. You should go buy a Cessna Cardinal with all of that money and go fly it to Albany, GA for lunch sometime..... Did you inherit that money? I bet you did, because you sound pretty dumb. Spoiled brat.


Bye Bye--General Lee