ASA F/A Sickout?

[USCtrojan]

What is going on at ASA? This is unreal. Why hasn't SKYW stepped in and made fundamental changes?

I think JA did NOT realize the depth of pathology at ASA, and is totally at a loss for what to do. The only other thing I can think of is he WANTS ASA to collapse, why? I don't know.

ASA has always had very poor management and employee relations, but this is over the top.

Palerider,

Good observation. I believe this is planned chaos. They haven't fixed anything and they knew the attrition rate would be high and getting higher. This has been going on for the last year. Nothing has changed except Brian L.'s memos about how excited he is and we're getting a new tug or an air cart and that will fix everything. Since nothing has changed and we keep getting bad news, then it must be on purpose. Shake the tree, get as many people out as possible, then combine the people. That's my theory, however ridiculous it may sound.

Trojan

 

[CF34-3B1]

Guess that is what they call a mindset.

Wow, someone was paying attention in CRM class!

Chris A thanks you

 

[eagle06]

With all these crew shortages can anyone tell me why ASA decides to have 16 RES FOs on the ATR to cover 31 lines and 12 airplanes?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Because we need to make sure that the flight go to all of the nascar cities.

 

[Well-hung Start]

Because we need to make sure that the flight go to all of the nascar cities.

I heard that SOP for a cancelled ATR flight going to a race is to call in the National Guard.

 

[GeekMaster]

As for "what's wrong with ASA", the City of Atlanta independently hired a consultant to answer that very question. They did so because of the heartaches we constantly cause for the Atlanta business community. The consultant was completely independent of ASA or Delta. His results were published in the Atlanta Journal and quite hilarious at that.

The consultant said that in order for Skywest to fix ASA, they would have to start by (direct quote) "HOSING OUT THE HEADQUARTERS". (G.O.)

So when all you observers out there think ASA pilots are biased against management here, it's not just us; it's the aviation business world as well.

 

[pipi]

That was not the city of Atlanta. It was the city of Montgomery, Alabama, who hired a consultant. It was published on the AJC, though.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Let the GO hosing begin, but hold your fire...Let 'em burn!

 

[ArcticFlier]

What is going on at ASA? This is unreal. Why hasn't SKYW stepped in and made fundamental changes?

I think JA did NOT realize the depth of pathology at ASA, and is totally at a loss for what to do. The only other thing I can think of is he WANTS ASA to collapse, why? I don't know.

ASA has always had very poor management and employee relations, but this is over the top.

Because ASA is making money. The day it stops doing so is the day Jerry et al will attempt to fix things.

In otherwords, if it's making money it ain't broke. Don't fix what don't need fixin'. You are dealing with bean counters, you know.

That's my take,

 

[COOPERVANE]

From another thread. Sums it up perfecly

It's like we're flying through the mountains and management has just let go of the control wheel. Nobody is flying the plane. Nobody is in charge

 

[B727FA]

Heard from a CP that we canceled almost 40 flights yesterday due to lack of crews.

Including the 1100 to ATL-MDW every day...there's a reason DL calls ASA "Another Scheduled Attempt."

The sad thing is, in May it's going to get uglier as the ASA ramp goes away and the DL ramp comes in...hang in there gang.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Including the 1100 to ATL-MDW every day...there's a reason DL calls ASA "Another Scheduled Attempt."

The sad thing is, in May it's going to get uglier as the ASA ramp goes away and the DL ramp comes in...hang in there gang.

Do you work for ASA?

 

[HoserASA]

Getting back to the original subject, a AFA official told me a couple of hundred called in this past Sunday, but BD was heard to say it was 56 F/As. Regardless, it resulted in CNX flights. So, we have pilots leaving. mechanics leaving, and F/As calling in and leaving. Hello management?

Hoser

 

[Texx]

Because ASA is making money. The day it stops doing so is the day Jerry et al will attempt to fix things.

In otherwords, if it's making money it ain't broke. Don't fix what don't need fixin'. You are dealing with bean counters, you know.

That's my take,

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

 

[samballs]

The pilots at ASA are too big a PU$$Y to do anything remotely good for the group as a whole. I think they are almost as bad as Delta pilots....only looking out for number one......would kick their grand ma in the stomach to get a few extra bucks type thing.
I haven't met an ASA pilot with the ball;s to stand up against the man in 2 years. Hell it's even starting to rub off on me.............

What about the guy that got drunk in Michigan!

 

[Texx]

The pilots at ASA are too big a PU$$Y to do anything remotely good for the group as a whole. I think they are almost as bad as Delta pilots....only looking out for number one......would kick their grand ma in the stomach to get a few extra bucks type thing.
I haven't met an ASA pilot with the ball;s to stand up against the man in 2 years. Hell it's even starting to rub off on me.............

I'll be more than happy to meet you and show you mine. I doubt that you would take me up on it though.

 

[Sinca3]

Texx.....As for your balls, I definately don't want to see them. If you are one of the tiny few that doesn't put up with the ASA bull$hit then kudos. Even the people I call my friends are out there picking up open time, using their cell phones from the plane, taking a/c that should be refused for lack of...whatever, and the list could go on and on.
I feel that I am the only one standing up to ASA and in return my co-workers aren't doing anything to help me.......or better yet help US!

 

[Texx]

Texx.....As for your balls, I definately don't want to see them. If you are one of the tiny few that doesn't put up with the ASA bull$hit then kudos. Even the people I call my friends are out there picking up open time, using their cell phones from the plane, taking a/c that should be refused for lack of...whatever, and the list could go on and on.
I feel that I am the only one standing up to ASA and in return my co-workers aren't doing anything to help me.......or better yet help US!

This is the difference between the last contract and this one. The last one everyone pulled in the same direction. This one is more about the 200 hour SJS pilots putting themselves before the profession. It's all about them.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Texx - Last time there were three DCI carriers and ASA was the only Connection carrier in Delta's two largest hubs (for domestic flying). We are not in the position to raise nearly the hell we did then.

ALPA completely dropped the ball on scope and now we have to get it back. It is unrealistic to believe that we could not be replaced rather quickly by seven other DCI carriers, most of whom are not even represented by ALPA.

Besides with our numbers where they are at, how could anyone tell the difference between the ramp meltdown that is about to come and a pilot work slowdown?

 

[VeeOne]

This is the difference between the last contract and this one. The last one everyone pulled in the same direction. This one is more about the 200 hour SJS pilots putting themselves before the profession. It's all about them.

What???!!!??? You've got to be kidding me- right? Most of the "SJS"ers aren't even off probation yet- let alone in a possition to have any say in our unions affairs. Somehow this always gets spun and dumped on the guys that are just getting started here. Last I heard the "SJS 200 hour superpilot" just kept you from getting extended.....again.

Management wouldn't alter their plans even if we weren't getting the SJS'ers to show up for class. All that would happen is a further abundance of extensions and empty promisses by management. Unfortunately, our management just doesn't have a clue.

 

[Hobit]

Wow, someone was paying attention in CRM class!

Chris A thanks you

the CRM classes were pretty good I thought.

Two 121 programs, Military flight school, part 135 training program, 141 training - erau with safety minor- (YES, Im hanging my head....what a colosal waste!- SH@T!)


BUT... the two guys that taught CRM at ASA were the best at real world, good info that you can use in every day cockpit operations. They are good are what they do.

 

[Texx]

What???!!!??? You've got to be kidding me- right? Most of the "SJS"ers aren't even off probation yet- let alone in a possition to have any say in our unions affairs. Somehow this always gets spun and dumped on the guys that are just getting started here. Last I heard the "SJS 200 hour superpilot" just kept you from getting extended.....again.
quote]

Well lets see. We began hiring when, about 3 months ago. So most of them are now coming off probation.

Also, since when did a 200 hour pilot save me from getting extended? I didn't know that we had 200 hour Cpts.

 

[Texx]

Texx - Last time there were three DCI carriers and ASA was the only Connection carrier in Delta's two largest hubs (for domestic flying). We are not in the position to raise nearly the hell we did then.

You are correct about the DCI airlines. The point is your gonna loose right out of the gate if your group is not pulling all together from day one. The only thing we as an industry have is that there are not enough pilots in the pipeline to feed this system. There would need to be an effort from all the airline pilots in the industry.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Texx - we have to get SkyWest & GoJets. The majors have not been able to put together a unified front at their "career" airlines. I doubt we will be able to form that good a coalition at the "stepping stone" carriers.

I lost a lot of confidence right after Comair underbid us for growth while ALPA paid to print up the "we support you" stickers.

 

[VeeOne]

Well lets see. We began hiring when, about 3 months ago. So most of them are now coming off probation.

Also, since when did a 200 hour pilot save me from getting extended? I didn't know that we had 200 hour Cpts.

Probation lasts a year for new hires and are apprentice members of ALPA until a full year has past since date of hire. Three months of training leaves them on the line for nine more months as apprentices. Perhaps we should mentor them rather than berate them???? After all, they could be our ALPA representation in years to come.

The point is that EVERYONE on the pilot roster- regardless of time- is going to take a bite of the same $hi+ sandwich if we continue to negotiate tomorrow with the same perspective we had even a year ago. The younger guys are just along for the ride at this point.

As for sticking togeather in a unified front to get this done: I refuse to sit idly by as someone dictates my future without my imput. This is especially true when the facts are blaring in my face. My views may not be that of my MEC, but they will be made known. I am an ALPA backer, and ALPA works for me, and you, and every other pilot on the line. I pay 2% of every paycheck to voice my opinion and I do that at every opportunity I get in the crew lounge, with P2P reps, through letters, and through polling.

 

[Texx]

The point is that EVERYONE on the pilot roster- regardless of time- is going to take a bite of the same $hi+ sandwich if we continue to negotiate tomorrow with the same perspective we had even a year ago. The younger guys are just along for the ride at this point.

The difference is that very few of the pilots we are speaking of understand or practice "all for one and one for all." Part of that problem was caused 1 year prior to the start of current negotiations. Lack of educating pilots on issues, facts and the industry as a whole.

You are at a point that what's done is done. The TAd items are TAd. No going back to fix all the problems you may see during roadshows. Focus on the open issues and find "value" in different ways.