ASA getting RJ 900's

[General Lee]

I guess not too many people listened to the last SkyWest quarterly investor conference call. Jerry Atkin stated that SkyWest, Inc. (Holding company for both SkyWest and ASA) was getting 20 something CRJ's, either 705's or 900's. Model and airline to be placed with were yet to be determined.

I wonder who they could be for, those CRJ 705s or CR9s? United? Good ole Ron Reber may have thought we at DL could be persuaded to allow that, but the judge hasn't rolled over on that issue yet. Neither has DALPA, yet I guess. We'll see. Maybe you guys can use them against Mesa in Hawaii? And, if you want them at Delta, maybe a deal could be made to wet lease the flight crew from Delta, like our furloughed guys/gals? Just a thought.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Russ]

"but the judge hasn't rolled over on that issue yet. Neither has DALPA, yet I guess"

The operative part being the last three words. DALPA is a passenger, not driving this plane.

 

[General Lee]

"but the judge hasn't rolled over on that issue yet. Neither has DALPA, yet I guess"

The operative part being the last three words. DALPA is a passenger, not driving this plane.

Hey, I am sure on our part that NONE of us want to give up scope. The Dalpa reps I have personally talked to agree with me. Lee Moak (the MEC chairman) agrees. The judge keeps bringing up that the 79 seat jets means "outsourcing Delta pilots"--and she doesn't seem to like that. Who knows? We'll see Russ.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[regionaltard]

Hey, I am sure on our part that NONE of us want to give up scope.

Give it up? DALPA gave it up long ago, which explains why you're now fighting over the scraps with a monster of your own creation.

 

[180ToTheMarker]

GL a Captain! Oh Sh*t....hope I get the NOTAM.

 

[ASApuppy]

My two cents,

I think Delta pilots are going to have a tough time getting a competitive cost structure for a CRJ-900. Sure, it would be nice to have them, but, at the same time I want to see the mainline recover. I still have 25 years left in this industry and I'm not planning on retiring at ASA. I think the aircraft itself will be a huge boost to the passenger. Granted, I know it is a tighter squeeze than that overgrown jungle jet. That tighter sqeeze also equates to faster speeds at lower fuel burns while carrying the same load.

Since we are talking about the CRJ-900, lets talk about costs outside of pilot pay. First off, the 900 and the 700 are almost identical in systems. The 900 has a different pack, but it operates the same from a pilot perspective. ASA has a simulator on property (100% leased at FSI), trained IP's, trained mechanics, and trained pilots (I can't imagine more than a day of SOE for the 700 pilots). We have a parts inventory and are currently replacing existing 700 engines with 900 engines(no new thrust, just lower temps. Hoping to increase life). I think you will find that the CASM is quite good on the 705, and much better than the EMB-175. It is difficult to analyze how the revenue potential for having first class plays into it. As with the mainline, I would bet most seats will go to mediallion upgrades. Passenger moral will improve dramatically. Thats worth something.

Let me reiterate, I want to be a Delta Pilot someday. But, unless the plan is to operate 200 of these jets, ASA is in a position to operate these aircraft with lower costs and almost no start-up costs. Maybe the line in the sand should be drawn at anything bigger. The CL-65 has no additional size potential.

pup out.

 

[khsgt]

This may all be speculation

For what it is worth, JO over here at Mesa has locked up first option on ALL CRJ-900's to come off the production line for the next 36 months. Go-Jets has under bid us for 900 flying with the new US Air, but unfortunately for them they can't get any airplanes due to this. He has MONTHS to exercise these options before he actually has to buy, and I'm not sure that anybody with any partner of Mesa's will see any 900's if Jonny has his way.

 

[General Lee]

My two cents,

I think Delta pilots are going to have a tough time getting a competitive cost structure for a CRJ-900. Sure, it would be nice to have them, but, at the same time I want to see the mainline recover. I still have 25 years left in this industry and I'm not planning on retiring at ASA. I think the aircraft itself will be a huge boost to the passenger. Granted, I know it is a tighter squeeze than that overgrown jungle jet. That tighter sqeeze also equates to faster speeds at lower fuel burns while carrying the same load.

Since we are talking about the CRJ-900, lets talk about costs outside of pilot pay. First off, the 900 and the 700 are almost identical in systems. The 900 has a different pack, but it operates the same from a pilot perspective. ASA has a simulator on property (100% leased at FSI), trained IP's, trained mechanics, and trained pilots (I can't imagine more than a day of SOE for the 700 pilots). We have a parts inventory and are currently replacing existing 700 engines with 900 engines(no new thrust, just lower temps. Hoping to increase life). I think you will find that the CASM is quite good on the 705, and much better than the EMB-175. It is difficult to analyze how the revenue potential for having first class plays into it. As with the mainline, I would bet most seats will go to mediallion upgrades. Passenger moral will improve dramatically. Thats worth something.

Let me reiterate, I want to be a Delta Pilot someday. But, unless the plan is to operate 200 of these jets, ASA is in a position to operate these aircraft with lower costs and almost no start-up costs. Maybe the line in the sand should be drawn at anything bigger. The CL-65 has no additional size potential.

pup out.

Puppy,

In the 1113c filing, Delta wants to take away most of the benefits. How could you get lower costs? We don't like that at all, but if Delta got it's way, we would have the same costs as a LCC, maybe lower. We offered another $91 million a year that would bring the CASM down to LCC levels. They want our 767 Captains to make less than Airtran 717 Captains. As far as other costs, we already (DL) has the sims over at Flight safety, so training wouldn't be tough to find. And, we have mechanics that understand the product. Also, you say you want to be a Delta pilot someday, right? It will take you a heck of a lot longer if we allow 200 79 or 90 seat jets out there which in reality replaces our 737-200 aircraft and cause more furloughs or prevent our current furloughs from coming back. Don't be shortsighted.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[180ToTheMarker]

Also, you say you want to be a Delta pilot someday, right? It will take you a heck of a lot longer if we allow 200 79 or 90 seat jets out there which in reality replaces our 737-200 aircraft and cause more furloughs or prevent our current furloughs from coming back. Don't be shortsighted.

General, I tried to tell my FO's this at ASA when we kept getting more and more 50s and 70s. Unfortunately, some are so hard headed it will never get thru. The RJDC does such a spin job on these younger guys its hard to get 'em straightned out.

 

[atlcrashpad]

Lease at FSI ATL

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't FSI (ATL) own the CRJ Sim's to include 700 series. I believe ASA's lease was transfered to SKYW w/ the sale.

 

[sweptback]

For what it is worth, JO over here at Mesa has locked up first option on ALL CRJ-900's to come off the production line for the next 36 months. Go-Jets has under bid us for 900 flying with the new US Air, but unfortunately for them they can't get any airplanes due to this. He has MONTHS to exercise these options before he actually has to buy, and I'm not sure that anybody with any partner of Mesa's will see any 900's if Jonny has his way.

You guys better watch out for Air Canada Jazz then, as they've been getting 705s for a while. Maybe they bought them from you guys first?

Quit listening to crew room rumors and think like a businessman. You think Bombardier, which is strapped for cash worse than about any US airline, is going to say no to SkyWest when they come calling for some 900s?

 

[jehtplane]

Puppy,

In the 1113c filing, Delta wants to take away most of the benefits. How could you get lower costs? We don't like that at all, but if Delta got it's way, we would have the same costs as a LCC, maybe lower. We offered another $91 million a year that would bring the CASM down to LCC levels. They want our 767 Captains to make less than Airtran 717 Captains. As far as other costs, we already (DL) has the sims over at Flight safety, so training wouldn't be tough to find. And, we have mechanics that understand the product. Also, you say you want to be a Delta pilot someday, right? It will take you a heck of a lot longer if we allow 200 79 or 90 seat jets out there which in reality replaces our 737-200 aircraft and cause more furloughs or prevent our current furloughs from coming back. Don't be shortsighted.

Bye Bye--General Lee

There is no way that yours costs will EVER be as low as ours to operate these airplanes, we have a full training department and facilities dedicated to the CRJ family. Besides who is buying these airplanes, Skywest or Delta? I feel for you guys , I really do, but why should you have any say whatsoever as to what airplanes ASA, Skywest, Mesa, X-jet, or any other regional fly?

 

[79%N1]

Dont get into an arguement with Gen Lee on ANYTHING regarding Delta/ASA/Skywest! His opinions are facts, and he will NEVER see any other side of an issue or accept anyone elses opinion but his own! Remember, never argue with an idiot, because he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience! And PLEASE........nobody give him the address to that 'other' message site!

 

[N2264J]

ALPA's intent was to limit the outsourcing of DAL jobs...

How'd that work out for you?

If that was indeed ALPA's true intent, they would have initiated the PID petition in 2000 in accordance with their own merger/fragmentation and alter ego policy instead of the Comair and ASA MECs.

When ALPA denied the PID, they telegraphed a message to management: "We don't stand behind these regional guys - we'll control them with scope. Their alter ego problem is not 'our' problem."

Management must have had a hard time concealing their wood at witnessing ALPA turning on their own members.

From that moment on, alter ego airlines started springing up like mushrooms in every brand. Now Comair, ASA, Mesa and Chautauqua are bidding on the same airplanes with mainline. Our union helped facilitate this race to the bottom. In order for an MEC to have any bargaining leverage at all, it must take ownership of all the flying in the brand. That's what our forefathers in ALPA was trying to do with merger/alter ego policy. Trying to control it with scope is not only illegal and bad faith in our view, but it's ineffective as well. Admit it, scope hasn't saved one mainline job anywhere.

If it wasn't so pathetic it would be laughable. But what is truly bazaar is reading the mainline pikers who, to this day, continue to rationalize and justify this horribly failed policy and defend their MEC's actions as if they are on the right side of the issue.

The game is over. The Delta pilots will have to sell their sisters into the whore house to buy that flying back. Chautauqua, doing business as Shuttle America, is already operating a type rating for Delta that goes all the way to 110 seats.

Continuing to make the same mistake and expecting a different result is the definition of retarded.

 

[ASApuppy]

Mr. General Lee,

A question for you... What is Delta's fleet plans? I know they want 4 types, 737-NG, 757-767, 777. Right? I know they are very interested in 787, and they should as that is the future. What is the plan for something smaller than the 737-800? The CRJ-700 has half the capacity of the 738. Is the future going to be 200 79 seat CRJ-705's? I don't think so, unless they plan on retiring most of the 50 seat CRJ's. I think there has to be plans for something in the 100-115 (dual class) range. That aircraft, whatever it might be, will be a new aircraft for whoever flies it. Without a doubt, it should be a mainline aircraft. But to say that you need to fly a CRJ because it has 79 seats is rather petty. Draw the line at the CRJ-705. We are already geared up to operate that aircraft. We literally could put into service next month. It would take Delta a year. We have parts room full of compatible parts. Our mechanics have spent months in Montreal. Point is, we have already made the investment required to operate this aircraft. General, it has 9 additional seats! You have been saying for years that one of the disavantages of the CRJ was no first class. This gives your most valuable customers the seat they want at an affordable cost. BTW, we do not have a rate for anything greater than 70 seats. I have no idea what our MEC will do. With so few differences between the 700 and the 705, I might speculate that the same pilots will fly both with an few bucks more for flying the 705. There is a lot of downward pressure, but I have been proud of our MEC so far. Bottom line is I don't want to cut any other pilots throat, just as I don't want mine cut.

pup out.

 

[voetsak]

Dont get into an arguement with Gen Lee on ANYTHING regarding Delta/ASA/Skywest! His opinions are facts, and he will NEVER see any other side of an issue or accept anyone elses opinion but his own! Remember, never argue with an idiot, because he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience! And PLEASE........nobody give him the address to that 'other' message site!

man am I with you on that....Gen Lee I swear you need to get up out of the bean bag, wash the cheetos off you fingers and get outside. Have you actually logged off this forum in the last year???

 

[twott driver]

Nee sies man voetsak, jy kannie so lelilk met die hond praat nie!

 

[Cloudroller]

According to Bombardier Mesa is the only one getting 900's

http://www.bombardier.com/en/3_0/3_...tober_31_05.pdf

 

[General Lee]

man am I with you on that....Gen Lee I swear you need to get up out of the bean bag, wash the cheetos off you fingers and get outside. Have you actually logged off this forum in the last year???

Man, you really are funny. I have actually been on this forum nonstop for the last 5 years. I sleep 2 hours a night, and then drink 8 Red Bulls before I start looking at Flightinfo at 5 am until 12 noon. Then I pass out for 3 hours in my own sweat and vomit. The wife comes home from work and starts yelling at me at around 4 pm. Before I shower, my wife and I make out hot and heavy, and then we eat Wendy's potatos and triple cheeseburgers (the wife has a double cheeseburger). Then I get back on flightinfo from 7 pm to 4 am. What a great day. Oh yeah, and I fly a couple of 4 day trips every once and awhile..... Have a great one dude! Rock on!

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[voetsak]

Nee sies man voetsak, jy kannie so lelilk met die hond praat nie!

dit sal ons geheim wees!

tot siens!