ASA shrinking in 2007

[Papa Woody]

ASA is shrinking, and only hiring to cover the overwhelming rate of F/O attrition, which is exceeding management's planned shrinkage rate.

The "16 new airplanes in 2007" spin by management is an evil distortion of the truth. By exploiting the Stockholm Syndrome, they expect the stupid pilots to giggle with glee as we continue the plunge. It is a tactic aimed only at saving the huge cost of training, since pilots are leaving in record numbers.

Captain attrition is much lower, and there have been NO "new" captain upgrades in over a year. That rate of attrition matches the planned shrinkage of the airline.

The truth is ASA will lose 5-8 airplanes in 2007, yet still needs new F/O's to cover attrition.

I don't believe there will be any new captain awards in 2007, as 4 short-term CR700's, even if we do get them, will easily be covered by the displaced SLC crews.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

If someone gave you $100 I bet you'd come on here and complain about it somehow. 2007 hasnt even started yet and you are sure you know the plan for the entire year?

I would be willing to say you are 100% wrong in the "no new captain upgrades in over a year" remark.

 

[FlynChick]

If someone gave you $100 I bet you'd come on here and complain about it somehow. 2007 hasnt even started yet and you are sure you know the plan for the entire year?

I would be willing to say you are 100% wrong in the "no new captain upgrades in over a year" remark.

I agree, shouldn't you wait until you unwrap the new calandar you got for Christmas with 2007 and some facts before you start turning it into another Oprah episode? It seems all anyone does on here is complain about the "could" in the future

Whatever..... (let t

Merry Chirstmas everyone!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

ASA management doesn't know what's going to happen in 2007, let alone next week.

 

[FlynChick]

If someone gave you $100 I bet you'd come on here and complain about it somehow. 2007 hasnt even started yet and you are sure you know the plan for the entire year?

I would be willing to say you are 100% wrong in the "no new captain upgrades in over a year" remark.

I agree, shouldn't you wait until you unwrap the new calandar you got for Christmas with "2007" on it, and some facts before you start turning it into another Oprah episode? It seems all anyone does on here is complain about the "could" in the future

Whatever..... (let the snide remarks commence)

Merry Chirstmas everyone!

 

[Papa Woody]

Hey, comon! Of course my post is proactive, and a bit negative-sounding, but it is based on the current plan:


Isn't ASA losing all the ATR's in 2007?

Of the 16 "new CR700's", aren't 12 of them planes we already have?

Aren't we being used as a weapon against the Comair pilots whose contract-voiding court ruling was handed down the same day as our "16-new-airplanes-from-Comair" announcement?

Aren't most of the 20 "captain awards" announced this week re-training of recently-displaced captains?

Save for a very small number (maybe 5), have there been any captain upgrades in the past year to account for the very high rate of attrition?

The seniority list has 17% fewer pilots today than a year ago. Does that spell growth?


I am not predicting any decisions in 2007, but rather commenting on how decisions already initiated will play out.

And please don't believe that ASA is run any longer by a bunch of floundering idiots who succeed in spite of their stupidity. The new show is controlled by a smart, experienced, shrewd bunch of capitalists who know exactly what they are doing, and they do indeed have a plan.

 

[ASARJMan]

You sound as negative as the Jackson Five starring Joey Merchant! There will be growth next year, and upgrades to go along with that growth. The sky is not falling! Quit listening to JB and his irrevelant whinings as he knows nothing, nothing at all!

The Sky Is Not Falling at ASA!!!

 

[737 Pylt]

You sound as negative as the Jackson Five starring Joey Merchant! There will be growth next year, and upgrades to go along with that growth. The sky is not falling! Quit listening to JB and his irrevelant whinings as he knows nothing, nothing at all!

The Sky Is Not Falling at ASA!!!

Actually, he knows how to piss off just about every airline pilot out there. He's made quite a name for himself, and I sure hope he enjoys his job at ASA because it will be the last and only flying job he'll ever have!

737

 

[bailout]

3 weeks to go..

 

[Heavy Set]

Didn´t I read on here a couple weeks ago you guys were going to start Hilton Head service with your ATRs? That´s some good news. The weather over there can be great.

 

[mcjohn]

I've had more folks in the past two weeks tell me to apply to ASA. One guy was a Delta captain who said attrition is high there because of folks going to AirTran etc. I had the FA recruiter that was with him give me her fax # and the offer to hand my resume to pilot recruiting but I lost it. No name or number anymore. I'm putting my resume together for them today anyhow.

 

[Texx]

Captain attrition is much lower, and there have been NO "new" captain upgrades in over a year. That rate of attrition matches the planned shrinkage of the airline.

Uh, wrong.. Check the pre and finals for 2006.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

Didn´t I read on here a couple weeks ago you guys were going to start Hilton Head service with your ATRs? That´s some good news. The weather over there can be great.

Exactly. And they can't put an RJ in there, the runway is too short. And since our ATRs are leaving by the end of 2007 (so they say), and it would be really really dumb to open a new destination for only a year, it seems like we already have a replacement for the ATRs lined up to be announced sometime in 2007. Another post on this board said Delta is looking for bids on up to 25 Q400s or ATR72-500s.

 

[Blucher]

Aren't most of the 20 "captain awards" announced this week re-training of recently-displaced captains?

Actually, no, BM decided (or was ordered) to disregard past practices with by-passing for displaced captains and those are "new" captains on the prelims. After all, why follow past practices just because the NMB tells you that you should be remaining "status quo." Also, why spend one sim session to requal someone when you can drop $30,000-$40,000 per upgrade on the entire course? Yes, clearly these are shrewd capitalists with a plan.

-Blucher

 

[ASARJMan]

And since our ATRs are leaving by the end of 2007 (so they say), Another post on this board said Delta is looking for bids on up to 25 Q400s or ATR72-500s.

Yep, expect either the ATR72-500 with the present ATRs lease extended for awhile too. DASH Q400 not as fuel efficient as the ATRahhh, and for the short runs the ATR does speed is not a factor.

Hmmm, guess the sky ain't falling at ASA like Joey Merchant and the Jackson 4 say huh.

Calling Management's Bluff Kinda Fun Don'tya Think?

 

[79%N1]

Exactly. And they can't put an RJ in there, the runway is too short. And since our ATRs are leaving by the end of 2007 (so they say), and it would be really really dumb to open a new destination for only a year, it seems like we already have a replacement for the ATRs lined up to be announced sometime in 2007. Another post on this board said Delta is looking for bids on up to 25 Q400s or ATR72-500s.

While this is true, it is going to be exactly that, an RFP. ASA's ATR's may disappear and need to be replaced, but not necessarily by ASA. This will go out to bid, and the lowest bidder will fly the ATR replacement. Could be Skywest, Mesa, Republic, Pinnacle, Colgon, Commutair, or anybody. So, again, we at ASA will be pitted up against everyone else and asked to reduce our costs or our flying will go elsewhere. This is how Delta does business now. So don't get used to the idea that just because Delta will need to replace the ATR's, that ASA will fly the replacements.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

While this is true, it is going to be exactly that, an RFP. ASA's ATR's may disappear and need to be replaced, but not necessarily by ASA. This will go out to bid, and the lowest bidder will fly the ATR replacement. Could be Skywest, Mesa, Republic, Pinnacle, Colgon, Commutair, or anybody. So, again, we at ASA will be pitted up against everyone else and asked to reduce our costs or our flying will go elsewhere. This is how Delta does business now. So don't get used to the idea that just because Delta will need to replace the ATR's, that ASA will fly the replacements.

ASA already has ATRs. Nobody else does. I don't think American Eagle is bidding for this. We have ATR Maintenance, an ATL base, and a training department with a lot of turboprop experience. I'm pretty sure ASA will win that one.

 

[79%N1]

No, not for the ATR's. But their replacement. i.e. Dash-400's. Nobody says ASA will fly the replacement for the ATR, as they will go out to the lowest bidder, once again.

 

[GearUpLightsIn]

It would appear that Delta is already using close to if not all of that 20% of the ATL flying allowed by our contract. If another carrier were to get that ATR/Q400 flying we would almost have to pick up some more flying from the other carriers out of ATL to keep it at 20% or less.

Another point someone brought up that I find amusing - SKywest has some Brazilia's just sitting around and we still have a Brazilia pay rate in our contract.

 

[~~~^~~~]

That 20% only matters if SkyWest is interested in enforcing that part of the agreement. So far SkyWest has shown "no interest." Further, if SkyWest and Delta agree to something else, then something else is the new agreement.

My understanding is that SkyWest is not purchasing Comair's jets. We are basically offering a crew leasing, maintenance, insurance service. As such, it appears management is just shifting airplanes to scare, harass and attack their productive employees at Comair. Perhaps those airplanes will be backfilled, but this sounds like a very short term deal, if it happens at all.

If it was good flying, SkyWest would do it. If it leads to instability and destruction of morale they shift it to ASA.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Brasilia? We don't have anyone qualified enough to handle that aeroplane.

 

[IFLYASA]

Brasilia? We don't have anyone qualified enough to handle that aeroplane.

Says who?

 

[ASARJMan]

Brasilia? We don't have anyone qualified enough to handle that aeroplane.

Flew the beast for 11 years. Been 6-7 years since I've been in it, but I think I could qualify. Great airplane if not for the prop!

Voted To Strike The ASA Division of SKYWEST Inc!

 

[goodpilotithink]

Actually, he knows how to piss off just about every airline pilot out there. He's made quite a name for himself, and I sure hope he enjoys his job at ASA because it will be the last and only flying job he'll ever have!

737

And how would YOU know that????????????????

 

[Tim47SIP]

E-120's

Another point someone brought up that I find amusing - SKywest has some Brazilia's just sitting around and we still have a Brazilia pay rate in our contract.


Probably nothing but I was passing through BNA a couple weeks ago and saw two ASA paint job E-120's sitting in front of a hangar. I thought that maybe they are being used for freight. I did think it was odd that they still have all the ASA colors. I did not notice the tail numbers. Things that make you go uhhmmmmm?

 

[ASARJMan]

saw two ASA paint job E-120's sitting in front of a hangar. I thought that maybe they are being used for freight. I did think it was odd that they still have all the ASA colors. I did not notice the tail numbers. Things that make you go uhhmmmmm?

No, not really. Especially freight operators who really can't or won't pay for a new paint job. That place in BNA is an Embrarer service center, or something like that. For years all types of commuter planes have been in and out of there, Jetstreams, E120s, etc. One operator (Ameriflight?) has our old Brasilias stripped of paint except for a blue stripe down the side, but still has the ASA registation numbers on 'em. So, no, doesn't make me go hmmm Tim!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

[John Pennekamp]

ASA already has ATRs. Nobody else does. I don't think American Eagle is bidding for this. We have ATR Maintenance, an ATL base, and a training department with a lot of turboprop experience. I'm pretty sure ASA will win that one.

I've heard the deal on Q400s has been signed, and will be announced in July. The ATR-500 lost out because they are too expensive due to high demand overseas. Bombardier gave Delta a sweetheart deal on the Q400s.

That said, I agree that it will go out as an RFP. There is no reason to expect Delta will "give" anything to ASA, especially since we will have a new contract by then. Since the Q400 is a new program to all of DCI, the startup costs are the same. I'd look for the Republic of Scuttle Shaniqua or Mesa to be flying them. But don't think ASA won't say the airplanes are "ours" then say we'll lose them if we don't sign a turboprop B scale.

 

[pipi]

there have been NO "new" captain upgrades in over a year.

Not true, I upgraded in August.

 

[FDJ2]

He's made quite a name for himself, and I sure hope he enjoys his job at ASA because it will be the last and only flying job he'll ever have!

737

I'm sure his mommy and daddy might pony up again and buy little Johnny another job.

I hear little Johnny has no problem with PFT, it worked so well for him before.

 

[buscap]

As a PFT MFer myself, I am offended.

How will you sleep at night now?