ATTN: Commutair Pilots

[elguapo9]

I'm trying to track down a guy I went thru initial training at CA with. His name is Adam Stanley and he has been deployed in Iraq since about 4/05. He should be back at CA by now. If anyone has any info, send me a message.

Thanks
Elguapo.

 

[Gemboy75]

His name is on our schedule for the upcomming bid. Sorry I don't have a number or an email from him. Maybe one of my colleagues will have more info on how to get in touch with him.

You may try getting a message passed on to him by calling our HQ. The number is on the Commutair web site www.commutair.com .

Good luck.

 

[elguapo9]

Has he made it back yet, or did they extend his tour??

 

[CA1900]

He's back. I just flew with him; had a blast. I'm not sure if he's on this board yet, but if you want to PM me some contact info I'd be happy to get it to him.

 

[Nixon]

So, what's the latest from Plattsburgh? You guys still trying to get bigger planes?

 

[CA1900]

So, what's the latest from Plattsburgh? You guys still trying to get bigger planes?

Yep - for going on 15 years now!

 

[mckpickle]

Whats the rumors now that Regions Air is starting up in CLE with Saabs? Are you guys still gonna have any flying for CAL?

 

[CA1900]

Whats the rumors now that Regions Air is starting up in CLE with Saabs? Are you guys still gonna have any flying for CAL?

Yes, we'll be fine. But thanks for your genuine concern. Your contract with CAL runs out before ours does -- I'd be more concerned whether you'll have any flying for CAL.

 

[Palomino]

wow. seemed like a simple question to me.

maybe someone should create a link that points to the most overly sensitive pilots.

 

[CA1900]

Well, Palomino, maybe if you knew this fellow's history with CommutAir-related posts, you wouldn't jump down my throat. Particularly around the period when we were trying to unionize. He seems to get off when we fall on hard times, or he did a couple of years ago. Why he felt the need to jump in on a thread entitled "ATTN: Commutair Pilots" is a mystery to me.

Search his past posts if you like; I don't feel the need. Anytime anyone criticizes ExpressJet, his knee-jerk reaction is, "Oh, got turned down, huh?" His repeated references to us as "commode-air," little digs here and there at the company, and so forth, have set the tone.


Mckpickle, if you've changed your attitude, then I apologize. But the above remark was a crass, low blow to a pilot group that's genuinely concerned about being out of work within weeks, and that's why I responded as I did. We have no flying except CAL flying. I don't appreciate your kicking us while we're down.

 

[Palomino]

if you have 7000 hrs and a 737 type then you should apply at Continental. i wouldn't sell myself short and insist on flying for SWA.

i believe that you'd fall under the preferred bunch including XJT, Colgan, etc on the application. get some letters from guys on the inside, etc.

didn't know things were that bad at Commutair. sounds like a good time to jump ship. investigate all your options as i'm sure you are.

we've all absorbed a fair amount of jabs. mcpickle surely means no harm.

 

[CA1900]

Yep, things are pretty bad here as far as job security goes. Our fleet was reduced severely just a couple of months ago; we're down to just 14 airplanes now. BOS and ALB have both gone from being our "future" to being single-airplane crew bases. We're a little terrified, and I think we're all job hunting. Several guys just bailed for Colgan, even.


I'm definitely investigating all my options, and working on the CAL application too. I'm also looking very hard at NetJets -- between looking at their new payscales and contract, and talking with pilots who've worked there for a few years, it looks very, very appealing. So I'm working on that now, too.

we've all absorbed a fair amount of jabs. mcpickle surely means no harm.

I agree. I woke up grouchy, and came across that way.

I'm better now.

 

[mckpickle]

Ya know, you certainly did come across grouchy a$$hole. I was asking because I keep up on things. And when I have one of you guys in my JS I like to know a little about whats going on to appear sympathetic and kind. I hate seeing anything bad come to a pilot group. And I was asking in all sincerity.

BTW, I haven't read or posted on the thread you linked. If you have an issue with our guys take it up with them. But maybe, JUST MAYBE we are a little proud of the fact of what we've done with our contract, where we started and where we are today. Can you say the same?

As far as US losing our CAL flying, I wouldn't worry sport. It shows you know nothing about the CPA and how many a/c they can take and at what time frame.

As far as my problem with Commutair, that was years ago. It was based on the pilots that MY UNION got hired there and then help lead the way to shooting down the ALPA vote. So where are you now? Still with 12 days off. Still with the same pay for how many years? Nothing I say could be worse than what you've all done to yourselves. I hold no ill will at all for the CA guys. Hell, I woulda been there myself in 97 but I didn't have the time. CA was the place to be back then!

 

[CA1900]

Ya know, you certainly did come across grouchy a$$hole.

I sure did, and I didn't mean it to come across that strongly. I know those digs were in years past, and it looked like you were trying to reopen the wounds. It just came across as a little brusque -- we really are teetering on the brink of oblivion.

But maybe, JUST MAYBE we are a little proud of the fact of what we've done with our contract, where we started and where we are today. Can you say the same?

Yes, I can, because I was on the organizing committee that was trying to bring ALPA here in the first place and work towards the same goals you guys did. I tried to better our lot here, with an ALPA campaign that was already underway, when almost overnight, nearly half our pilot group was furloughees from your company.

As far as my problem with Commutair, that was years ago. It was based on the pilots that MY UNION got hired there and then help lead the way to shooting down the ALPA vote. So where are you now? Still with 12 days off. Still with the same pay for how many years? Nothing I say could be worse than what you've all done to yourselves.

See, now you're pissing me off again.

YOUR OWN PILOTS sabotaged the union vote at CommutAir -- you said as much yourself. The ~14 of us on the organizing committee, plus the furloughees working here, would have been more than enough for an easy victory. Statistically, the only possible way the vote could have failed is with about a dozen "no" votes from your pilots, and none of our original pilots voting "yes" outside of the committee. And I know a number of our pilots who voted -- I was flying with them when they did it.

So don't tell me we've "done it to ourselves." Your own brothers did it to us, and weakened ALPA's numbers and bargaining power with CAL in the process. They were part of the eligible voting group. As you correctly point out, ALPA got them the job! And yet many of them said to me, "this isn't our fight," and wouldn't get involved.

And now we're living with all the results you outlined above -- all because of the apathy of your ALPA brothers.

 

[mckpickle]

We are in 90% in agreement. But it was only a few of the loud mouths that really screwed things up. They waived the flags and spread lies because they were pi$$ed they got furloughed. Heck, I wanted one.......lady to be brought up on article 8 charges. But you have to admitt, durring the whole process we took a lot of crap from some rank and file CA guys about us trying to run the show. About us trying to "control" your flying. Lots of rumors and unfounded lies! But the bottom line was that our union approved CA getting that flying.

Anyway, we're just going around in circles but I think we are both on the same side here. I really wish you guys well. I heard about the Regions thing in JAN while in DC at the anual JS conference. I wasn't surprised as I know CAL's been pushing CA to get 30+ seaters for years. Its a shame the CA management wont just go for it! I think they got scared after the debacle with US AIR and the IAD flying back in 98. Since then they've been skiddish to risk I guess. Anyway, good luck.

 

[CA1900]

I think you're right; I certainly didn't come into this looking for a flamewar. (Well, aside from my initial reply, anyway.)

The funny thing is that, aside from a couple (like the aforementioned "lady"), I have no idea which of your guys are the ones that didn't vote. Every one of them that I flew with was a really good guy, and I still run into them from time to time out on the line in the breakrooms.

As for the 30-seaters, supposedly we're as close as ever to getting them. CAL is indeed anxious to see it, as is the pilot group. But until I see one parked out front, I won't get my hopes up. (And I'll know it's ours, because it'll be faded red, fresh from the desert, with all the Northwest logos peeled off, and "Continental Connection" in blue lettering on the side. )

Good luck to you as well. I'm really not this much of a prick in real life -- few people on message boards are. It must be because I just did my taxes.

 

[mckpickle]

Good luck to you as well. I'm really not this much of a prick in real life. It must be because I just did my taxes.

Ohhhhh THAT'LL DO IT!!! Cheers!

 

[Palomino]

ok...so who buys the first round?

 

[beech1900kid]

if you have 7000 hrs and a 737 type then you should apply at Continental. i wouldn't sell myself short and insist on flying for SWA.

Surely you must be joking. Continental is bent on only hiring guys who are in their mid-twenties with no PIC experience...

 

[beech1900kid]

more importantly, I'm completely out of the loop WTF is going on that is so bad at commutair? Just curious...proudly fleww the mighty 1900 2 years ago...