Hiring at AWA -- YES!
Back to original topic on hiring: Joevollers is correct. The word I (personally) got from an ACP was that we will hire for October and November training (that is from 2 weeks ago). We are short bodies at Vegas for sure and I know the PHX guys want to get some movement. There are some long-time reserve sitters there now. Cactus73 – we can’t wait for furloughed USAir guys before we hire from the street. New blood is needed today in Vegas. Anyone work the hurricane on Sunday night? The poster that said we ran out of reserves is correct. I know two Captains that got Involuntary Pay because they were re-routed out of the 11 PM goes into the 10 PM goes as scheduling “shelled- gamed” bodies to cover the schedule due to inadequate staffing. Don’t think AWA can hold off until a merged list is agreed on. That is costing us money today due to inadequate numbers. Fly/n/High, your right! The drop/pick up system doesn’t work when you are flying 83-88 hours a month, nobody can pick up what you want to drop because there is no beans left in the bucket. I’ve had several posts of complete giveaways and nobody stepped forward – in my mind, folks working to hard to pick it up (even two day trips!). So I think you will see us (at a minimum) bring on some of the poolies in October. I think you are joining a great team and one that is going to get better with the USAir deal. Be realistic and try to take a balanced approach – a few ney sayers in the crowd but I think you find most AWA guys looking forward to working with the USAir guys. I am. Nobody can promise no furloughs, but I think most of us feel it is highly unlikely.
On the merged pilot list: up to 100 days of negotiation once we get an approved PID and then to arbitration if no agreement by the 100 days (could take another 50 days in arbitration) and the ALPA president (and merged parties) can agree to extend the deadline …. Could be well into next year before any combined list is even presented. Training Department is already accelerating recurrent for guys because they have too much training capacity with the lack of new hires. That’s not efficient and costly to maintain a big training department with no new pilots coming on property.
On the merger issue. My personal feeling is there will not be any AWA furloughs. I have high confidence in Doug Parker – the vast majority of other AWA pilots I meet say the same thing, not everyone, but most I think. Not everyone at AWA agrees that every USAir furloughee should be brought on/interviewed before new hires. The US Air MEC made the LOA with their US Air Management and we will have to wait to see what our MEC proposes with respect to them and what is finally adopted between the two MECs. Some at AWA feel all pilots looking for work should have the same opportunity: Mesa, Horizon, etc, should not have to wait behind 1000+ US Air furloughees. If you are furloughed from US Air don’t wait for the “system” to protect you. Apply and try to network to get aboard here now. In any case, whatever is proposed by our MEC is what AWA pilots will line up behind.
On the leaves of absence offered, the numbers were very small. If I remember correctly, 1 FO and 1 Capt at LAS in August, so they really don’t impact the shortfall that exists today at LAS. 1/75 is small potatoes.
HAL, JM, and PR – thanks for holding the high road with your posts. Our goal is to pass along factual information, offer our opinion, educate others about AWA from our perspective, and help new guys get aboard without flaming dudes in cyberspace we don’t know.
Luke – you’ve got great wisdom for all of us. In this industry it is really tough to tell where the grass is the greenest. Riding the storm out with your current employer or jumping ship is never an easy task. Good luck to all. TWA dude -- you rock as always, make sure your voice is heard as we integrate the lists – you’ve got to much experience to stand on the sideline.
Fella's, Fella's, Please! Remember, we are LIVING THE DREAM!!!
