Comair stopped Hiring?Asking for Leaves

[General Lee]

I sincerely hope no one gets furloughed from anywhere, honestly.

To the question about integration, not if it is a seperate subsidiary. It would all have to be negotiated, and we would win out on that one.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Caveman]

I have in my formally nicotine stained hands.......

It's just a temporary offering of VOLUNTARY leaves of absences for one bid period because of 'training plan changes". They did the same thing last summer, in July I believe. The sky isn't falling. If every available slot were taken it would be the same as having 15 CAs and 15 FOs take one month off. That equates to about 1.8% of our pilot group. We probably have more than that call in sick every day. Don't read between the lines. Nothing to see here, folks, move along.

 

[General Lee]

Thinking that something might impeed your career kinda sucks, doesn't it? Think of all the Delta pilots that have had to go through that: Not knowing what will happen next. 1060 of them have been furloughed already. Be happy that you probably will not lose your jobs.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[skiddriver]

It looks like the same type deal as last year. The memo specifically cites training delays as the reason for the voluntary leaves of absence. I'd ask for the full month, but they won't let probationary pilots apply. (April is nice in New Orleans).

I was over at the General Offices a couple of days after the memo came out, and they had another bunch of blue suited interviewees pacing around the foyer. While I know airlines are famous for hiring into furloughs, I don't think so in this case.

 

[acaTerry]

.

Two things:
First, General Lee said "Our CFO--Michele Burns---said that we had an Operating PROFIT of $177 million last quarter---". Can I borrow a few mil of that?

On a serious note, second, I would not worry too much about the voluntary LOA's at CMR. We had the same thing at ACA for a month or two and things worked out fine. Hell, if I was a FINANCIALLY SECURE Comair pilot, I'd be all over that "vacation".

 

[79%N1]

General Lee/NYRangers........

Quit thinking Delta mainline pilots are better than DCI (commuter scum) pilots ------- they aren't!

Quit thinking the jobs of the mainline Delta pilots are worth more to them then the jobs of the connection pilots ------ they aren't!

It's amazing what happens to a guy when he reaches the "majors". You all think the world owes you, well it doesn't.

 

[NYRANGERS]

General Lee/NYRangers........

Quit thinking Delta mainline pilots are better than DCI (commuter scum) pilots ------- they aren't!

Quit thinking the jobs of the mainline Delta pilots are worth more to them then the jobs of the connection pilots ------ they aren't!

It's amazing what happens to a guy when he reaches the "majors". You all think the world owes you, well it doesn't.

How do you come up with this outrageous post by reading any of my posts? This has nothing to do with who's "better".

I was, as you say "commuter scum" a lot longer than I was "major scum".

Emotions, such as yours, defy the logic nesessary to understand our (mainline) point of view. This has everything to do with our contract and how it MUST be inforced.

If you are currently employed by a DCI carrier you should not worry about your job. I don't support any effort to get the 1060 of us back to work if it means furloughing ANY of you DCI guys. However, I do support a hiring freeze on all Delta owned companies (with regards to pilots) until all current pilots who were hired are back to work. (yeah, I know where some of you guys are going to go with this, so give it a rest.)

Would this mean you loose your job? Absolutley not! We know what it is like to be fuloughed for 479 days and counting and we don't wish that on any pilot.

Would this mean your seat movement may be slowed? Probably, but tough SH!T.

I have a feeling you want pilots to move in junior to you quickly so they can be your "furlough Protection", your "furlough fodder".

So long,

NYR

Rangers @ Avalanche 830pm ( we need about 18 wins out of 21 games)

 

[General Lee]

79%N1,

What? You are nuts. I have never said "we are better than you..." What I have been saying is that we at Mainline are trying to protect OUR jobs. Can we do that? Is that alright with you? I guess you guys are the only ones allowed to grow. We have to take a beating and like it. Wrong. We will fight to keep our jobs and keep payscales higher. I guess we could give in to the company, and our 777 Capt's could make $50 an hour. Would you like that? I guess we could say to our furloughs (even though we HAD a No furlough clause)---bye bye guys--see you later, we can't fight for you because those Comair guys will get mad. We will fight for our furloughs to get back and then when we hire again we will try to hire as many ASA guys as we can.
Thanks Lawson!! And 79%N1----you need to get your fact straight and focus all of that anger on Comair's MEC. He really has restricted your future growth.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[DCAV8R]

General Lee -

I just finished 700 recurrent on friday and the word is that Bombardier is in the process of troubleshooting some problems on the 700 assembly line. What does this mean for ASA and Comair ? No CR7 deliveries until late April or possibly March. I think this explains the slowdown at Comair. I questioned a Comair crew about the whole situation today - the Capt. confirmed the postponement of two classes and possible voluntary LOE for April.

DCAv8r

 

[RichO]

As far as I'm aware, none of the new hire classes that have started have been affected. I just finished IOE myself, and things seem to still be full ahead. Yes, I did recieve the whole leave of absense letter in my mailbox, but I believe the length of time wasn't that long to freak out about. Nothing too lengthy to signal a change of direction of the company...I have heard of some issues with the 70's coming.......but, I really don't think this is the time too panic about Comair.....things are still moving.......and from what I hear, reserve is getting a little shorter now days.......since I just grabbed my official pager, hopefully I won't have it too long......but just like with anything in the industry, it can all change tomorrow......oh, the 90 seat rumor thing has been around for a little bit....I did hear a number of people talk about it a couple of months ago......I'm kinda curious what those remaining sim slots in the sim building are for myself (could it be for a 90....hmmm) ......oh well, only time will tell..........I think the next couple of months will be very telling.........enjoy the ride.....

 

[General Lee]

That is good that there will be no furloughs. I wish we had the same situation. As far as the 90 seaters---you know as well as I do that our scope clause does not allow that, and we would have to give permission to do that. With 1060 pilots out on furlough, you can see that it would be a longshot. I'm all for you getting 90 seaters, but that would be at a time when all of our pilots were back from furlough and we were growing again. Until then, we probably will do what it takes to get our pilots back in the skies. There is nothing wrong with that attitude, is there? Hopefully the future discussions with management will bring something to fruition.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[acaTerry]

I can barely wait until AFELLOWAVIATOR finds this thread and starts his mudslinging...

 

[FurloughedAgain]

ALPO at US Airways

Dear General,

I dont agree with the "tone" of your letters to these pilots. I rarely agree with the content. I do, however, commend you for your vision.

I only wish that the MEC, LECs, and individual ALPA pilots at US Airways had as much passion as you seem to have regarding the return of the 1,800 furloughed pilots at US Airways.

After the furloughs began there was a little bit of flag waving and sorry attempts to find gainful employment for the furloughed pilots (J4J). The resolutions to provide healthcare for furloughed pilots passed with slim margins each time.

But the moment that the retirement was threatened, they forgot all about the furloughees. Furloughed pilots who had found employment elsewhere were even removed from the ALPA web-board.

Many of us started to realize the true nature of the association, "I've got mine - Scr@w you!" Thats the motto right?

The typical line pilot was sympathetic, but, with their own hard-earned retirement in jeopardy, unconcerned that over 30% of the pilot-group (1800 of 6000) was furloughed.

Is it any wonder that former 737 Captains now call their friends at Comair, Jetblue, and AirTran asking for help?

Anyhow -- the point is this. While I might not agree with WHAT you say...and I might not agree with HOW you say it... I admire you for keeping your eye on the ball with regard to your furloughed brothers.

ALPA's job #1 should be JOBS.

I hope, for the sake of the 1060 furloughed DAL pilots, that the retirement is not threatened. Senior guys have a way of forgetting all about the furloughees once the boat payment is in jeopardy.

Good luck!

 

[flx757]

Rangers @ Avalanche 830pm ( we need about 18 wins out of 21 games)

NYRANGERS,

A short break from the DAL/CMR saga.

Avs 4 -- NYR 1.

Now it appears you need about 18 wins out of 20 games, as the Avs continue to reel "em in. (My wife, a born and raised New Yorker, and die-hard Rangers fan, got me inerested in hockey. And, since I spent most of my adult life in Colorado, I decided to be an Avs fan. Then we moved to Michigan. Kinda tough being an Avs fan so close to "Hockeytown", so we moved again, to Atlanta.) But, we still watch hockey together. I'm slowly converting her to the Avs....except when they play the Rangers. We watched "together" last night...she from Tulsa on her trip, and me at home in Atlanta . You do what you gotta do in a 2 pilot family.

OK, break over. Back to the discussion at hand.

 

[milehye]

Hey General Lee:

Im just wondering why you started this thread in the first place when you know **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good and well it is just a rumor...This rumor is the same one that DAL737FO just stated to you in the Comair 90 seat thread... He was simply making a point and told you that rumor was just made up from him and a load of BS......Are you so bored that you have nothing better to do with your time than try and cause even more problems and bad blood between pilots....What are you, Management?

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Kit Darby Reads Flightinfo.com?

Found the following on Kit Darby's "Jet-jobs.com" website under the rumor-control section this morning.

Rumor: Comair is suspending interviews/hiring and is looking for pilots to take a leave of absence effective April. If Comair is unable to find pilots willing to take leave, the company will begin furloughs.

Truth: Comair has confirmed there is no truth to that rumor. Hiring is continuing as previously stated. The company forecasts hiring 40 in March and 356 in 2003.

Posted 2/24/2003 9:35:30

I guess that settles that debate.

 

[General Lee]

Milehye,

Yup, you caught me---I'm management. Not. You really are high. Am I creating more bad blood? You guys started it with the slamming of our furloughs, and I am here to remind you of it. When I am not flying I watch the net for changing stories affecting you and me, so I am on here a lot. I have a lot of friends who are out on furlough, and I hear from them everyday, so I am constantly reminded of this situation. My one dream is to have this situation clear up, the furloughs come back, and for us to start hiring ASA pilots in droves. Sounds like a good dream to me, right?


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[captainv]

Furloughs

General Lee,

If Comair were responsible for getting furloughees back to DAL, would that change your mind?

Recently a Delta 737 instructor pilot jumpseated on one of my flights. He gave us lots of info about Song, the reasons behind it, and other moves Delta is making. Retiring 727s, MD-11s, and having most of the options on the RJs coming off the line.

Now that Force Manure has been stopped, the groundwork is in place to recall the furloughs. It's based on exceeding the revenue seat miles Delta was flying before 9/11. If Delta can exceed those, the furloughs come back. And it's not just Delta, it includes Delta Connection.

Delta is parking airplanes. ASA currently has little fleet growth while it retires the Brasilia. Comair is set to take delivery of 30+ airplanes this year. So, if Delta can exceed those pre-9/11 RSMs, it will be in large part thanks to Comair's growth.

Clearly this won't get everyone back flying, but hey, wouldn't you rather get them back to Delta than going to DCI?

I for one support hiring furloughees at Comair, especially since one of my best friends is a Delta furloughee. That's my opinion, and i respect the right of others to disagree with what I believe. If Delta decides not to hire me simply because I'm a Comair pilot, so be it. I'm new to all this, so i don't know all the history. As i read these posts, i try to see it from both sides, not just my own. I think our pilot groups would get along much better if we all could do that....

Captainv

 

[skydiverdriver]

We started it? That's funny. I suppose you think your guys didn't do anything before that incedent, which you don't report correctly, ever happened. I don't think anyone believes you.

 

[FlyDeltasJets]

I do.