Compass new bases after Delta NW Merge?

[G2T]

Oh I get it! I was just pointing out the ignorance of many.

I'm not going to tell you things are perfect, they are not. There's plenty of room for improvement. But before you start running your mouth about what a terrible company it is and how stupid everyone is that works there, and how little they care, I have a suggestion: Finish training and actually fly for the company first! After that, feel free to continue your rant.

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

I'm not going to tell you things are perfect, they are not. There's plenty of room for improvement. But before you start running your mouth about what a terrible company it is and how stupid everyone is that works there, and how little they care, I have a suggestion: Finish training and actually fly for the company first! After that, feel free to continue your rant.

I never said everyone is stupid, just underpaid and working under a crappy contract. Take it easy, this is not a personal attack just a little fire to get everyone to want to change things. I will continue to want better even during training. Still a terrible company. You will realize this once you work for a good company.

 

[DashTrash400]

Ugh, if you're gonna be an idiot on this board I wish you'd not have a screenname connecting you to UND. We dirty undies have a bad enough rep as-is.

Look man, I know our contract sucks, and I know QOL is going downhill here. Our management is certainly starting to show their redtail roots. However, I don't start attacking my coworkers because of it. Just because we don't have people getting hysterical on flightinfo doesn't mean we're not wholly aware of the problems. None of us voted for this POS contract, and the fact that it's not ammendable for another 5 yrs doesn't mean we're not willing to do our part to improve things. Do you know we have over 40 ALPA volunteers? That's pretty significant for an airline this small. Are you volunteering for ALPA? Hmmm?

I think the reason you're seeing resistance from CPS pilots on this board is not that they disagree with you that there's problems here. I know who many of these guys are and I've had discussions with them in person about the problems. However, it is pretty grating to see a FNG who's not even on the line yet get online and start throwing bombs, including the accusation that the rest of us are content to eat a $hit sandwich. I think the general attitude is: spend a few bids in our shoes, and THEN you can talk.

BTW, it's compASS, not compost. Didn't Jammin' teach you anything!? ;-)

PS - I have friends who work for PDT and I think most would giggle at your "good company" comment. I came from QX - not that it's important, but you seem to think so.

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

Ugh, if you're gonna be an idiot on this board I wish you'd not have a screenname connecting you to UND. We dirty undies have a bad enough rep as-is.

Look man, I know our contract sucks, and I know QOL is going downhill here. Our management is certainly starting to show their redtail roots. However, I don't start attacking my coworkers because of it. Just because we don't have people getting hysterical on flightinfo doesn't mean we're not wholly aware of the problems. None of us voted for this POS contract, and the fact that it's not ammendable for another 5 yrs doesn't mean we're not willing to do our part to improve things. Do you know we have over 40 ALPA volunteers? That's pretty significant for an airline this small. Are you volunteering for ALPA? Hmmm?

I think the reason you're seeing resistance from CPS pilots on this board is not that they disagree with you that there's problems here. I know who many of these guys are and I've had discussions with them in person about the problems. However, it is pretty grating to see a FNG who's not even on the line yet get online and start throwing bombs, including the accusation that the rest of us are content to eat a $hit sandwich. I think the general attitude is: spend a few bids in our shoes, and THEN you can talk.

BTW, it's compASS, not compost. Didn't Jammin' teach you anything!? ;-)

PS - I have friends who work for PDT and I think most would giggle at your "good company" comment. I came from QX - not that it's important, but you seem to think so.

I am not "attacking my coworkers." I am trying to point out to many how crappy compost really is. Trying to tell the young guys that are trying to get a commuter airline job that there are much better places. QX, PDT, ARW, XJT, etc. Not important where we all came from, but it is important for those of us that came from somewhere much better to inform those that didn't have the privelege to see what it is like to work under a "good" contract. I think you are doing your pilot group a disservice by not telling them what we have is unacceptable that way when we do go to negotiate we are all fired up to do what is right and not waste valuable time informing while the company stalls and makes us work under the current crappy contract. I don't need to "fly to line" at compost to realize the company is crap and so is the contract. I have put my years in at many other airlines and I have earned the right to complain about my QOL. In fact even a new guy has that right no matter their experience level. I will continue to express my concerns and I wish more would. It is sad that you guys already here aren't complaining. As for the 40 volunteers I am glad to see there is some, but 40 is not enough. 40 is a good start and once I get out of training, assuming I don't get a call back(unlikely) I will be first in line to try and help. I spent numerous years as an ALPA committee chairman and served multiple other volunteer positions at a previous commuter. Look guy, I am here to help, but you should never expect me or any of the compost pilot group not to be vocal. That is what the ole rod and gun club in chantilly wants. Be vocal and do it often. Hope to meet up with you around the crew room and we can continue our discussions to improve the lives of our fellow pilots. Go Sioux!

 

[WSurf]

Why shouldn't siouxhockey be able bitch and moan on a public website created for pilots about his airlines? Most of you guys agree that there are many problems. This is the best way for pilots to communicate and send information to others.

You are flying a mainline airplane that has pretty much horrible rates and a contract that is below industry standard even comparing it too most regional airlines.

Its very important for those folks flying mainline planes and taking mainline routes to be paid what they should be. Remember this effects us all.

 

[BOHICAgain]

I am not "attacking my coworkers." I am trying to point out to many how crappy compost really is. Trying to tell the young guys that are trying to get a commuter airline job that there are much better places. QX, PDT, ARW, XJT, etc. Not important where we all came from, but it is important for those of us that came from somewhere much better to inform those that didn't have the privelege to see what it is like to work under a "good" contract. I think you are doing your pilot group a disservice by not telling them what we have is unacceptable that way when we do go to negotiate we are all fired up to do what is right and not waste valuable time informing while the company stalls and makes us work under the current crappy contract. I don't need to "fly to line" at compost to realize the company is crap and so is the contract. I have put my years in at many other airlines and I have earned the right to complain about my QOL. In fact even a new guy has that right no matter their experience level. I will continue to express my concerns and I wish more would. It is sad that you guys already here aren't complaining. As for the 40 volunteers I am glad to see there is some, but 40 is not enough. 40 is a good start and once I get out of training, assuming I don't get a call back(unlikely) I will be first in line to try and help. I spent numerous years as an ALPA committee chairman and served multiple other volunteer positions at a previous commuter. Look guy, I am here to help, but you should never expect me or any of the compost pilot group not to be vocal. That is what the ole rod and gun club in chantilly wants. Be vocal and do it often. Hope to meet up with you around the crew room and we can continue our discussions to improve the lives of our fellow pilots. Go Sioux!

Good to be vocal but to call the airline who hired you a crappy company based on a month in YUL with outsource training is just childish.

I am an ALPA guy here working on enforcing the contract we have. We have suggested many things that need to added and we are trying to negotiate some things but when you negotiate a crappy contract we r going to have to give some thing away. No one here negotiated this thing, it was the NWA MEC before the 175 started fly. Getting all fired up is ok but you need to direct that anger towards the NWA MEC not us line guys.

Calling us Compost does nothing but insult your coworkers. If your based out of DTW hope we fly together to see if your view changed. I am the only contract guy based in DTW.

 

[GOULET!]

So again Sioux...please fill us all in on why you still work here? You read the contract before you got your type and with all your amazing airline experiences YOU still chose to come to Compass. All the pilots here complain but 99% of them are professional enough to keep it in house and not in a public forum. I hope you do get involved in ALPA but me thinks you will just contine to come on FI and tell us all how its our fault that your life sucks. I too hope to meet you sometime in DTW.

 

[DYLIN]

Sioux's level of anger is excellent -- he/she has merely mis-directed it.

Sioux --

Direct that frustration and anger into doing something to improve things. You have already expressed your intent to do so in your posts here, now make it happen.

The Compass pilot group seems to be a moderately 'riled up' one. Most everyone at the place has been through another 121 carrier, and many of the pilots coming online now are furloughed from elsewhere, some from places that have little prospect of recalling in the next 1-3 years and others that are gone forever. Quite a contrast from other contractors out there that have new-hire classes consisting mostly of folks from a CFI background (nothing WRONG with that, I'm just saying that the CPZ pilot group has a bunch of new hires that are just as experienced as pilots at DL/NW/CO/AA etc. -- and that this experience level in the junior ranks is a rare opportunity).

 

[Quack]

Sioux, who took a $hit in your cherios this morning! wow, while everyone agrees that the contract is not good, like someone else said, calling out your own co workers when your not even on the line yet is absurd. there are a lot of people working hard trying to get things changed here at compass, but that stuff doesn't happen overnight. i am surprised that you didn't think about any of the things you talk about before you signed the dotted line at compass. at least those of us who were here early on could use the "its a new airline" excuse, but if you're still in training you have no excuse to say that you weren't informed about what's going on here. while i agree with you on the fact that the company hasn't been 100% on its promises to the pilots here, it isn't anything new for a regional airline. I suggest you get the enormous chip off your shoulder, FINISH training, and then maybe you have a right to spout your mouth off about how "deplorable" the conditions are at compass. we're all in this together and we're all trying to get things changed, but you gotta give it some time. the airline has only been in full operations for 1 1/2 yrs.

 

[WSurf]

So again Sioux...please fill us all in on why you still work here?

Probably because they are/were about the only ones hiring at the time. Plus I believe many have gone to Compass based on its potential. Which I believe it has a bunch (based on what Delta will do it could also be sold down the road).

I think Sioux might just feel the sting of being furloughed by his mainline carrier. Plus the fact that his last regional airline had better pay and work rules then Compass does.

Don't jump all over him, many people try and progress there careers and when all the sudden you see it regress it can be a bit frustrating. I think many of us would have this attitude if this happened to us. This career we all have chosen is a big rollercoaster ride and we can only hope the low parts don't last long.

Good Luck to everyone that has chosen this career.

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

Sioux, who took a $hit in your cherios this morning! wow, while everyone agrees that the contract is not good, like someone else said, calling out your own co workers when your not even on the line yet is absurd. there are a lot of people working hard trying to get things changed here at compass, but that stuff doesn't happen overnight. i am surprised that you didn't think about any of the things you talk about before you signed the dotted line at compass. at least those of us who were here early on could use the "its a new airline" excuse, but if you're still in training you have no excuse to say that you weren't informed about what's going on here. while i agree with you on the fact that the company hasn't been 100% on its promises to the pilots here, it isn't anything new for a regional airline. I suggest you get the enormous chip off your shoulder, FINISH training, and then maybe you have a right to spout your mouth off about how "deplorable" the conditions are at compass. we're all in this together and we're all trying to get things changed, but you gotta give it some time. the airline has only been in full operations for 1 1/2 yrs.

Again I will state- " I am not making fun of or calling my coworkers bad people." This is all about Compost management. Calling this place compost is calling it like it really is. This company not pilots are compost. AGAIN NOT THE PILOTS. As others have stated when you take the big ERJ and fly it on mainline routes you should be paid like a mainline pilot. Quack I don't need to finish training to have the right "spout" my mouth off. It was my right to complain and want change since my hire date. I guess you don't complain because you are happy flying the big erj for crappy wages and an even worse contract? Come on when will you all realize when people post on FI it isn't always about making fun of each other? It is all about telling the truth, and the truth is undeniable; COMPOST(the company, not the pilots) is horrible. It is no where near where the leading commuter airlines are. If you can't see that then you are disillusioned. I will continue to complain and I am sorry that offends you. Can't wait to fly with you maybe we can see eye to eye one day.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

WSurf,

Hey while I agree with much of what you said concerning career progression, it frankly is a sorry excuse for a professional to go on tantrum like rants chock full of name calling and denigrating monikers.

If you'd like to learn how to take your lumps with grace you should speak with most of the former ATA guys that have been hired here. I've personally flown with a couple of these guys, and believe me they recognize that things aren't perfect. They however, direct their criticisms with tact and respect toward their fellow coworkers. I really feel for these guys, they're great professionals who had unfortunate luck. If anyone has a right to have a chip on their shoulder its these guys, yet most of them are taking it in stride.

Listen, we all know things aren't rainbows and unicorns at Compass. We're like an airline refugee camp, we've all come from somewhere, some type of previous air carrier jobs. Many of us were really getting the $h*t end of the stick in our previous positions. Compass for its faults, looks like quite a picnic compared to where I had come from.

We're not highly paid, or have a great contract, but we're working hard and trying to make CPS a better place. Remember, none of us had a say in the contract. With that said though, most of us are here at Compass because we want to be here. No one is holding a gun Sioux's head. Plenty of guys had come to training, found other jobs, and left in the past.

FWIW, I'm a member of the training comittee and I've not received a single phone call in the past couple months. Not to say that other training committee members haven't, but I have not and my number is right there on your list. We know there's problems but we don't know where to start without help from the guys in training up in YUL.

Sioux, if I ever fly with you, the first round is on me. Best of luck with the training, we've all been there and through it.

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

Good to be vocal but to call the airline who hired you a crappy company based on a month in YUL with outsource training is just childish.

I am an ALPA guy here working on enforcing the contract we have. We have suggested many things that need to added and we are trying to negotiate some things but when you negotiate a crappy contract we r going to have to give some thing away. No one here negotiated this thing, it was the NWA MEC before the 175 started fly. Getting all fired up is ok but you need to direct that anger towards the NWA MEC not us line guys.

Calling us Compost does nothing but insult your coworkers. If your based out of DTW hope we fly together to see if your view changed. I am the only contract guy based in DTW.

I am sorry to hear that when I call my company compost it offends you. Never once have I tried to degrade the pilots of compost. My "anger" is directed towards those in Chantilly not the line pilots of compost. The name compost is showing my disdain for the company NOT THE PILOTS. Maybe when we fly together we can work this out. Maybe some of our thoughts are lost through typing. I hope as an ALPA person you don't truly feel compost is a "good" airline. The pilots may be an awesome group, but the company is a joke and in regards to pay and contract we are lightyears behind where we should be.

 

[SiouxHockeyFan]

WSurf,

Hey while I agree with much of what you said concerning career progression, it frankly is a sorry excuse for a professional to go on tantrum like rants chock full of name calling and denigrating monikers.

If you'd like to learn how to take your lumps with grace you should speak with most of the former ATA guys that have been hired here. I've personally flown with a couple of these guys, and believe me they recognize that things aren't perfect. They however, direct their criticisms with tact and respect toward their fellow coworkers. I really feel for these guys, they're great professionals who had unfortunate luck. If anyone has a right to have a chip on their shoulder its these guys, yet most of them are taking it in stride.

Listen, we all know things aren't rainbows and unicorns at Compass. We're like an airline refugee camp, we've all come from somewhere, some type of previous air carrier jobs. Many of us were really getting the $h*t end of the stick in our previous positions. Compass for its faults, looks like quite a picnic compared to where I had come from.

We're not highly paid, or have a great contract, but we're working hard and trying to make CPS a better place. Remember, none of us had a say in the contract. With that said though, most of us are here at Compass because we want to be here. No one is holding a gun Sioux's head. Plenty of guys had come to training, found other jobs, and left in the past.

FWIW, I'm a member of the training comittee and I've not received a single phone call in the past couple months. Not to say that other training committee members haven't, but I have not and my number is right there on your list. We know there's problems but we don't know where to start without help from the guys in training up in YUL.

Sioux, if I ever fly with you, the first round is on me. Best of luck with the training, we've all been there and through it.

Spaulding-Thanks, I am looking forward to working with you!

 

[WSurf]

WSurf,

Hey while I agree with much of what you said concerning career progression, it frankly is a sorry excuse for a professional to go on tantrum like rants chock full of name calling and denigrating monikers.

If you'd like to learn how to take your lumps with grace you should speak with most of the former ATA guys that have been hired here. I've personally flown with a couple of these guys, and believe me they recognize that things aren't perfect. They however, direct their criticisms with tact and respect toward their fellow coworkers. I really feel for these guys, they're great professionals who had unfortunate luck. If anyone has a right to have a chip on their shoulder its these guys, yet most of them are taking it in stride.

Listen, we all know things aren't rainbows and unicorns at Compass. We're like an airline refugee camp, we've all come from somewhere, some type of previous air carrier jobs. Many of us were really getting the $h*t end of the stick in our previous positions. Compass for its faults, looks like quite a picnic compared to where I had come from.

We're not highly paid, or have a great contract, but we're working hard and trying to make CPS a better place. Remember, none of us had a say in the contract. With that said though, most of us are here at Compass because we want to be here. No one is holding a gun Sioux's head. Plenty of guys had come to training, found other jobs, and left in the past.

FWIW, I'm a member of the training comittee and I've not received a single phone call in the past couple months. Not to say that other training committee members haven't, but I have not and my number is right there on your list. We know there's problems but we don't know where to start without help from the guys in training up in YUL.

Sioux, if I ever fly with you, the first round is on me. Best of luck with the training, we've all been there and through it.

Smails, your right and I totally agree. We all have chosen a profession that totally takes advantage of one thing. And that one thing is we love to "fly airplanes!" At some point in our lives we feel in love with it and its the one thing we all wanted to do in our lives.

Its different from Auto Workers Unions, Steel Unions, etc. etc. Many of them do the job because that all that they were able to do. How many of those guys grew up saying I wanted to be a Auto Worker, Salesman or a steel factory employee? Probably none of them.

Management takes advantage of the fact we love our job, and its the one thing that most of use wanted to do as a career. Most of us spent 30-50k learning to a job that we love to do, even if it pays 25k to start.

Maybe in the future more people will realize this is a deadend job and with a shortage of pilots comes more perks and opportunities.

Off to bed now, too many Grey Goose's on the rocks!

 

[Quack]

Again I will state- " I am not making fun of or calling my coworkers bad people." This is all about Compost management. Calling this place compost is calling it like it really is. This company not pilots are compost. AGAIN NOT THE PILOTS. As others have stated when you take the big ERJ and fly it on mainline routes you should be paid like a mainline pilot. Quack I don't need to finish training to have the right "spout" my mouth off. It was my right to complain and want change since my hire date. I guess you don't complain because you are happy flying the big erj for crappy wages and an even worse contract? Come on when will you all realize when people post on FI it isn't always about making fun of each other? It is all about telling the truth, and the truth is undeniable; COMPOST(the company, not the pilots) is horrible. It is no where near where the leading commuter airlines are. If you can't see that then you are disillusioned. I will continue to complain and I am sorry that offends you. Can't wait to fly with you maybe we can see eye to eye one day.

Listen i am not saying that this place is perfect by any means. you don't need to tell me whats wrong with the operations and problems we have. I've experienced them! If you thought the grass would be greener on the other side, you're quickly finding out that compass is no different than most regionals out there. crappy contract, mainline planes flown at turboprop rates, bad work rules, little vacation, captains flying more in the right seat than left, horrible management, and the list goes on. but name one regional that people are happy to be at right now. they ALL have their problems. i will never ever say that compass is "the" place to be, but you should've known that before coming here. I am not disagreeing with you, but calling it the worst regional out there is a bit much. you got your type, if it is that bad, go sit somewhere else. maybe you could be one of the furloughed comair guys, or a CA displacement at EXJet, waiting for a 8yr upgrade at QX, or wishing for a contract at PNCL. Believe me, i've been there, this is the 3rd regional for me and i'm convinced they're all the same in their own way.

 

[skipro101]

What are the training issues?

 

[BOHICAgain]

What are the training issues?

Training is outsource to CAE. Since they are not Compass they have instructors that are not standardized since they instruct many airlines.
Since it is in YUL it is harder to get guys up there to instructor so the schedules are always in the air. It should take no more than 2 1/2 to 3 weeks to do everything up there. I was there 35+ days last year and heard that things are the same.

Sioux- agree that this company lacks leadership. Also that Compass management acts like a used car sales men and the amount of grievances has increased tremendously over the past few months because line guys are just fed up with the lack of knowledge by Chantilly on the contract.

So yes we know Compass is not great but we are trying to help improve that and look forward to working with you when you get on the line.

 

[luvz2fli]

Everybody keeps talking about making changes and what not. How do we make changes to a contract that isn't amendable until 2013. I mean you can make suggestions on how to make small things change but at the same time, what significant ones can we do?

As for our contract, I have heard that they took all the contracts and basically took an average of them to make Compass's. It's weird as I know some people are excited as they leave behind worse contracts and for others, this is a step down really. Of course, if you came from a mainline, this will definitely be a drastic step down I would hope. Hope as in you were paid better at a mainline job.

If you truly plan on making changes, great, but I've been around too many people who just want to complain and never do anything about it. Oh well.

 

[DrewBlows]

Everybody keeps talking about making changes and what not. How do we make changes to a contract that isn't amendable until 2013. I mean you can make suggestions on how to make small things change but at the same time, what significant ones can we do?

Ding, ding, ding!!! We have a winner!! People can whine and moan all they want but it's not going to change the contract we have. All we can do is make sure the contract we have now is enforced. In my experience Compass isn't willfully disregarding the contract, however there is a level of ignorance of the contract within the scheduling department. The best thing the average line pilot can do is know the contract.

As an aside, I haven't seen a whole lot of whining on line. There are always a few who will never be happy, but as a group Compass pilots seem to be very pragmatic and easy going.