Continental Connection CRJ?

[volav8r1]

must be chaneequa... that is the only one. we CAL pilots hate chaneequa. there performance sucks. they have broken on my buddy who commutes out of COS, weight restricted, cancelled. poor guys commute has been hell.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot............Your an idiot!!!!

 

[flyguy81]

funny, every gate agent i've talked to in continental stations say that when expressjet started back in the day they were told by continental to EXPECT 50% cancellations and late departures. And it was so until you all got ACARS and coffee jugs instead of pots and got other stuff ironed out. Starting a new operation takes time and as soon as stuff gets ironed out then numbers will be a lot better. I highly doubt your delta stuff is going to go off without a hitch, but if it does then maybe that proves that your management can actually plan ahead.

 

[Axel]

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=94729

 

[Popeye0537]

no no, i'd say he pretty much gets it Popeye. What does his seniority have anything to do with it?? The XJT guys see us in IAH as we see Freedom in MCO. We lost an smooth, well respected operation to a company who can't plan ahead to save it's life. What chq handed us with the CRJ is embarrassing and frustrating to watch as even our best efforts seem to come up short with the program we're handed.

Don't blame any pilots except Ho-Jetters. Hopefully we'll get on top of it.

T-Hawk

What his seniority has to do with is that he is hearing second hand the few problems we are running into. The only thing embarrassing is what the company diceded to pay CJ and CM to get this program up and running. It pisses me off to hear FO's bitchin about how poorly run this and other programs are run. I'm not a BB lover but he has us flying in almost every code share out there. I consider that job securtiy for now.

It was a sad day to see Freedom in MCO, but to compare us to them in IAH is not quite the same. We did not underbid XJT for the flying and thier pay is sub par at best.

I'm not attacking you Drizz, just trying to educate him on certain things.

 

[Traumahawk]

It was a sad day to see Freedom in MCO, but to compare us to them in IAH is not quite the same. We did not underbid XJT for the flying and thier pay is sub par at best.

I'm not attacking you Drizz, just trying to educate him on certain things.

I was comparing performance and reputation. How we ended up there is irrelevant. What CAL and COEX see is all they can go by. Underbidding and reallocation of flying has nothing to do with it. We are severely understaffed and introducing a new type from 0-100mph without being properly prepared, and that is on top of the amazing efforts of CM and the pilots.

Again, hopefully it gets better, fast. There are too many steps behind us to show this was an expansion put forth on the cheap. What's unfortunate is that this isn't usually how we go about things. I hope we catch up fast.

 

[The Drizzle]

I'm not attacking you Drizz, just trying to educate him on certain things.

Nothing I typed was false. Why do you hate when us lowly FOs "b!tch" about other programs? Do you have a 5th stripe I should know about? I had a great opp to chat with CM a while back in Jan and he have me the dish up to that point.

It has taken herculean efforts on his part and the pilots part to overcome the company's poor planning, FS's poor training, and we can add our POI as well as bag weights to stupid sh!t we shouldn't have to deal with.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

Popeye,

Judging by your previous posts on here you aren't exactly a senior Captain at CHQ yourself. Actually, I would wager that you don't have more than a few months of seniority over these lowly FO's you keep attacking here. Merely an observation....

 

[yasir1212]

OK, for whatever reason, Im having a brain fart,. who flys CRJs under Continental Connection colors? Saw one is GSO yesterday. I cant recall seeing any CRJs in those colors.

There are NO ERJ/CRJ's that are painted in the Continental Connection colors, only the t-props are. All the jets, XJT and now CHQ, are under the Continental Express colors.

 

[The Drizzle]

There are NO ERJ/CRJ's that are painted in the Continental Connection colors, only the t-props are. All the jets, XJT and now CHQ, are under the Continental Express colors.

well, thank god that hair was split

 

[SkyBoy1981]

There are NO ERJ/CRJ's that are painted in the Continental Connection colors, only the t-props are. All the jets, XJT and now CHQ, are under the Continental Express colors.

Yes, because the paint schemes are so drastically different they could never be confused.

 

[Popeye0537]

Popeye,

Judging by your previous posts on here you aren't exactly a senior Captain at CHQ yourself. Actually, I would wager that you don't have more than a few months of seniority over these lowly FO's you keep attacking here. Merely an observation....

I'm not attacking Skyboy, the only people I attack come from Skywest. I've been around the block with other regionals so my seniority # is not 1

 

[Avpilot]

There are NO ERJ/CRJ's that are painted in the Continental Connection colors, only the t-props are. All the jets, XJT and now CHQ, are under the Continental Express colors.

Ok, but the only problem to that statement "All the jets are under COEX colors" is that they are not. I was pulling into the north ramp yesterday and snapped a picture of a CHQ ERJ in United colors...and it's the old United colors at that. I would post it if I knew how. The funny thing too is that someone at CAL ops thought it would be a good idea to put that United paint job right up front in front of the terminal for all the CAL passengers to see. Makes about as much sense as bringing CHQ into this mix in the first place.

 

[The Drizzle]

...and it's the old United colors at that.

And now you are exaggerating, we never had an airplane painted in the old united colors. It's ok you can tell the truth, we'll still look bad.

 

[jrcpilot]

Bottom line, CHQ bit off more than it can chew and it will be a long time before it is fixed. Mid-summer at the earliest. I used to defend CHQ, but now I'll just reserve my efforts to defending the pilots. We are doing everything we possibly can to run a safe and efficient operation with what we are given. As you see, we aren't given much. I can't believe I'm trying to get upgrade to the CRJ knowing what I know about the program and the company's efforts(lack thereof).

Hey Drizzle,
I'm just curious is the company is having a lot of heartburn with the CRJ or is it something else? I saw an ERJ on a MTC delay the other day as well under the COEX banner. I was under the impression that the CRJ's were older ACA birds in the desert they picked up. You got any info on that?

 

[jrcpilot]

We are doing the best we can to provide CAL with the best service. Superpilot92, does XJT never have any mechanical issues. And half our delays are due to Customer Service and Ramp agents not know how to work our flights.

We have some. Probably not as many as CHQ but I don't have good info on that. We have the advantage of being born out of Continental and mirror their procedures when it comes to the operation. So we can most times anticipate what needs to be done and get it done. Will see how things pan out for us when we start DAL service. I used to work at DL and know that the operation there is much different than how CAL runs it so will see how we measure up in June with DL. I hope people at XJT are watching and getting plans together to have a good start up over at DL. Time will tell.

 

[jrcpilot]

hey Drizzle and Popeye...if you guys are gonna bitch at eachother and start a civil war...do it somewhere else.....bickering on here doesnt help

Hey thats what this forum is for. People bitch and they make entertainment for the rest of us. Lots of FODDER and entertainment.

 

[jrcpilot]

Whats the deal with the hardstands in IAH, is it me or do some of the workers do their own thing? I here Xjet had a few issues with the hardstands in IAH. What the prob?

Hard stands just suck period. Our aircraft has the plug type door that slides to the sides no stairs so its better to use the jetways for us. I believe CHQ have the stairs in their A/C's. My assumption is that many of your flights will go out of the hardstands for this reason. As for the environment out there well it sucks. It's like your in deep space nine and no one knows what the f*ck is going on sometimes. I think the problem is that it's hard to manage a tarmack that big with all those flights. I don't think they have a good logistical set up to run it. It's just a pain in the a$$ when something is not going as planned to get it corrected out there. Takes more time than say at the gate where people are close.

 

[jrcpilot]

I am a CRJ guy in IAH. I will start by saying that I too am embarrassed by the performance of the program. I used to defend the company for it's mis-management until recently. We have no infrastructure in place in Indy to deal with the increasing size of our operation. Middle mgmnt is absolutely aweful on most fronts (some are very good).

But lets look at the reality of the situation:
1.) every single one of our flights are off the B Hardstand.

2.) The planes have been sitting idle for the past year to year & half (there will be Mtx issues. The first ones have gotten most of the bugs out)

3.) We don't exactly get a lot of help from the ramp. (Yesterday I sat ready to go for 20 minutes waiting for someone to come load the gate checked bags. We were 15 minutes late. Delay went to the ramp.

4.) I could go on for hours, but the biggest thing that people fail to realize is we have something like 9 CRJ departures a day from IAH. If only a few of those go late the performance numbers of course will suck!

There are definately problems with the operation, I won't argue against that. If someone has access to the delays I would love to see how many actually go to the crew. I would be willing to bet not many!

I have to agree with you there. I seriously doubt alot of pilot crews for CHQ are causing delays. Unfortunately your dealing with something that we have heartburn too at XJT. I have sat there at the hardstand waiting to be loaded up and I can't get ops to respond on the radio. I'm not sure what the problem with the hardstands are. I think it maybe staffing and their logistics. Their communication sucks out there. They need like a row coordinator that coordinates all the activity at each row because the way they do it know doesn't work very efficiently. I bet if you look at numbers for just the hardstand operation alone you would see that we have probably similar numbers when it comes to delays. Hope it gets better for you guys.

 

[jrcpilot]

funny, every gate agent i've talked to in continental stations say that when expressjet started back in the day they were told by continental to EXPECT 50% cancellations and late departures. And it was so until you all got ACARS and coffee jugs instead of pots and got other stuff ironed out. Starting a new operation takes time and as soon as stuff gets ironed out then numbers will be a lot better. I highly doubt your delta stuff is going to go off without a hitch, but if it does then maybe that proves that your management can actually plan ahead.

Good post. I agree. I stated earlier on another post that I hope our management team is watching and learning from these hiccups so we are better prepared for the DL start up. I worked at DL can tell you first hand that they run their operation much differently than CAL. It's a different culture and mindset at DL. I see it changing and agents are starting to turn flights much better at DL. I non-rev on them out of ATL for IAH. Will see how it goes. I hope we have a good plan to execute but time will tell. LAX is going to be a unique challenge for us with DL. I just hope our company communicates the procedures to us in good detail.

 

[jrcpilot]

Ok, but the only problem to that statement "All the jets are under COEX colors" is that they are not. I was pulling into the north ramp yesterday and snapped a picture of a CHQ ERJ in United colors...and it's the old United colors at that. I would post it if I knew how. The funny thing too is that someone at CAL ops thought it would be a good idea to put that United paint job right up front in front of the terminal for all the CAL passengers to see. Makes about as much sense as bringing CHQ into this mix in the first place.

I agree with you. This happened at DL several years ago. I used to be a ramp supervisor at DL and saw several times SKW using United liverly CRJ for DL operations. My Duty manager was livid. He called our station director and they threw a fit. I don't know what SKW response to the deal was but it has happened before and I am sure it will happen again. Especially during a Start up operation

 

[tweeter125]

And now you are exaggerating, we never had an airplane painted in the old united colors. It's ok you can tell the truth, we'll still look bad.

Drizz, I cant believe that you haven't seen the "Franken-spare". I have personally flown it on the Delta side. It is the same United paint as our others it just doesn't say United Express.

 

[The Drizzle]

Drizz, I cant believe that you haven't seen the "Franken-spare". I have personally flown it on the Delta side. It is the same United paint as our others it just doesn't say United Express.

I fly it all the time, I call it the De-Nited plane. However, it is in new UAL colors not the old. May seem like splitting hairs, but there is a huge difference in the dull gray of the old paint job and the white and blue of the new. Still ghetto and without defense, I'm just trying to keep the haters on an even keel.

 

[SYX328]

N296SK is in the UA colors however it is not marked except for the old cheatlines and Star sticker up by the main door. It is fun to see it in IAH amongst the other ERJ's.

 

[BlackPilot628]

I can't honestly tell people how the CRJ program is going at CHQ. I have talked to a few of the Check Airman that went to the program for the E145, who said that things are starting to get better. I know the Super-pilot wants to throw rocks at us CHQ boys and or just talk sh!t, but we do everything that we can to make sure flights get out on time. I myself have now ripped two pair of pants unloading carry on bags for our passengers in order to minimize their waiting time. Most of us are do what we can.
This is a new operation and it will take at least 6 months to hash out the problems. Furthermore, this is a new airplane for us. Look back at the E170's when we first got them. It was a nightmare!

Someone earlier said "that CHQ bit off more that they can chew". You couldn't have been more right. We are having true growing pains right now. To many planes (coming) and not enough pilots. This is a problem that management should have seen coming last year. Now for the first time in the 2 years that I've been here, we have started Canceling some flights because of no crews. Even with the override pay, they're still canceling some flights.
I think the problem is in training, We need 300 people RIGHT NOW, but you can't train 300 people in a month. SO....we're in a stump. Not to mention all of the people that are leaving. I moved up 30 numbers this month.

XJT will soon start to fly for Delta, XJET, and will experience some of the same operational growing pains. Delta is a classy operation and they don't take well to cancellations and/or non-weather delays. You operation will change to cater to the "Delta Connection" book, even if that means Canceling 2 COA flights and ferrying them out to LAX to cover Delta Flying. I've always had respect for the XJT guys and have friends there that have 90% good things to say. Skyboy himself is a friend of mine. No one could have deserved this flying more other than Delta themselves. I'm sure that XJT's pilots will provide the same level of service that we (CHQ) pilots provide for our code-shares.

Don't make this about pilot groups. The word pilot ishould be NO where in this equation.

 

[Paladin]

Why would you take the word of a Ramper? They have an IQ as high as my shoe size.

Funny how many rampers I knew who were working their way through college and/or grad school. What about pilots who got on as rampers while building time? I guess working for that 'small 121 operator' out of FLL makes you a Rhodes Scholar...get over yourself. But then who am I to say anything...I'm just a dumb ex-ramper with two degrees and a job that makes more in one week then you probably make all month.

...sorry for the hijack...done venting.

 

[samballs]

I love the stations in FL they complain about CHQ and Mesa more than pilots do.

 

[samballs]

I can't honestly tell people how the CRJ program is going at CHQ. I have talked to a few of the Check Airman that went to the program for the E145, who said that things are starting to get better. I know the Super-pilot wants to throw rocks at us CHQ boys and or just talk sh!t, but we do everything that we can to make sure flights get out on time. I myself have now ripped two pair of pants unloading carry on bags for our passengers in order to minimize their waiting time. Most of us are do what we can.

Company must love you.

This is a new operation and it will take at least 6 months to hash out the problems. Furthermore, this is a new airplane for us. Look back at the E170's when we first got them. It was a nightmare!

Someone earlier said "that CHQ bit off more that they can chew". You couldn't have been more right. We are having true growing pains right now. To many planes (coming) and not enough pilots. This is a problem that management should have seen coming last year. Now for the first time in the 2 years that I've been here, we have started Canceling some flights because of no crews. Even with the override pay, they're still canceling some flights.
I think the problem is in training, We need 300 people RIGHT NOW, but you can't train 300 people in a month. SO....we're in a stump. Not to mention all of the people that are leaving. I moved up 30 numbers this month.

XJT will soon start to fly for Delta, XJET, and will experience some of the same operational growing pains. Delta is a classy operation and they don't take well to cancellations and/or non-weather delays. You operation will change to cater to the "Delta Connection" book, even if that means Canceling 2 COA flights and ferrying them out to LAX to cover Delta Flying. I've always had respect for the XJT guys and have friends there that have 90% good things to say. Skyboy himself is a friend of mine. No one could have deserved this flying more other than Delta themselves. I'm sure that XJT's pilots will provide the same level of service that we (CHQ) pilots provide for our code-shares.

Don't make this about pilot groups. The word pilot ishould be NO where in this equation.

Lets hope they can one up you guys. Not trying to throw rocks but CHQ service sucks. I think its really classy when your FLt ATTs walk threw the back of the plane on a 1 1/2 hr flight with their trench coat on and the box of water then sit down and stair at the passengers

 

[TAWS]

Children .......... Children ........ STFU already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any new operation is going to have problems!
Any new operation, which brings on an unfamiliar type, is going to have problems!
When those A/C have been sitting in the desert for 1.5 years, you'll have more problems.
When ground personnel bitch and refuse to "go the extra mile" because you're CHQ, not XJT, you'll have more problems.

CAL knows numbers, we aren't leaving - get over it! The CRJ leases are INCREDIBLY cheap, that's why we have them. CAL will threaten CHQ with termination, BB will throw money at the operation and the storm will pass.

XJT will have hiccups with DAL, just fewer because they are operating the same type and have ALOT of experience on it.

 

[Lino Duce]

N296SK is in the UA colors however it is not marked except for the old cheatlines and Star sticker up by the main door. It is fun to see it in IAH amongst the other ERJ's.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT!

 

[jrcpilot]

I can't honestly tell people how the CRJ program is going at CHQ. I have talked to a few of the Check Airman that went to the program for the E145, who said that things are starting to get better. I know the Super-pilot wants to throw rocks at us CHQ boys and or just talk sh!t, but we do everything that we can to make sure flights get out on time. I myself have now ripped two pair of pants unloading carry on bags for our passengers in order to minimize their waiting time. Most of us are do what we can.
This is a new operation and it will take at least 6 months to hash out the problems. Furthermore, this is a new airplane for us. Look back at the E170's when we first got them. It was a nightmare!

Someone earlier said "that CHQ bit off more that they can chew". You couldn't have been more right. We are having true growing pains right now. To many planes (coming) and not enough pilots. This is a problem that management should have seen coming last year. Now for the first time in the 2 years that I've been here, we have started Canceling some flights because of no crews. Even with the override pay, they're still canceling some flights.
I think the problem is in training, We need 300 people RIGHT NOW, but you can't train 300 people in a month. SO....we're in a stump. Not to mention all of the people that are leaving. I moved up 30 numbers this month.

XJT will soon start to fly for Delta, XJET, and will experience some of the same operational growing pains. Delta is a classy operation and they don't take well to cancellations and/or non-weather delays. You operation will change to cater to the "Delta Connection" book, even if that means Canceling 2 COA flights and ferrying them out to LAX to cover Delta Flying. I've always had respect for the XJT guys and have friends there that have 90% good things to say. Skyboy himself is a friend of mine. No one could have deserved this flying more other than Delta themselves. I'm sure that XJT's pilots will provide the same level of service that we (CHQ) pilots provide for our code-shares.

Don't make this about pilot groups. The word pilot ishould be NO where in this equation.

Well said!!