Continental Express?

[JDJ]

I am looking for info. on Contnental Express? Do they go by a new name? Have any of the pilots been called back? When might they start hiring again? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
JDJ

 

[vja217]

calforums

plenty of coex people in here... in the meantime check out www.calforums.com

 

[skydiverdriver]

Yeah,
It's a great place to go. You get all the advantages of flying for a regional, great schedules, nice aircraft, top notch pay, with one big advantange of working for a major, the chance to get furloughed. I'm so glad they turned me down.

 

[NightFlyer]

I left there a year ago but I still keep up on what's going on there. My friends are telling me that they will probably begin recalling around the end of this year and hiring sometime next year. As far as regionals go, I think it's one of the best around. Great people to work with, nice equipment and hopefully they will get a decent contract soon. They are still taking delivery of around four RJ's a month and will be getting their third EMB-145 sim online later this year. Good luck to ya.


NightFlyer

 

[IAHERJ]

Looks like we'll be hiring early next year. 4 ERJ's a month for the next few years is a fact. The furloughed Continental guys should leave hopefully next year sometime and the movement will be very fast again at Express. We just announced a new Mexican destination this week and will continue to announce new markets all Summer and Fall. Pay is already in the middle of the small jet operator level and should leap frog the guys at the top early next year. We begin contract talks next week and could have some squabbles but in the end everyone on property will be very happy when the deal is signed. The airline is run very well and I really don't know of any other small jet airline that is so integrated with the major they work with than Continental Express. Rarely do we use bording stairs on the ERJ's and almost all are ACARS equipped and over half have dual FMS units making life easier on the pilots. We stay in some of the nicest hotels in the country when on layovers with many Mexican and domestic layovers exceeding 33 hours. If we can just pull the pay up to the levels we deserve you'd hear no complaint out of me. Get your resume's dusted off if you are interested in working here next year. It is going to be a busy 2003.

 

[Future SNA]

Never quite made it to the runway....

I was on Continental waiting to take off for my interview in Houston on 9/11, needless to say, we turned around. Good to hear things might be picking up again at CoEX, the only thing that worries me, is that by the time our plane was back at the gate, they had already furloughed 200 pilots! Now I am exagerrating, but all I heard before 9/11 was that CoEX was a VERY stable place, yet they started furloughing almost the earliest, and from what I've heard, some of the most. How stable does that sound? Even though this is how I feel, I was still very excited about my interview, and, would just possibly, like to work their someday, if the cards fall right.

 

[FamilyMan]

Flow Through status

Guys,
I was just wondering whatever happened with the flow through. I know when the IPO was supposed to happen last year, the flow through would end. The justification was to keep the companies completely separate.

9/11 happened, then reverse flow through was alive and well, even with the current IPO.

What will happen one all the mainline guys are back at mainline? Will the flow through then die. IMHO I think it should stay alive since the reveres flow through is still alive today and so many people were furloughed.

Tell me what the situation,
FamilyMan

 

[wingnutt]

ive got a ? for the current C/E guys.

is it possible for y'all to locate another C/E pilot within your system? my first flight instructor went there about 3 years ago, and i lost contact as we both moved shortly thereafter

any chance i could give ya his name and one of ya pin him down for me?...assumming hes still there of course

 

[scotts]

I'm currently on furlough from Expressjet...

Family Man,

The company intends to terminate the FTA when CAL becomes a minority owner around the end of October. Last year ALPA said they would fight any attempt to illegally terminate the agreement early. From what I can tell, the FTA would expire before CAL begins hiring again. That is important because the flow rate is tied to hiring at CAL. If no-one is hired between now and the expiration of the FTA, the only people flowing over will be the senior captains who are grandfathered by CAL. Whether or not a "new" FTA will be negotiated, only time will tell. The "flow-backs" will remain at Express until recalled by CAL regardless. The FTA was interpreted that way back in Dec. of 2001, and a LOA was signed by the company and union.

Future SNA,

No-one was officialy furloughed until October 1st. There are many opinions about what is right re: furloughs, etc. I was furloughed on Nov. 1st and although I don't like it, at least my company is still growing (as are others) and I see a good future there. I am expecting a recall notice around or by the end of the year. Unlike many of us, I'm not necessarily looking to move on to a major airline. So, I'm content to wait for my recall, and look forward to working for a great company. With a superior industry leading contract just around the corner, I believe that XJT will be the place to be in the near future.

As far as A/C deliveries, 4 per month until October, then 8 EMB145XR's for that month, then 5 each in Nov. and Dec., then 4 or 5 per month after that. We should have 194 +- aircraft by years end.

If anyone has better intel, please feel free to correct me!

Scott
"Small Jet" FO Furloughed Nov. 1st.

 

[JDJ]

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like it will soon be a great place to be. I will keep instructing and put my resume in by the end of the year. Anyone heard of a possible domicile in TYS?

Thanks Again,
JDJ

 

[IAHERJ]

You have to understand that COEX would not have furloughed a single pilot if there was no flow-through. The flow-through provision also works in reverse and most people who were interested in interviewing or working for COEX knew this. However that being said, when the flow-through is terminated, or re-negotiated, things will be different. We are going to hire hundreds in 2003. COEX is not like working for a "regional airline. Just read this weeks USA Today. We're starting service to Palm Springs in December and and a few new destinations in Mexico. My next 4 day takes me through 3 hubs with only 3 legs per day and about 5 hours of flying per day.

 

[IAHERJ]

Oh yeah, real quick, I haven't heard anything about a TYS domicile. It would require some capital spending like a management staff including a chief pilot etc. I see a new base down the road but I don't believe TYS will be one. I do like that airport though. I'm thinking maybe somewhere down on the East coast like Florida, or Richmond VA. Maybe out West one day but who knows. 124 aircraft to be delivered over 3 years and we're running out of room in CLE, IAH, and EWR. Get your resume's ready as we'll finally be looking for some new talent.

IAHERJ

 

[JDJ]

Thanks for all the info. When do you think they will start taking resumes?

Thanks again,
JDJ

 

[IAHERJ]

My guess would be at the earliest, December or January at the latest. It will take only a few months to train the recalls at a rate of 100 a month. After that we will be ready to start with some new hire classes at a rate of about 50-100 a month.

IAHERJ

 

[JDJ]

What are the junior domiciles and which domicile would be the easiest to commute to from Western NC (about 40 NM south of TYS)?

Thanks,
JDJ

 

[IAHERJ]

EWR is probably the most junior base for F/O's however some of our most senior captains are in EWR. IAH is the most senior base for F/O's currently with CLE in the middle. TYS has COEX service to all hubs so you would be in good shape. My advise would be to bid the most junior hub as you will be able to hold a line there more quickly. Commuting while holding a line is a lot more livable than commuting to sit reserve in a crash pad with 5 other guys. However many of my findest memories are of commuting to CLE in the winter and living in an apartment with 5 guys on reserve. It was like being in college again.

 

[JDJ]

One last question! What would a typical junior FO line be at COEX?

Thanks
JDJ

 

[IAHERJ]

A typical hard line (not a reserve schedule) would consist of mostly 4 day trips. You'd have 11-13 days off being junior and you'd probably work a 4 day followed by 3 days off. The trip would be like any other 4 day trip ranging from out and backs from your hub to hub bypass stuff. Here's the trip I just finshed. I am a junior captain therefore the first officer was junior as well.

Day 1:

IAH-CRP
CRP-IAH
IAH-STL
STL-EWR
Layover in EWR at Holiday Inn North

Day 2:
EWR-STL
STL-IAH
IAH-LEX
Layover in LEX at Hyatt Regency Downtown

Day 3:
LEX-CLE
CLE-MKE
MKE-IAH
IAH-DAL

Layover in DAL at Sheraton

Day 4:
DAL-IAH
IAH-CHS
CHS-IAH
Done

Not an exotic trip but you see different areas of the country. I've had and frequently have a 32 hour Mexico layover followed by a layover in Maine or Canada. That's getting around on an RJ.

Some lines have 2 or 3 or even day trips. Most of the day trip lines consist of a complete line of day trips for those who like to be home every night. If you're going to commute you'll probably want 4 days. You can get 4 days of flying in and enjoy some extended time at home. The EWR CA bid packet for July has many lines with 8-9 days off in a row. Several lines with 21 days off but as you might expect, the very senior guys get those. Most lines had 14-15 days off with only the very junior guys getting the minimum 11 days off. Reserve schedules are 11 days off with 4-5 days of reserve in a row followed by 2-3 days off. You will get 11 days off on reserve.

 

[MartinFierro]

To where are you guys currently flying in Mexico, and where are the expansion plans for down there? 32 hour layovers..Nice!

 

[IAHERJ]

Current Mexican destinations include (forgive my spelling):

Aguascalientes
Saltillo
Monterrey
Torreon
Ixtalpa/Zihuanteno
Mazaltlan
San Louis Potosi
Chihuaha
Veracruz
Tampico
soon Manzinilla (sp?)

The -XR will allow us to go deeper into Mexico and on down into Central America. I may of left out a couple of Mexican destinations but those are the ones I've been two and can recall of the top of my head.

IAHERJ