Yes there are ... just flew with a FO who was making the XC commute to sit reserve in OAK.
This is a new reality for us. We have not experienced seniority list stagnation like this; ever.
9/11/2001 put the brakes on for a little over 18 months (if memory serves).
Age 65, the economy, rising incremental costs (labor and fuel) and a decrease in risk tolerance have all lead up to our new reality.
I remember reading the Age 65 Pro/Con paper that came out from SWAPA when they were in the final press to change the legislation to conform with ICAO standards. The positon paper asserted that upgrades would be delayed in the 1.5 to 2.5 year range. One of the justifications was that SWA would continue to take on airframes (SWA had until this recent reality taken most of their options) and expand. The author of the paper, some time later, stated that he was rushed and wished he had more time to put out a balanced pro/con piece. I don't believe the guy to be evil or motivated to misrepresent the facts (hell I yanked gear for him for many years), but his timing and accuracy could not have been more off the mark.
It wasn't but three weeks later we announced an aggregate 8% reduction in flying, cancellation of future new hire classes and rescheduling of aircraft deliveries.
Now, for the first time in our history we have 10 year FOs, with the upgrade window growing longer by the month. We have downgraded captains and cut our lance captain program.
Many captains who were hired before 1999 have a difficult time understanding our new reality. I know this because when these 10 year FOs sit down with me I hear the stories of clueless captains.
When I started, Chief Pilots and Check Airman made it those positions around the 6 - 8 year point. This, for me, underscores just how different our reality is now from the past.
SL
This is a new reality for us. We have not experienced seniority list stagnation like this; ever.
9/11/2001 put the brakes on for a little over 18 months (if memory serves).
Age 65, the economy, rising incremental costs (labor and fuel) and a decrease in risk tolerance have all lead up to our new reality.
I remember reading the Age 65 Pro/Con paper that came out from SWAPA when they were in the final press to change the legislation to conform with ICAO standards. The positon paper asserted that upgrades would be delayed in the 1.5 to 2.5 year range. One of the justifications was that SWA would continue to take on airframes (SWA had until this recent reality taken most of their options) and expand. The author of the paper, some time later, stated that he was rushed and wished he had more time to put out a balanced pro/con piece. I don't believe the guy to be evil or motivated to misrepresent the facts (hell I yanked gear for him for many years), but his timing and accuracy could not have been more off the mark.
It wasn't but three weeks later we announced an aggregate 8% reduction in flying, cancellation of future new hire classes and rescheduling of aircraft deliveries.
Now, for the first time in our history we have 10 year FOs, with the upgrade window growing longer by the month. We have downgraded captains and cut our lance captain program.
Many captains who were hired before 1999 have a difficult time understanding our new reality. I know this because when these 10 year FOs sit down with me I hear the stories of clueless captains.
When I started, Chief Pilots and Check Airman made it those positions around the 6 - 8 year point. This, for me, underscores just how different our reality is now from the past.
SL
