Furloughed Delta Pilots at Comair?

[chperplt]

As a famous (infamous??) criminal once said... Can't we all just get a long!!

 

[comrcap]

When Delta starts hiring again?! Yeah, I'm hurt. First you have to swim past all the rats jumping ship with their pensions.

 

[AutoTransfer]

I read the Comair MEC's Resolution and here's what I think's going on.

It would seem to me that over the past several months(maybe longer), the MEC's of Delta, Comair and ASA have been keeping in touch with regards to the current situation at Delta and the Connection Carriers. I believe that this may be the dawn of a new era of cooperation between the aforementioned organizations.

Regardless of the past transgressions (real or imagined) of any of these groups towards one another, it may be time to let bygones be bygones.

The Comair MEC Resolution mentions that a partial reason for this reversal of opinion is a result of the Delta MEC pursuing Brand Scope. If Brand Scope is handled appropriately, it could be beneficial for all three groups.

Now before everyone attacks me as Spinmeister AT, I fly for ASA so I have no dog in the Comair/Delta pilot argument. I also have it on good authority that our MEC did discuss some current relevant issues with the Delta MEC and ASA management were absolutely mortified that we were even talking to each other on a peer to peer basis. That's exactly where we want 'em in our situation.

 

[General Lee]

Comrcap,


I just read on the Dalpa web site that good ole Dean Bloom (the DL System Chief Pilot) mentioned the possible need for new hires after this early retirement deal is over and the planned 12-15% growth (rolling hub, faster turn times, etc...) of mainline. This was, of course, contingent on our giving up 30-35% pay etc.... Sounds like a large carrot, but it could happen if a lot of Captains bail out. He mentioned it, not one of our pilots. But hey, you Comair guys don't care--you are the next Major!



Gordo24,

You sound like a major dumba$$.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[chperplt]

But hey, you Comair guys don't care--you are the next Major!

It's generalizations like this that make everyone look stupid.

 

[General Lee]

chperplt,


That is the attitude of MOST Comair guys on this board.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[chperplt]

General,

I don't think that's the attitude at all. I think you DL guys do your best to antagonize the hell out of the comair guys and visa versa.

I really do understand where you guys are coming from.. I don't think you guys have a clue where we're coming from though. There is a happy medium somewhere between our interests. It's not an all or nothing situation and it's about time people realize that.

 

[T-Gates]

I was at Comair and I don't remember ever being asked to vote on bringing Delta guys on. The policy was in place when I got there. If it was up to me, I would've said, "Bring 'em over, plenty of room for everyone". Believe it or not, most of the other pilots agreed.

If that was the general consensus among the CMR pilot group there should have been pressure from the pilots to the MEC to have them try to implement new policy. Those people on your MEC are elected officials, if you don't like what they are doing and want to change it, get involved. Don't just satnd idly by and get pissed. It's YOUR union, not just 5 dudes on the MEC.

And don't give me any of that "Management makes the final desicion" BS, if your MEC tried at all from day one, they could have pulled it off before 3 friggin' years.

It's been said once and I'll say it again, too little, too late....

 

[CarjCapt]

Again, for what it is worth, the Delta MEC chose not to spend negotiating capitol to pressure Delta management to tell DCI to make CMR management hire your furloughed pilots without restrictions.

You chose not to do this to the glee of Delta and DCI management to make sure that the whipsaw is alive and well, and they succeded above and beyond their wildest expetations.

Of course you have seen the results over the last three years with the hate and discontent between the two pilot groups on public and private boards.

 

[DAL737FO]

My opinion of Comair and what goes on there is based on friends that I have there that went there before 911. I'm a former Army pilot and like it or not a lot of our guys went to Comair/ASA (or insert any other regional name) to build what ever time they lacked. When this whole hiring of furloughee's nutroll started I called a bunch of friend there and the overwhelming reply that I received was that most of the pilots did not agree with JCL (Comair MEC) said, however noone was saying anything to the contrary. When I asked why the answer I was given was that it's a no lose situation. If called on the carpet they could say they didn't have a vote if not it really didn't matter. So this conversation lead into the RJDC mess and the same answer was given. If the RJDC wins you get to fly bigger airplanes, if the RJDC loses (and you didn't sign the paper) then you can deny ever supporting it. No lose right. Well here is my opinion, and mine only. ASA supported us during the dark times of trying to find employment. It may have only been a token gesture as only about two dozen DAL pilots were hired. Comair chose to go the opposite direction and say that it could lead to CRM problems and that Comair pilots had no interest in ever moving to DAL. Good for you stick to your guns. I for one will be very much involved in the hiring process at DAL when/if it ever starts again. I was very involved before getting Army pilots hired. I can assure you that I will be very active in getting ASA pilots hired and I will do everything within my limited power to get Comair pilots off the seniority list.

B-727 Freight Dawg

 

[Freddie Spencer]

DBA's

If Comair was furloughing, and Delta was hiring would then DL open the door for "on the street" Comair pilots, instead of pickin up their squadron buddies? Personally I don't really think so...

 

[NYRANGERS]

General,

I don't think that's the attitude at all. I think you DL guys do your best to antagonize the hell out of the comair guys and visa versa.

I really do understand where you guys are coming from.. I don't think you guys have a clue where we're coming from though. There is a happy medium somewhere between our interests. It's not an all or nothing situation and it's about time people realize that.

For the past three years + we have been hearing how "evil" mainline pilots (of all airlines) are. We then had to listen to comair pilot after comair pilot defend the position of not helping out the Delta pilots. It then came down to comair MEC and managment saying you (comair pilots) "would burn the house down, if you had to work with furloughed Delta pilots".

All that raised many emotions for a long while. Now we are over it, we respect your (comair) position. We don't agree with it, but respect it non the less. Now that many Delta pilots agree with you by saying we shouldn't fly in the same cockpits....you guys are now upset?

Again, I don't see a ban on hiring comair pilots (unless the "burn the house down" quote is used by our management). There simpley wont be any help for comair pilots. Although Delta may just expect an unsuccesful comair interviewee to sue if he/she is turned away. So maybe Delta will take a similar stance comair management took, except they won't interview you. No opportunity to resign your # and no chance to "burn the house down".

NYR

 

[NYRANGERS]

If Comair was furloughing, and Delta was hiring would then DL open the door for "on the street" Comair pilots, instead of pickin up their squadron buddies? Personally I don't really think so...

Not sure what would have happened in the past. I am sure what would happen now.

NYR
Hired by Delta (and every other pilot job) by networking. Excuses are getting old.

 

[Vortilon]

737,

Race you to Plato's office! (or whoever is doing it then!)

 

[General Lee]

Vortilon,


I will be the next Plato. And, for some reason, I really like ASA pilots.....


Bye Bye--General Plato

 

[Freddie Spencer]

DBA's just don't get it...

I am sure what would happen now.
QUOTE]Maybe you don't have to worry about' since your (former) airline is about to visit bankruptcy court (just like PAN AM, TWA and Eastern did).

 

[NYRANGERS]

I am sure what would happen now.
QUOTE]Maybe you don't have to worry about' since your (former) airline is about to visit bankruptcy court (just like PAN AM, TWA and Eastern did).

Oh I see, so you are saying....

I dont' have to worry because my hypothetical to your hypothetical is moot due to your new hypothetical.

NYR
Cin over Mia.

 

[Looking4Traffic]

An honest, serious question for DAL737FO and other Delta pilots:

I'm a Comair pilot who came onboard long after the decision was made to forbid furloughed Delta pilots to keep their seniority number if hired by Comair. Unfortunately, no one ever told me that taking the job at Comair would condemn me to scorn with the very pilot group that I ultimately wanted to join. It was just never discussed during the hiring process at Comair and I had not yet been exposed to this message board.

What should I do now? If I quit my $38K a year job and fly for someone else, would that help my cause or am I forever scorned from joining Delta's fine pilot group because of my prior association with Comair? If that's the case, and I can't ever fly for Delta because the pilot group will "do everything in their power" to ensure that I not get hired, how should I treat members of the Delta pilot group in the meantime? When they come up to our cockpit to jumpseat, should we say, "good afternoon, brother -- it's a real pleasure to have you join us. Even though I'm condemned to never fly with you because of a decision that was made by my MEC (or the company or our pilot group) before I came here, it's still a pleasure to have you commute home on our little airline?" Is that the way I should conduct myself? Is there anything I can do to avoid your condemnation and disdain short of leaving the only job that I currently have to support my family?

I'm just looking for a little guidance here. Thanks in advance for your considerate replies.

Oh, I forgot to ask something else. A former neighbor of ours is in mid-level management at DAL. After having one-too many glasses of wine after dinner one night, she reported that DAL absolutely LOVES the in-fighting between the pilot groups because it diverts attention away from the real party who's responsible for making our lives miserable. Does that sound right to you?

You will always be my brothers, irrespective of what you may think of me. I wish you blue skies, strong careers and great success. I hope that you can believe that I feel that way even though I also want to keep my job too.

 

[General Lee]

Lookingfortraffic,



I don't think it will hurt you that you are a Comair pilot. It might not help you, though. If you have dreams of being a Delta pilot, go for it. Someday we will hire again, and I probably won't be the one doing that(maybe, although I will volunteer). But, there will be plenty of Delta pilots informing the hiring people that they apreciated ASA's help. Recent quotes from management types about the possibilities of eventual hiring is great to hear, but in the mean time we need to take care of business.





Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[NYRANGERS]

An honest, serious question for DAL737FO and other Delta pilots:

I'm a Comair pilot who came onboard long after the decision was made to forbid furloughed Delta pilots to keep their seniority number if hired by Comair. Unfortunately, no one ever told me that taking the job at Comair would condemn me to scorn with the very pilot group that I ultimately wanted to join. It was just never discussed during the hiring process at Comair and I had not yet been exposed to this message board.

What should I do now? If I quit my $38K a year job and fly for someone else, would that help my cause or am I forever scorned from joining Delta's fine pilot group because of my prior association with Comair? If that's the case, and I can't ever fly for Delta because the pilot group will "do everything in their power" to ensure that I not get hired, how should I treat members of the Delta pilot group in the meantime? When they come up to our cockpit to jumpseat, should we say, "good afternoon, brother -- it's a real pleasure to have you join us. Even though I'm condemned to never fly with you because of a decision that was made by my MEC (or the company or our pilot group) before I came here, it's still a pleasure to have you commute home on our little airline?" Is that the way I should conduct myself? Is there anything I can do to avoid your condemnation and disdain short of leaving the only job that I currently have to support my family?

I'm just looking for a little guidance here. Thanks in advance for your considerate replies.

Oh, I forgot to ask something else. A former neighbor of ours is in mid-level management at DAL. After having one-too many glasses of wine after dinner one night, she reported that DAL absolutely LOVES the in-fighting between the pilot groups because it diverts attention away from the real party who's responsible for making our lives miserable. Does that sound right to you?

You will always be my brothers, irrespective of what you may think of me. I wish you blue skies, strong careers and great success. I hope that you can believe that I feel that way even though I also want to keep my job too.

If and when Delta hires, you will be able to apply and try to get an interview. I don't think there will be anything to stop you, it just may not be to an advantage to come from comair. With 1000's of people (historicaly) competeing for a few jobs, it may be a deciding factor as to why some did not get the job.

I however could be wrong. Delta management may use comairs own collective words as an excuse not to hire comair pilots. "burn the house down" was a stupid thing to say. It may have come from comair management, but it was the preception the mec gave them.

So I imagine you will be able to work here, it may be a little harder in the interview due to the comair pilots stance on 1310 furloughed pilots.

I wish you luck and I wouldn't worry to much about it.

NYR