Hiring news for ASA

[~~~^~~~]

Yes, we are all in this together. It was not easy for the Comair pilots to take this stand on principle. In fact, several versions of a recall battle have surfaced that threaten their ALPA Status Reps and even the Group B EVP.

But, pilot wages really do not make a very significant difference at our level, because, like it or not, our wages are not very significant to begin with. Delta says they are looking for an 8 million cost reduction - that is less than 1% of the $1,000,000,000.00 more Delta pays their pilots than American pays theirs.

Comair's and ASA's rates are not significantly different at the current time. ASA's management says our rates are uncertain because we are in bargaining, but I can assure you our pilot group is not giving anything up.

ASA's growth continues to be constrained by two factors. First, the CRJ700 limit negotiated by ALPA for the Delta pilots and Second, ramp space in Atlanta.

As ATL mainline operations start coming back (a very good thing) some of the short term leases on gates used by ASA have to be returned to mainline. Last year it was disappearing E120's, in 2004 we can look forward to disappearing parking spaces and longer days as airplanes are scheduled to keep them out of ATL.

Good luck to all, but if I were in the pool I think I would try for Skywest or another airline with better growth potential.

~~~^~~~

 

[Medeco]

Tim47sip

Your guess on the crj700 routes are a bit off from what SB said yesterday at the "State of the Company" meeting.

I do believe, with you, that we may fly more west coast, but for now the majority of that flying will be upgrades.

Medeco

 

[asarjfo]

For those of us who were not able to attend the "State of the Comany" meeting, can you give us a quick run down on what our fearless leader had to say?

 

[CommanchePilot]

Young'n

Hey, just found this place from a friend. I am a graduating senior from Purdue University. I will be heading down to Atlanta this summer for an internship somewhere in flight ops. Do you guys know any of the interns around, I am sure they enjoy the job, and do you guys know of any hiring benefits afterwards? Its exciting to hear you guys talk of hiring again. I know I am the last man on the totem pole, but I kid can dream can't he.

~commanchepilot

 

[sleepy]

Those are the questions you should have asked before you took the internship.

I had quite a few interns in my newhire class a few years ago. They were all good people, and all made it through training. They all had real low time, but you get an interview if you complete the internship.

You will get the chance to sit through ground school on some of our aircraft, and also get some sim time, so there is no excuse for not passing the interview. PM RJCapt, a bunch of interns live in his crash pad, maybe he can get your questions answered.

 

[ALCOHOLIC]

Some even get to fly the RJ.. Well, his intership got cut short

 

[Medeco]

HAH!

Thats great, I'm rolling on that one.

Great CRM! He(captain) should teach the class. In fact they all 3 should.

Medeco

 

[sleepy]

Here is some not so great news from an ASA IP in the crew lounge. ASA is about to cut the number of IP's in half. He also said they are looking to furlough 200 pilots.

I don't know this guy, and it was from the crew lounge, but it could just be a company ploy to pressure us on concessions.

If they are going to get rid of IP's, then they will probably not be hiring anytime soon.

 

[jetflyer]

Wow comair didn't even pressure with that c=rap. If they were gonna furlough they'd have done it a long time ago. What a bluff, don't buy it..

Are all the brasilia's retired?
You guys are still getting planes in 2004 aren't you? 70's?

 

[bailout]

>>Here is some not so great news from an ASA IP in the crew lounge. ASA is about to cut the number of IP's in half. He also said they are looking to furlough 200 pilots. <<


I would not doubt that they are going to cut the IPs in half. They are way overstaffed now that the EMB transitions are over. We were slightly fat before, and now we have twice as many because most of the EMB IPs switched over. I knew something was going on when I actually saw an IP doing a really short nap the other night. (maybe a former IP now??) These guys to get pick their trips, and they dont pick naps!
Sounds like you heard a disgruntled, soon to be former IP, mouthing off.

 

[General Lee]

They are just trying to squeeze you again. They are trying to find your weak points, and a pilot furlough does scare a lot of pilots. I believe the VP of Marketing at Delta said that they were going to add back a bunch of capacity next year at Mainline, and I think that would apply at DCI also. I wouldn't worry too much about that. You are getting some new airplanes next year, right?

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[sleepy]

I'm not worried. I don't think it will happen, at least the furloughs. I would not be surprised if they let this leak out just to turn our screws a little. It flies in the face of everything SB has been saying at these State of the Company meetings.

 

[FL000]

Here is some not so great news from an ASA IP in the crew lounge. ASA is about to cut the number of IP's in half. He also said they are looking to furlough 200 pilots.

I don't know this guy, and it was from the crew lounge, but it could just be a company ploy to pressure us on concessions.

If they are going to get rid of IP's, then they will probably not be hiring anytime soon.

BS. I've heard these guys talk about purposely starting a silly rumor in the crew lounge just to see how long it takes to get back to the GO. That could be what was going on, but the story is completely contrary to everything I've heard from multiple legitimate sources in the last 3 months.

 

[Medeco]

That is BS

Some of our IP's are so out of the loop I would not be surprised if he believed what he was saying. The do not fly the line most of the time and some do nothing but siim and CPT then go home, If I had been with the company as long as some IP's and didnt care about daily news at ASA I could fall behind on the latest pretty quickly.

Maybe he was starting a cruel rumor and thought he was funny, I have seen some of those guys too.

Medeco

 

[Tim47SIP]

Old news!

The rumor of the number of IP positions being reduced was announced in Aug at an IP meeting. At that time, they (training management) was trying to determine how and who would be let go. We are way, way over manned in the training area. This is not something that was hard to figure out. Most of the E-120 IP's were brought on board which caused a glut. The fact is that we WILL be getting 15-70 seaters next year that will ultimately require approx 120 new positions. Subtract the number of IP's that return to the line and you will get the number of required new hires.

Bailout - contrairy to public opinion, those IP's do NOT get to pick their schedule or lines. I have numerous friends that are IP's and they get some pretty crappy schedules.

Medeco is correct. The IP who stated that is more than likely trying to cause trouble. He is probably going to be one of the ones that were axed. Personally, based on my past experiences with the RJ training department, there are numerous IP's that should have never been put into that position. They routenely forget what the I stands for in IP. They do need to clean house in that department.