Horizon's Aircraft Deliveries

[qxpilot]

Well the company posted today their new delivery schedule. So instead of getting 12 new RJ's in the next 2 years we are going to only get 2 Q400's and 2 RJ's. That's right, 2 turbo props and 2 RJ's instead of the the 12. After that, it's 2 a year until 2009. So much for much growth. It's very frustrating to see these other Regional airlines with hundreds of aircraft on order and here we are deferring aircraft and postponing orders. Makes me wonder when the company says we can't make money with the RJ's. Who's responsible for that and why are they still working for us?

So all of you out there that want to work here really need to reconsider. Unless you want to join the 10 year Dash 8 Captain status. Just a little frustrating.

 

[Russ]

Is the contract for Frontier run seperately from Horizon or are the pilots interchangable? The reason I ask is the limited growth you indicate doesn't jive with being Frontier connection are whatever they are called. Good luck.

 

[LearLove]

Well the company posted today their new delivery schedule. So instead of getting 12 new RJ's in the next 2 years we are going to only get 2 Q400's and 2 RJ's. That's right, 2 turbo props and 2 RJ's instead of the the 12. After that, it's 2 a year until 2009. So much for much growth. It's very frustrating to see these other Regional airlines with hundreds of aircraft on order and here we are deferring aircraft and postponing orders. Makes me wonder when the company says we can't make money with the RJ's. Who's responsible for that and why are they still working for us?

So all of you out there that want to work here really need to reconsider. Unless you want to join the 10 year Dash 8 Captain status. Just a little frustrating.

Well at least its better than loosing 2 Dash's per month like we're going to do next year.

 

[qxpilot]

The Frontier deal is going to use aircraft that we already have plus 2 new ones. So that means that the company is calling it a "realignment" and are going to force some pretty senior captains and new hire FO's to Denver. They are going to pull I think 6 aircraft out of PDX to cover the Denver stuff. I'm just curious what routes we are cutting back on or pulling out of all together.

 

[Q200_FO]

This deal blows. Their "we can't make money with the RJ's" is complete bull$hit when places lie skywest and others have 30+ RJ's on order. Management needs to grow some and expand by getting into bed with some of the majors and do more contract flying. When is Skywest's contract with the majors up? We should bid to take the flying away from them. Customers like our service better anyway.

 

[eaglefly]

What is the seniority to hold captain on the various equipment ?

1.) Jet
2.) Q400
3.) Dash 8

 

[qxpilot]

Seniority is roughly:

12-15 yrs. RJ Captain
8-10 yrs. Q400 Captain
4.5-5 yrs. Q200 Captain

The Denver bid went pretty junior for Horizon standards because no one wanted to move to Denver except for Junior Captains. So it went all the way down to about 6 yrs seniority for rj captain there. But when they force all of the senior guys from pdx over there they will all be sitting on the bottom for years to come.

 

[Bako Cap]

SAD....

Q200_FO

It's sad you think this way. Horizon has a good market with a stable Alaska and a growing Frontier.

Or Horizon can jump on the regional bandwagon of "Concesionary contracts to grow and compete" mentality. Skywest's CFO just suggested that Skywests pilots will be industry average (can you say paycut?). If you want to take jobs away from other pilots, I suggest you go work for different regional (add regional carrier name "here") at a fraction of your current pay, work rules, and benefits.

 

[Q200_FO]

Okay...

It's sad you think this way. Horizon has a good market with a stable Alaska and a growing Frontier.

Glad you think so. And I am glad that we have a pretty stable market up here in the Pac NW. But, if you were working here you'd hear a lot of pilots complaining that they'll have their 5-year pins before they upgrade. Seeing that before, we were supposed to get 2 jets this month, 6 jets next February and 6 more the year after that while at the same time all the pilots were geared up for growing the company. And now they're telling us that we're only getting 2 turboprops next year with everybody knowing that the pax hate turboprops and nobody wants to finance them (I’m really surprised by they actually got financing by the way.) You obviously don't work here because if you did you would know that first of all, the Frontier deal isn't growth at all. We're just "realigning " aircraft from PDX and a lot of pilots are pretty pi$$ed about that now because very senior guys will be forced to move to Denver. In other words, we're cutting PDX flying and cutting PDX markets to send it to fly out of DEN. Where we will be pulling out of is still in the works. Don't get me wrong, I love working here but at the same time, I don't want to be a 5, 6 year FO either. And I'm not the only one who feels that way. Since you love it so much, come to work here. That'll be another person below me that'll help get me off reserve.

 

[mach none]

Q200_ FO:

You still have a job...right?

There are lot of our brothers and sisters out there that would love to have your job and mine for that matter.

Just be thankful you are not flipping burgers or working at Wal-mart.

 

[avrodriver]

Bullsh*t...............yes we all know that it's good to have a flying job....blah blah blah. My step Dad is furloughed from United, but do you think he has even considered becoming a F/O at the regional level.......hellllllllllls no. If Q200 is like me I'm not so concerned about the Capt position as much as I am about the Capt PAY. I was looking at being an F/O at Mesaba for a minimum of 6 years when I left........topping out at $29/hr after 4 years flying a d*mn 93,000lb jet around......what kind of sh*t is that. We've whored out the F/O rates so badly that some of you carriers that are enjoying rapid growth don't realize that while you live with the sacrifice for 2....maybe three years, others have to live with it for many more.......ask Eagle, Horizon, Mesaba, COEX......and soon Comair and Air Wisconsin guys. Yes all of us knew what we signed up for when we joined our first, second, and for some of my friends third regional, but that doesn't make it right. I don't mind sitting in the right seat, I've done it for four years but a little extra cash sure would be nice! Be thankful were not flipping burgers or working at Walmart?? I think we've all worked a little bit harder than that to set our standards that low. AD

 

[Bako Cap]

Still SAD

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack this thread from Horizon Deliveries to ME ME ME ME ME it's all about ME and MY pay and MY upgrade time.

 

[avrodriver]

DOOGH!!!! I fell for it to! =) AD