bluejuice787
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2005
- Posts
- 226
Recently the company released a document explaining the bidding process of the E190. The document explains the virtues of a percentage bid (allows you to bid what percentage you want to be rather than all or nothing). It seems to be a great idea. The document also explains the “lock in” and “fence” for the AC. The fence begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on October 1, 2007. The company is awarding 120 vacancies for E190 CA to close May 15, 2005. The fence prevents the pilots from bidding between AC for two years. The equipment lock in prevents you from changing seat or equipment for two years from your check ride. The author suggests that there will typically be 8 to 12 vacancies per month on the A320 for the foreseeable future (the inference being and average of 10 per month).
A little background: jetBlue Airways currently employs approximately 1000 pilots. 500 CAs and 500 FOs. Present junior A320 CAs can expect to remain about a year on reserve. This time increases linearly as we grow. We are receiving 16 A320 per year with a staffing of 6 crew per AC per the bid document.
Potential bid scenario: If you are a current (read: on property) junior FO there is a high probability that you will be unable to hold EMB190 CA when the 120 vacancies close on May 15. The fence now prohibits you from bidding future vacancies until October 1, 2007. Ah but wait, a new hire junior to anyone currently on property can bid as soon as any vacancy comes available. The company plans to start training the first 20 or so to be check airmen early summer with regular classes beginning late summer to complete the 120 by early 2006. Those early pilots will fulfill their lock in before the fence and as such will be allowed to bid A320 CA October 1, 2007.
The problem: 16 AC per year @ 6 crews per AC=96 CAs /12 months = 8 per month, not 10. This was, in my opinion, intentionally misleading. So here is what will likely happen…You are locked out of E190 CA but told your time to A320 will be much quicker. Not so if you are junior. What I and others envision is that just when you are a few months shy of upgrading to A320 it will be October 1, 2007. Perfect timing for the senior guys that have been hanging out as E190 CAs to bid over to the A320 to hold a line. Making a realistic time to E190 CA more that three years and A320 four to five for the junior guys. All of this because the company wants to claim a 10 month time to CA for new hires because the pay is very low. The company is kind enough to allow the junior guys to subsidies this.
The author of the document states some concerns that were discussed during the construction of the bid process. On of those concerns was this: “Why is there so much concern for the new hire pilot at the expense of the career opportunity of the existing jetBlue pilot?” Answer: “We feel this strategy reflects our values and is in keeping with the input of our line pilots…” Whos values are those? What line pilots suggested the fence knowing that new hires would be afforded opportunities before existing pilots? I think a fence was suggested but I never heard anything about allowing future vacancies to be denied to current pilots.
A little background: jetBlue Airways currently employs approximately 1000 pilots. 500 CAs and 500 FOs. Present junior A320 CAs can expect to remain about a year on reserve. This time increases linearly as we grow. We are receiving 16 A320 per year with a staffing of 6 crew per AC per the bid document.
Potential bid scenario: If you are a current (read: on property) junior FO there is a high probability that you will be unable to hold EMB190 CA when the 120 vacancies close on May 15. The fence now prohibits you from bidding future vacancies until October 1, 2007. Ah but wait, a new hire junior to anyone currently on property can bid as soon as any vacancy comes available. The company plans to start training the first 20 or so to be check airmen early summer with regular classes beginning late summer to complete the 120 by early 2006. Those early pilots will fulfill their lock in before the fence and as such will be allowed to bid A320 CA October 1, 2007.
The problem: 16 AC per year @ 6 crews per AC=96 CAs /12 months = 8 per month, not 10. This was, in my opinion, intentionally misleading. So here is what will likely happen…You are locked out of E190 CA but told your time to A320 will be much quicker. Not so if you are junior. What I and others envision is that just when you are a few months shy of upgrading to A320 it will be October 1, 2007. Perfect timing for the senior guys that have been hanging out as E190 CAs to bid over to the A320 to hold a line. Making a realistic time to E190 CA more that three years and A320 four to five for the junior guys. All of this because the company wants to claim a 10 month time to CA for new hires because the pay is very low. The company is kind enough to allow the junior guys to subsidies this.
The author of the document states some concerns that were discussed during the construction of the bid process. On of those concerns was this: “Why is there so much concern for the new hire pilot at the expense of the career opportunity of the existing jetBlue pilot?” Answer: “We feel this strategy reflects our values and is in keeping with the input of our line pilots…” Whos values are those? What line pilots suggested the fence knowing that new hires would be afforded opportunities before existing pilots? I think a fence was suggested but I never heard anything about allowing future vacancies to be denied to current pilots.
PHXFLYR
