New ASA information FWIW

[Ted Striker]

I just finished the yearly recurrent ground. The manager of crew planning was in for a couple of hours and stated the following:

100 newhires in '04, going to the 50 seat

next two f/a classes slated for DFW

15 new aircraft for '04 (700s)

DFW 50 seat will have 180 lines by May (now at 140 and change)

Sounds like the new stuff will be going to DFW, with ATL actually decreasing 50 seat lines. He also said that each new airplane equals 300 hours of flying and that only 20% of the new aircraft will be for new cities, the rest for existing. He did say that Delta is real good at changing their minds quickly, but this is the "plan du jour". Sounds like the 100 new pilots are all we are getting for awhile. Unless we start getting some attrition or whore ourselves for 45 mystery airplanes it will be fairly stagnant.

 

[shamrock]

So I wonder what they're going to do about everybody in ATL. We had about 70 reserve lines posted on the 50 for February and now it looks like the lines will be shrinking again? Wonderful!

Not that I'm complaining, I haven't flown in over 2 weeks and have a bunchof days off coming up. Maybe I can make it a solid month!

 

[wms]

So I wonder what they're going to do about everybody in ATL.

The last memo from crew planning said the majority of 70s will go to ATL, leaving the total number of lines in ATL the same. Note the increased 70 seat flying through JFK in Mar. It looks like the ATL guys will finally be able to move somewhere other than DFW.

 

[shamrock]

You're right, I didn't think of the 70 seaters.

I just hope that the crews for them come from the ATL 50 seat group, preferrably guys ahead of me! Based on my seniority, switching to the 70 won't improve my QOL and I'm not really interested in DFW, so best case for me would be more senior FOs from the 50 moving over.

With my luck, all the junior 50 guys will make the jump. Don't do it!!! Step away from that Bid Preference form!

 

[asarjfo]

The last memo from crew planning said the majority of 70s will go to ATL, leaving the total number of lines in ATL the same. Note the increased 70 seat flying through JFK in Mar. It looks like the ATL guys will finally be able to move somewhere other than DFW.

What new JFK flying?

 

[sleepy]

"So I wonder what they're going to do about everybody in ATL."

Have you ever heard of displacement?

 

[General Lee]

ASACRJFO,

Didn't you hear? ASA and Comair will take over all of the European flights out of JFK this Summer. Someone said it would still involve three stops each way---including Gander, Reykjavik, and the Faroe Islands--but hey, passengers LOVE RJs. And apparently ASA/COMAIR will install new equipment on each CR7 to quickly evacuate dangerous flatus (gas, farts, etc) from the cabin on those long flights, thus removing the need for passenger disembarkment at those fuel stops. I here the babes in Iceland are "Way Hot" too--dudes.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[FL000]

I here the babes in Iceland are "Way Hot" too--dudes.

Speaking of which, anyone know the jumpseat policy at Iceland Air? I seriously want to know.

 

[Tim47SIP]

Interviews starting

A friend of mine is scheduled for the 24th of Feb. The company is in the process of changing the interview process. There is a meeting next week to hash this issue out. Word is that the sim ride might be in the RJ instead of the ATR. Dont know what type of cognitive testing will be done but I believe that ATP and Jepp questions will remain. I am flying with the DFW ALPA guy this month and he stated that GG's letter is in error. Evidently the training dept is putting out that the majority of the 70's ARE going to DFW and not ATL contrary to GG's letter. I called a senior individual in the training dept on the 70 to confirm this and he stated that he had not heard a thing, other than 722 and 723 (delivered on the 21st) were going to DFW with one ATL 70 being transferred in March to DFW, then the remaining 70's are still up in the air. So your guess is as good as mine. One ALPA rep stated that he thought GG's letter was a ploy to get people to bid DFW so the company did not have to pay for moving as stated in a post above. With the expansion planned in DFW, there will no dought be displacements.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I imagine the sim will bounce back and forth between the two aircraft, depending on which department has the resources at the moment. The ATR is about to enter Cat II training and the sim is going to be booked 24 / 7 getting everyone qualified.

This stinks about all the DFW flying with 12 to 15 Comair crews overnighting in ATL every day.

Again, it is an example of how our management will increase costs (more expensive crews lodged in ATL at company expense) in an effort to undermine our collective bargaining efforts. Anyone with any sense would ask. "is it worth it?" But obviously we are not dealing with rational thought, we are dealing with ego's. No wonder this ship is sinking. ASA is simply a life boat tied to the deck of the Titanic.

 

[46Driver]

This stinks about all the DFW flying with 12 to 15 Comair crews overnighting in ATL every day.

Again, it is an example of how our management will increase costs (more expensive crews lodged in ATL at company expense) in an effort to undermine our collective bargaining efforts. Anyone with any sense would ask. "is it worth it?" But obviously we are not dealing with rational thought, we are dealing with ego's.

To play Devil's Advocate, of course it is worth it from a management and shareholders' perspective. How many hundreds of millions of $ did the Comair strike cost Delta? Of course they don't want to be in that position ever again so the whipsaw is their insurance policy.

 

[bailout]

>>With my luck, all the junior 50 guys will make the jump. Don't do it!!! Step away from that Bid Preference form!<<

Sham, youre right, its a toss up, and a waiting game to see who goes where. I would also prefer to stay on the 50 and let 50 senior guys go over in front of me. However, fifty people below me, and then me, moving over wouldnt be all that bad either. What will suck, and probably happen, is 25 in front and 25 in back, with the lines decreasing, will put us in a worse position then we are in now.

 

[ductleak]

stay or come on over?

Guys --

Hey, I have something to ponder now. I am holding a line here at Skywest, but commuting. As with all of us, the regional level is not my ultimate goal. Upgrading to Captain is most valuable as soon as possible. With only 100 newhires predicted this year for ASA, I am begining to think that moving over may not be a smart thing to do right now. The only thing that it would do for me is provide an end to the commuting (possibly). Skywest has the possibility to double in size in the next year to two years. As Southwest is my career goal, I am begining to think that the pain now (commuting) maybe worth the gain in the near future.

GENERAL LEE -- step in here -- I am requesting input here -- you are being propositioned for your input...!

Everyone -- fire away -- ready to receive your input!

Thanks in advance!

 

[46Driver]

As someone who has done the 2 leg commute now for 3 years, stay with SkyWest and commute. If you want to eventually fly for Southwest, you have to get your PIC time. If you go to ASA and start over, you are going set yourself back years in that goal to Southwest.

 

[ductleak]

stay @ SKYWEST or move to ASA?

stay or come on over?
Guys --

Hey, I have something to ponder now. I am holding a line here at Skywest, but commuting. As with all of us, the regional level is not my ultimate goal. Upgrading to Captain is most valuable as soon as possible. With only 100 newhires predicted this year for ASA, I am begining to think that moving over may not be a smart thing to do right now. The only thing that it would do for me is provide an end to the commuting (possibly). Skywest has the possibility to double in size in the next year to two years. As Southwest is my career goal, I am begining to think that the pain now (commuting) maybe worth the gain in the near future.

GENERAL LEE -- step in here -- I am requesting input here -- you are being propositioned for your input...!

Everyone -- fire away -- ready to receive your input!

Thanks in advance!

 

[BigDave]

ductleak I am scheduled for an ASA interview in Feb as well. I am currently an FO and I have a long commute. I know the pain of commuting, leaving on the redeye landing at 6:30 am showing for my trip at 7am, it hurts. I too want to get to SWA as soon as possible, if I was in your shoes I would stay with SkyWest and get the upgrade ASAP. It may take a while to get on with SWA but when they do start hiring in more quantity it would be nice to have the qualifications to apply. Since SWA is your goal and as we know sonority is key, you need to get to SWA as soon as possible. I am leaving my present job because I do not think the parent company will be around much longer. If I get the ASA job I would still be commute but DFW is a lot closer then the east coast for me. From what others have said it looks like upgrade at ASA is going to take for ever. This is just my thoughts, good luck…

 

[ductleak]

hmmmm...

THANKS for the reply. I appreciate it. ASA is a great company though. It is going to be hard to make this decision. I have even thought about getting out of aviation all together lately. I am sure that there are a lot of people out here on this board that can actually relate!

Commuting is hard but, if I do stay in this profession, I know that SWA has been my goal since the begining and that Skywest is growing very fast and will probably provide the best route for me.

 

[General Lee]

Stay at Skywest---move to another hub, like ORD, and try that commute. Get the upgrade and move on to Southwest. That is what I would do. Good luck.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[wms]

What new JFK flying?

Travel net shows a CR7 JFKDFW in mar and I saw other JFK flying somewhere. I don't remember where the memo was though, my memory is perfect but very short.

 

[sleepy]

I am flying some ATL to JFK lines in March on the CR7.