No LUV for Chicago Express

[capt. megadeth]

Just heard on the info line that SWA will not be giving C8 pilots pref. interviews. So much for them liking C8 so much. For those of you that know me, you know what I am really thinking.

(p.s. for the record, I did not expect them to give pref. interviews to pilots that do not meet the mins. But since they are part of the reason C8 is being shut down, I think the least they could do was give the pilots with the time a chance)

 

[Chest Rockwell]

How is SWA part of the reason that C8 is shutting down?

 

[Rhoid]

Why do you think you are entitled to a pref interview at SWA? Remember who you are, a commuter pilot in a saab. SWA has way more qualified people to hire than C-8ers!

 

[Dart]

WOW! Its a good thing that lots of C-8 pilots go to SWA. How about you? 2500hrs.

Why do you think you are entitled to a pref interview at SWA? Remember who you are, a commuter pilot in a saab. SWA has way more qualified people to hire than C-8ers!

 

[kingair350capt]

How about giving every furlough from every airline preferential hiring? We don't want to discriminate..

 

[Chest Rockwell]

Rhoid,

A commuter pilot in a Saab with the appropriate time and type rating is as qualified as anyone. All of the C8 folks that we have are great.

 

[capt. megadeth]

First off, I do not work at C8 any longer so I personally am not looking to interview there.
Second, I have no desire to work at SWA.
Third, when I used to want to work there and was doing major a$$ kissing, I was told by SWA management how much they LOVE C8 pilots. Well, if that's the case, WTF?
Fourth, people that I know have been told by SWA management that PIC Saab time is just as competitive as jet PIC.
Fifth, SWA is giving ATA furloughs preferential interviews, so why not qualified C8 pilots?
Sixth, the reason I correlate that SWA is part of the reason C8 is shutting down is because it is SWA that said they do not want anything to do with Turboprops. After this codeshare deal was announced and SWA management started moving in with ATA dealings, shortly after that it was announced that C8 was shutting down. Also, someone who flies for SWA informed me that SWA had something to do with it.
Any more questions?

 

[Chest Rockwell]

To my knowledge, C8 pilots are very well regarded at SWA. Do all that interview get hired? No, and that is unfortunate. No ones hiring process is perfect and I am sure that we turn down many outstanding people. I hope they reaaply and give us another chance.

As far as Saab time, PIC turbine is all that matters as far as I know. Saab time=F16=B737=CRJ, etc.

I can think of no good reason to differentiate between C8 and ATA furloughees.

SWA choosing not to code share with cities served by anything less than Boeing type jets is fully understandable. The product that a customer experiences on ATA and SWA is very similiar. People will always regard anything smaller than 90-100 seats as a small aircraft. If C8 could be profitable as a stand-alone operation or feeding only ATA, I am sure that they would remain in operation. It is difficult at best if not impossible for a regional to survive without the marketing power and name recognition of "big brother".

SWA does not own ATA. Is there some managerial influence there? Yes. Everyone that I have spoken with at ATA feels that influence has been positive. Will ATA survive long term? Who knows but they have a better chance now than they had six months ago.

Best of luck to you.

 

[apdsm]

Also, someone who flies for SWA informed me that SWA had something to do with it.

Most of us that fly for SWA don't know squat about what the company does behind the scenes. Those who claim they know, probably know even less than the rest of us!

 

[capt. megadeth]

SWA does not own ATA. Is there some managerial influence there? Yes. Everyone that I have spoken with at ATA feels that influence has been positive. Will ATA survive long term? Who knows but they have a better chance now than they had six months ago.

Best of luck to you.

Hey Chest,
I started this thread about C8. Everyone you spoke with at ATA feels that the influence has been positive. Have you talked to anyone at C8 lately?
Bottom line is is there is no reason the pref. interviews should not extend to C8 pilots. I mean, ATA pilots are being furloughed.....C8 pilots have their AIRLINE SHUTTING DOWN. Big difference there.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

I agree that the C8 pilots should get the same deal as the ATA guys/girls, if qualified. I will ask why we are not this week.

I do not believe that the SWA deal is the reason that C8 is shutting down. If the deal had not come about or if the Airtran offer had won out, C8 would probably be facing the same fate.

I have been through a similiar deal before and it sucks.