CL600Pilot said:
I haven't sat down and done the math but I would think that we'd be getting fairly close to having enough Captains.
Not yet.
We are taking delivery of approximately 5 aircraft per month through June or July (depends on how fast they can crank them out). The company seems to be moving more towards a 5 crew per aircraft staffing ratio, so figure 25 CA per month at a minimum needed (which closely follows the vacancies) plus possibly a few more after the "Christmas Melt-Down of '04" to cover their existing understaffing (there are only 7 freakin' reserve lines in MSP for Feb - you guys are going to be flying your tail of).
The last vacancy only covered to April 1st, so we need CA's for May, June, and July. If I know DW (and after 3 1/2 years of filing grievances, I'm pretty sure I do), May and June will be 25-30 CA vacancies, so 50-60 there, plus a smaller vacancy (10 to 12) for July followed by 2 or 3 months of no vacancies, then a final "sort" vacancy to fill whatever is needed (get ready for July, August, and September to be REALLY short-staffed).
That means somewhere between 60 and 75 more CA slots to be awarded BEFORE the "adjustment" bid.
Remember - there are many FO's here that have the senority and time to upgrade but haven't because of various reasons - alot of it depends on how many of these guys take it before the deliveries stop.
That's "The REST of The Story". After talking to some people down on "NonCaring", there are NOT that many qualified F/O's left; most have taken the upgrade a few at a time on the last three vacancies (those 5 or 6 on each vacancy with -500 seniority numbers).
Add to that some of the F/O's don't WANT to upgrade AT ALL (wives with large primary incomes, kids at home they want to see, holding 16-18 days off depending on domicile, or they have their own business), and I'm betting we don't have a big "run" on high seniority upgrades. I originally though we would, but I'm beginning to realize there just aren't that many guys.
Point being - if you have any intentions of coming to Pinnacle you need to interview soon... If you come here soon chances are decent you would get a Captain seat, if you wait until mid April before you interview then chances aren't so great...
That's more than true. Put your resume in NOW. Call Kim Monroe once a week and leave a polite and SHORT message about how great it would be to be with a growing, financially stable, FUN company (blowing a little sunshine on someone's backside never hurts), not to mention how QUICK you can take an interview / be in class ("Whenever, wherever, just tell me and I'LL BE THERE!"). If you can get here quickly you run a VERY good chance of getting a CA upgrade while in class.
The company is saying "No street Captains" because they don't believe that a person upgraded during initial is a "street Captain". Next vacancy might make them change their tune...
it's great that you have experience in the CRJ but that's only half the battle - unless you're already a Captain there walking into a CA seat here would be extremely difficult
No it's not. Lots of guys with previous 121 jet experience had no problem. It's more about attitude and dumping whatever you learned at "your previous airline" and just doing it their way. Cooperate and you WILL graduate, especially if they like you (despite what they say, it
IS a popularity contest.
WARNING!! SPECULATION AHEAD
If FlyI sends back a bunch of CRJ's they have leased, it will present a hard-to-resist opportunity for NWA to pick up some leases EXTREMELY CHEAPLY and EXTREMELY QUICKLY.
Because of this, I predict another 10 to 20 CRJ's on property announced shortly before we take our last one. Please note, these are NOT part of the additional aircraft options NWA has exercised with Bombardier, I have no clue where those will go, I just believe Northwest will take advantage of the opportunity if it presents itself in a financially useful way.
Just my .02 cents (which doesn't even buy you a cup of potable water coffee).
