Proud to be ACA

[Always deferred]

First I would like to say I voted yes on the ACA TA from a few months ago. As much as I wanted to vote No, I just could not in good conscience do that, seeing as SKYW, MESA, and ARW had already had TAs signed. At the time, we were told a deal w/ UAL was our only hope. I took the advice of my MEC, and of some of the most senior pilots at the company. I hold no grudges against anyone who voted NO. In fact if the vote closed 2 hrs later I may have voted no, that's how on the fence I was.
Though pilot morale seems to be at a new low, pride is at an all-time high. Never have I seen ACA pilots act with so much pride in their company and their futures then over the past couple months. It has been an emotional roller coaster for all of us over the past 18 months, starting with the insolvency of Fairchild/Dornier, the closing of the IAD FRJ base, the CH11 of UAL, the furloughs, the displacements, more furloughs, more displacements, talk of losing the FRJs, Project Independence, and now MESA. I want to say I have never taken more pride in being a Blue Ridger then now. I can say that our pilots, all 1702 including those on furlough, will fight MESA's takeover to the best of our limited ability and we will not go quietly. We believe in our company and want no part of yours. That's all I have to say about that. No real point to the message, just a rant.
AD

 

[captjim]

If I could, I'd buy you a cold one, good luck to you guys.

 

[crashpad]

Definitely, good luck!

 

[Tug Driver]

HURRAY!!!

 

[House_X]

First I would like to say I voted yes on the ACA TA from a few months ago. As much as I wanted to vote No, I just could not in good conscience do that, seeing as SKYW, MESA, and ARW had already had TAs signed. At the time, we were told a deal w/ UAL was our only hope. I took the advice of my MEC, and of some of the most senior pilots at the company. I hold no grudges against anyone who voted NO. In fact if the vote closed 2 hrs later I may have voted no, that's how on the fence I was.
Though pilot morale seems to be at a new low, pride is at an all-time high. Never have I seen ACA pilots act with so much pride in their company and their futures then over the past couple months. It has been an emotional roller coaster for all of us over the past 18 months, starting with the insolvency of Fairchild/Dornier, the closing of the IAD FRJ base, the CH11 of UAL, the furloughs, the displacements, more furloughs, more displacements, talk of losing the FRJs, Project Independence, and now MESA. I want to say I have never taken more pride in being a Blue Ridger then now. I can say that our pilots, all 1702 including those on furlough, will fight MESA's takeover to the best of our limited ability and we will not go quietly. We believe in our company and want no part of yours. That's all I have to say about that. No real point to the message, just a rant.
AD

I agree with you that being a Blueridger is a good thing...although I was very dissappointed on the yes vote for the TA. I voted no mainly because of sacrifices of the pilots before us, like Comair. If it weren't for their strike we wouldn't have the great contract we have today. Comair is again being put to the test and again they are showing their solidarity. When we passed the TA for the paycut, we lost our bragging rights...the irony is the paycut wasn't deep enough for the Bain Group. Going independant is the best news I've heard since I started with ACA...but if the furloughs keep happening many of us won't be around to see it start up!!!

I'm now more concerned about the future of the Dornier with ACA and DCI...and how many pilots we need on the RJ's and narrowbodies for our new airline. Month after month, WE are pushed further down the list.....

 

[Mesa Lifer]

Let me start by saying I am not trying to insight a riot.....

I hope the merger between Mesa and ACA does not go through. But us bottom-feeders have been talking about it and are curious, how does the pilot group at ACA plan on stopping JO and his merger? In our opinion if he has his sights on you, you are screwed.

I guess we are just curious because nothing up to this point has ever stopped JO and his evil ways. Like I said, I am not trying to insight a riot, I am just curious what the plan is for the pilot group to prevent the merger...

-ML

 

[Patriot328]

Let me start by saying I am not trying to insight a riot.....

I hope the merger between Mesa and ACA does not go through. But us bottom-feeders have been talking about it and are curious, how does the pilot group at ACA plan on stopping JO and his merger? In our opinion if he has his sights on you, you are screwed. -ML

We'll just bring down the whole company. He thinks labor relations suck now (I know, he doesn't care).. wait until he gets 1700 pi$$ed off pilots on his force, in addition to the few that haven't drank the Mesa koolaid.

Mesa has, what, 1300 pilots? If ACA is over there it'd be nearly 3000, and over half of them DO NOT WANT TO WORK FOR THAT C0CKSUCKER.

Mesa will finally die.



HouseX:

If it weren't for their strike we wouldn't have the great contract we have today.

While I applaud our brothers at the C concourse, our contract today has nothing to do with their strike. We had our contract in force before they took a strike vote. It can be argued that they had to settle on their post strike contract because at the time we had the absolute highest regional contract in the country.

 

[thisguy]

How do we intend to fight mesa? Hmm lets see last time i checked mesa was flying for US Air and UAL. As i recall both carriers are in dire straights and have failed to post good numbers for quite sometime. Mesa has recently had trouble financing A/C and needs ACA's RJ's as well as the 500 million we have in the bank. ACA on the other hand does NOT need or want Mesa. ACA has determined that a new deal with UAL would offer no growth to our shareholders/employees. Our BOD has officially declined the Mesa offer showing they do believe in the viability of our new business plan. The LCC is not simply a knee jerk reaction and our company has been considering it for quite some time. ACA's threat to UAL in Dulles is very real. JO can ride his 15 motorcycle's to hell as far as im concerned.

 

[AirBoard]

How do we intend to fight mesa? Hmm lets see last time i checked mesa was flying for US Air and UAL. As i recall both carriers are in dire straights and have failed to post good numbers for quite sometime. Mesa has recently had trouble financing A/C and needs ACA's RJ's as well as the 500 million we have in the bank. ACA on the other hand does NOT need or want Mesa. ACA has determined that a new deal with UAL would offer no growth to our shareholders/employees. Our BOD has officially declined the Mesa offer showing they do believe in the viability of our new business plan. The LCC is not simply a knee jerk reaction and our company has been considering it for quite some time. ACA's threat to UAL in Dulles is very real. JO can ride his 15 motorcycle's to hell as far as im concerned.

Ahhh, riggghhhhttt. I'm on your side but you actually pointed out reasons why Mesa wants us. He wants our money and routes, we threaten UAL at IAD etc.. He's in United's back pocket as he drives a steam roller through the regional industry flattening moral and paychecks. He knows if he can pull it off he'll live to see another day and buy more bikes.

How can we fight it off, well it isn't that easy cause it's now in the shareholders hands. I'm happy that I can use my shares to vote this sh*t down. However other shareholders may be in it for the money with no vested interest in the company. Our BOD has to campaign the independance airline and get the shareholders on our side. We can also try to drag the whole thing out (ie sue Mesa) and spend our cash reserves on aircraft.

Bottomline this whole thing sucks. All we wanted to do was cut ourselves loose from a sinking ship and give the employees something to strive for - bigger and hopefully better things. We weren't out to intentionally screw UAL, just trying to make the best of a bad situation. Along comes Mesa and UAL( I guarantee they're involved) wit a hostile takeover. We could all just end up flying freakin RJ's under UAL with Mesa ID badges. Pilot's defence - with a majority of ACA pilots we all strike over the next contract to show Mesa pilots how to get paid!

 

[Heavy Set]

Can the service MESA provides get any worse? I agree with the cash-grab theory - MESA is desparate... It is also painfully obvious that UAL is the puppet master here too. I hope the stockholders can see it as well...

JO should instead be JA - which stands for Jack A$$...

 

[DDpaysoff]

Let me start by saying I am not trying to insight a riot.....

I hope the merger between Mesa and ACA does not go through. But us bottom-feeders have been talking about it and are curious, how does the pilot group at ACA plan on stopping JO and his merger? In our opinion if he has his sights on you, you are screwed.

I guess we are just curious because nothing up to this point has ever stopped JO and his evil ways. Like I said, I am not trying to insight a riot, I am just curious what the plan is for the pilot group to prevent the merger...

-ML

Here is one thing. Good luck ACA.
http://biz.yahoo.com/djus/031023/0113000040_1.html

 

[Jeepman]

Now for a twist,

How would y'all at ACA feel if SkyWest came in and decided to buy you guys out?

 

[acaTerry]

How would y'all at ACA feel if SkyWest came in and decided to buy you guys out?

It'll make commuting easier for a lot of west coasters!

 

[jobear]

I'm a bystander to these proceeding but good god now JO is countersuing over this deal I guess UAL opps JO can't take NO for an answer.

Good Luck ACA
Jobear

 

[anon]

For what it's worth, I was on a hotel van the other day with some Comair folks and we discussed the DO-Jets.

It was this crews opinion that if the DO-Jets went to Comair, the Comair folks would be acceptable to bringing the crews with them.

The industry is in turmoil at this time ... it's good to see crews working together for a change.

 

[Tony Soprano]

Keep Grinnin Blue Ridgers!!

You Blue Ridgers keep up the good fight and if you ever need a ride on our jumpseats, you are always welcome over at Colgan.

And If ya ever get denied J/S on a Colgan flight, let me know...I'll send Furio or Paulie to take care of it. Of course, you may be asked to perform a valuable service to the Godfather in the future.

Just say no to "JO"

 

[Always deferred]

Now for a twist,

How would y'all at ACA feel if SkyWest came in and decided to buy you guys out?

Whether it is SKW, MESA, or even CMR, personally, I would rather go out on our own even if it means being furloughed in the short term. ACA is my airline, and as far as I am concerned right now it will be the last airline I work for, so I want to be a part of making it something special and making it succeed and become something of hope to all us regional pilots.

 

[Airpiraterob]

ornstein=JO

so, it's absolutely obvious but...(and forgive me if i just havnet seen it posted before)....but has anyone just plain called him JackOff?

 

[Heavy Set]

So, what's the latest info? I know that MESA and ACA were counter-suing each other... When will the stockholders have a say in the matter?

Good luck to all ACA guys out there!