QX -400 News

[mnalpha]

you should see in phl when the sheep come out the door and see and RJ and an old beaten to hell 100 sitting there, they just walk towards the RJ, then the agent points them towards the dash, and their expression changes to fear. But at least they can brag to their friends how great priceline.com works

 

[regionaltard]

Do the flying sheeple really care? Q400 Gear Bitch said it right when he said that they notice when they walk down the jetway to the plane.

Uh, I think that's down the jetway, down the stairs, through the rain.........

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

Uh, I think that's down the jetway, down the stairs, through the rain.........

Yeah...i forgot the stairs part. But we do actually use jetways in a few cities. EUG, YLW, YEG, etc.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Conference Call

During the 3rd quarter conference call today, the JP Morgan analyst called QX's move for more -400's the "first example in the industry of the turboprop Rennaisance."

Pinneo said the move was less a statement on the RJ, and more a reflection of new opportunities particularly well-suited to the -400, and that we still had 17 RJ options. He stressed that anticipated growth was "close to home" in underserved markets.

Ayers pointed out that QX had experienced "zero customer avoidance issues" with the mega-whacker.

 

[captpetefam]

What?

Yeah...i forgot the stairs part. But we do actually use jetways in a few cities. EUG, YLW, YEG, etc.

EUG must have done some work on the place. Back when I was going to school there, it was just a hole-in-the-wall that they just powered in and out of. A bunch of my friends are flying QX now but I've lost touch with most of them. I was stupid and ran off to get my 4-year degree and then chased a few false-gold nuggets (otherwise known as fools-gold ). I'm afraid to put my resume in at QX for fear of ruining the place! But, I gotta say, QX has the best routes to fly of any regional airline out there in my book. Too bad the cost of living is so high; you guys need every extra penny you make. Enjoy the PNW!

CP

 

[DashTrash400]

Great, more broken mega-whackers. Why don't we just keep the RJs on order because we substitue them for broken whackers anyways.

Heh, don't even wanna hear about it, man! I spent MORE time last year substituting for your RJs...including a bunch of SEA-SBA turns. My ass is STILL numb!

On another note, my pessemistic side thinks this is going to INCREASE upgrade time if anything. With the projected net growth of 4 airframes but 9 Q200s gone, they're talking 28 upgrades...but 72 Q200 CAs transitioning to the Q400. And we all know that Q400 captainship is the kiss of death on a pilot's career. After they taste that Q400 pay, they can't AFFORD to leave!

 

[P-Dawg_QX]

On another note, my pessemistic side thinks this is going to INCREASE upgrade time if anything. With the projected net growth of 4 airframes but 9 Q200s gone, they're talking 28 upgrades...but 72 Q200 CAs transitioning to the Q400. And we all know that Q400 captainship is the kiss of death on a pilot's career. After they taste that Q400 pay, they can't AFFORD to leave!

Very sound reasoning indeed, but you're forgetting one crucial factor...once we take our pay cut next year, the Q400 pay won't be nearly as attractive. People will be bailing left and right! I forsee 2-year upgrades happening very soon. /sarcasm

 

[turbodriver]

Very sound reasoning indeed, but you're forgetting one crucial factor...once we take our pay cut next year, the Q400 pay won't be nearly as attractive. People will be bailing left and right! I forsee 2-year upgrades happening very soon. /sarcasm

All kidding aside, no way in hell are we getting a pay cut.

The mechanics just ratified their contract, they got a (slight, but better than a cut) raise, I'm sure that the dispatchers didn't get their ass handed to them either. (Can our local QX dispatcher here confirm this?)

Plus, the third quarter earings are out. We made money, like we have been the past couple of years.

If they come to us for concessions, I'm just going to scream.

 

[FlyinScotsman]

All kidding aside, no way in hell are we getting a pay cut.

The mechanics just ratified their contract, they got a (slight, but better than a cut) raise, I'm sure that the dispatchers didn't get their ass handed to them either. (Can our local QX dispatcher here confirm this?)

Plus, the third quarter earings are out. We made money, like we have been the past couple of years.

If they come to us for concessions, I'm just going to scream.

FYI the mechs didn't ratify anything yet, ballots are due back Nov 21. Mechs I have talked to say it won't pass.

I see them asking for concessions or they won't do the deal with the Q400 or some variation of that. I know they have said it is a done deal, but I wouldn't be suprised if there isn't something up thier sleeve. It seems to me we are being set up for a classic move of "concessions for growth". It is all BS though, they are going to do it anyway, but they will try do it to see if we blink.

 

[Q400 Gear Bitch]

I fear the paycut too. Especially looking at where our industry leading brother (Comair) is now. That being said, I think if we all hold our ground, we can get what we want out of this contract. The big thing for me is.....no pay cut. One of our former union leaders mentioned that scope should be number one on our plate. In other words keeping the flying at Horizon instead of some bypass the contract aborition like hojet, et al.

All kidding aside, no way in hell are we getting a pay cut.

The mechanics just ratified their contract, they got a (slight, but better than a cut) raise, I'm sure that the dispatchers didn't get their ass handed to them either. (Can our local QX dispatcher here confirm this?)

Plus, the third quarter earings are out. We made money, like we have been the past couple of years.

If they come to us for concessions, I'm just going to scream.

 

[Sioux115]

We are completely different from Comair in the fact that we still have our own native route structure that makes us money instead of waiting for payments from a bankrupt carrier. Of course the company will ask for paycuts and claim industry standard b.s. But the fact still remains we are not industry standard, we are making our own money and have been for the last few years. And as for the concessions for the growth crap will never happen because our pilots are way too senior to care about growth instead of pay.

 

[Icelandair]

We don't fly regional standard airplanes. Regional standard is 200' DA and 1/2 visibility, not 50' DA with 600 RVR.

 

[FlyinScotsman]

We are completely different from Comair in the fact that we still have our own native route structure that makes us money instead of waiting for payments from a bankrupt carrier. Of course the company will ask for paycuts and claim industry standard b.s. But the fact still remains we are not industry standard, we are making our own money and have been for the last few years. And as for the concessions for the growth crap will never happen because our pilots are way too senior to care about growth instead of pay.

It won't stop them from asking....Managment is a little out of touch you know!

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Definitely not enough growth to take concessions.

Growth projection:

Worst case: 1 airframe

Somewhat best case: 4 airframes (plus perhaps the 2 Chinese -400's)

Maybe slightly more if we don't find homes and/or do find work for the -200's.

Why should we take any concessions for this kind of growth?

In Gene's own words:

"A little thing in the Bombardier agreement called Q200 "remarketing" muddies the waters a bit. Remarketing is contract-speak for subleasing some of our Q200s to other operators. One of our stated missions for the new Q400s is to replace Q200s on high load factor flights within our native network. In the event that we can't find a better use for these Q200s elsewhere, Bombardier has agreed to help us sublease up to 12 of our Q200s (one for each new Q400 we are taking).

At one extreme, the 13 aircraft in the order announcement (12 Q400s and one CRJ-700) minus 12 subleased Q200s would result in a net gain of only one more aircraft than we are operating today -- but it would, of course, still provide good promotional opportunities. In reality, our Planning guys think the Q200 remarketing number is probably closer to nine, for a net gain of four aircraft. Again, that's only if we can't find a better use for the Q200s elsewhere.

So, to give you a sense, here is how the crew numbers could break down if nine Q200s were subleased out of the existing system:

• 56 new pilots
• 106 new flight attendants
• 28 first officer upgrades to captain
• Opportunity created for 72 Q200 captains to move to the Q400
• Opportunity created for six Q400 captains to move to the CRJ-700

Note that this is an approximation only -- actual results may vary.
Obviously, if we sublease less Q200s, the above numbers go up. Also, keep in mind that these hirings and upgrades are in addition to vacancies created by normal attrition and retirements, MLOAs, etc. And don't forget that we are still evaluating the opportunity to purchase two previously owned Q400s from China-based Hainan Airlines, and that we have 20 additional Q400 options available after the firm delivery stream in mid-2007.

 

[regionaltard]

..........So, to give you a sense, here is how the crew numbers could break down if nine Q200s were subleased out of the existing system..........

......to "Horizon Dash Express," the new graduate studies program in the UND Aviation department. With pilots paying tuition to sit in the cockpit it would become economical to serve some of the currently marginal markets, even with the reduced payload capability of the aircraft.

 

[FlyinScotsman]

Well management is gauging the waters with the Golin Harris themed "Command Recognition" class. Trying to see where the weaknesses are which groups might be sympathetic to their ideas. We are at the very begining of the contract negotiations show...........stay tuned! We all know(and if ya don't.....listen UP) that the company wants concessions of some sort. They do NOT want to be at the top of the pay pile.

If the fleet plan shakes out the way they want it too, I agree there will not be much growth............WOW Big Suprise THERE! No growth at QX!!! So maybe no call for "concessions for growth", but don't worry they will think of something.

 

[DashTrash400]

Sioux115, are you still DEN-based? What's the general mood out there? I think the PDX/SEA pilot group is pretty unified against concessions; I worry about DEN being on board just because there are a lot of newer pilots, ya'll never have to put up with crap from Mr Hat & The Hammer, etc. Supposedly nobody (ie ZERO pilots) showed up to the last union meeting over there.

What've you been hearing?

 

[Sioux115]

All of the capts. I've flown with are extremely against any concessions and most of them already have lists of what they want changed. One capt in general is adamant that we are under payed and wants to go after pay increase. Don't know much of what the junior fos think, I don't get to see them much.

 

[QXbuzzard]

Lets not all forget how management prides themselves for having the most advanced technology of any regional in the world. That makes us INDUSTRY LEADING, so common sense would be we deserve industry leading pay. The fact that we do make our own money instead of being a Delta Connection or United Express and we make a profit doing it should be argued in our favor. I'm sure they will think of something, but we as a pilot group better stick together and not fall in to their hands. A pay increase would always be good, but who knows. I would be happy if the pay and min guaurantee stayed the same, but some of the work rules need to change.

 

[captpetefam]

You did miss something...

HUH? Did I miss something? I moved here FOR the inexpensive cost of living! (Obviously this guy hasn't lived in CA or the NE :nuts: )

No, I haven't lived in CA and never wish to. It's those pricks from CA who moved up to the PNW and drove up the cost of living on everyone else. Like the ol' billboard used to say down on I5 south of K-Falls, "CALIFORNIANS - you are welcome to visit our lovely state but please do not stay." Oregon - Keep it Green and Granola free!!

Cya,

CP