QX -400 News

[mach none]

Southbound,

You hit the nail on the head. They will threaten to outsource your flying to Mesa and whom ever else. There is a lot of excess capacity in the regional markets. Those companies will be looking to place those a/c somewhere. It is a threat to you and me.

 

[Sioux115]

I think the threat would be to outsource our flying to Mesa or some other LCC regional. If they stoop to that, you can have this place.

If mgt. does that they shoot themselves in the foot. The best thing Horizon has going for it is the customer loyalty through our superior customer service. If mgt. loses sight of that and we walk and they try to outsource to sh!thole operation like Mesa the company will definately be hurt worse than giving us what we negotiate. We just need to stay united and call all bluffs.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Does anyone that is familiar with our CBA know what kind of scope clause we have? It seems to be the current mantra in the regional level to add another certificate of a/c to whipsaw the pilots against each other (ie. freedumb, republic, GJs). I don't know if it is really worth the Air Group's time to do that for our upcoming negotiations but its a possibility.

As I understand it, we have the same vulnerability in our contract as TSA (for example) has in its contract. Our contract is with Horizon Air Industries, not Alaska Air Group, and prevents Horizon Air Industries from doing a bunch of nasty alter ego and/or subcontracting stuff, but does not prevent AAG from forming an alter ego to transfer flying to, ala GJ's. Horizon is free to dispose of assets in any way it pleases, so long as Horizon doesn't benefit from that asset's operation elsewhere. It doesn't say the Air Group can't benefit.

Having said that, except for the F9 flying, it's hard to imagine the Air Group wanting to do it, or thinking it would be worthwhile. We're not like Mesa/Freedom or TSA/GJ's in the sense that we are still our own, branded, majority native network airline-in-a-box. Customers would notice if some brand new alter ego ("Cheesehole Express") started providing service to ALW, OTH, RDM, YLW, etc., instead of Horizon. The flying public is probably pretty oblivious when some other airline (i.e. Freedom/GJ's) starts taking over Mesa's/TSA's contract flying for Delta or whoever. The Air Group is so protective of its brand identity, that it's hard to imagine them wanting to muddy the waters with an alter ego, just to get around our scope.

I for one think that if the QX pilot group can display a little solidarity, we are holding a lot of cards in the upcoming negotiations. Our Exco seems pretty sharp and pretty determined, and I support them and intend to help them frame this debate on our terms, not management's terms.


Jeez, by the time I finish one of my long-winded posts, the debate has already moved on.

 

[regionaltard]

I think all mach none is trying to say is that the Air Group is and has been, with all employee groups, adamant about getting "market based" compensation.

Hmm, I wonder where this reverence for "market-based compensation" was when their F-28 pilots were making less than virtually all 50 seat CRJ pilots out there?

 

[turbodriver]

Looks like all the fun will start just as soon as the contract expires.

I've been seeing a lot of these statements being made recently, referring to the contract "expiring." It's important to all QX pilots (and everyone else for that matter) that we understand from the get go, especially before negotiations begin, that under the Railway Labor act, contracts do not "expire" as in become null and void, they become amendable on their amendable dates. Meaning, upon reaching the amendable date, the current contract remains in force until a new one is ratified. This results in no rush for the union to begin talks with the company ASAP. This is in fact, another ball in our court.

I've come across individuals who don't understand this and the company will use it to their advantage if they catch on.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

This results in no rush for the union to begin talks with the company ASAP. This is in fact, another ball in our court.

Amen. We will negotiate in good faith, but very carefully and deliberately, in order to clear up all the so-called grey areas subject to management interpretation in the current CBA, you know, confusing concepts like the definition of a "day."

 

[arthompson]

Is the Q200 the same type rating as the Q300 and Q400?

 

[Southbound]

Dear Art,
Your name was so similar to Art Thomas I had to laugh out loud. If you know who Art Thomas is, however, you would not be asking. Yes, the DHC8 is one type rating, just like a 737, CL65, which covers all -series aircraft.

 

[DashTrash400]

I don't think anyone in DEN wants paycuts either. Who does?

Re: the meeting - did you know that they changed that meeting date like the day before the meeting and rescheduled it for two days later? They didn't advertise the date change very well either. For anyone who had planned to go that made it nearly impossible to do so.

*Sigh* Somehow that doesn't surprise me. We really need to get our sh!t together to go into negotiations strong. Incidently, I'm glad to see all the Horizon pilots here are dead set against any "concessions for growth," etc. You see it on the union message board but you'd kinda expect those active in the union to take that stance.

So...kinda nice that Gene is gonna give us all sorts of tips on how to save money for fuel....or NOT, if the company plays hardball in negotiations!

 

[Sioux115]

Our fuel policy is very interesting, I went through SkyWest training before I got here and almost every taxi was single engine. I was just surprised the attitude when I got here was it really won't save us that much gas.

 

[Icelandair]

One captain mentioned the rumour idea that they would move all the 200's to PDX when they get rid of 9 of them and close SEA as a 200 base. Do you think there is an validity to such a rumour?

 

[Icelandair]

Jazz taxis with one of their props in feather

 

[Bob Loblaw]

One captain mentioned the rumour idea that they would move all the 200's to PDX when they get rid of 9 of them and close SEA as a 200 base. Do you think there is an validity to such a rumour?

Based on how long it took to get rid of the Metros, Dorniers and Fokkers, I bet the "remarketing" of the 200's takes significantly longer than currently envisioned by management.

I might be wrong, but it's hard to imagine our operation without a SEA base, whether 200, or ultimately 400, or both.

 

[QCappy]

I also wanted to point out that SOME of your DX'ers (the ones who actually care about you) are add fueling suggestions in the comment section of your releases to attempt to save fuel. It's just a little added bonus to let you know we care!

Keep it up! I appreciate it. Giving us the round trip fuel on every release would go a long way. Maybe even the amount of fuel we could take with the planned passenger load......of course the stupid captains (or unfortunate ones) would overfuel and get to write an apology letter to the MPS office:angryfire

 

[QCappy]

Actually (I'm prolly going to be giving away my identity here) I DO give r/t fuel from a tankering base. I also give max fuel load based on planned payload for the big birds.​

I know you do, and I appreciate it:beer:​

 

[arthompson]

to the person that responded to my question about the Q200 and Q400 type I appreciate the response. I am not a pilot currently and know almost nothing about the Dash 8.

Adam

 

[QueensPilot]

Question

2 questions for you Turboprop guys/gals:
1.) What altitude can the Q400 cruise at? I read FL 250 with 270 optional.

2.) What altitude do you guys normally cruise at during regular line operations.

Thanks!

 

[turbodriver]

2 questions for you Turboprop guys/gals:
1.) What altitude can the Q400 cruise at? I read FL 250 with 270 optional.

2.) What altitude do you guys normally cruise at during regular line operations.

Thanks!

1. The Q400 is limited to FL250 and the only reason is because of no drop down masks.

2. Depends on a lot of things. A/C, WX, fuel, routing, etc.

 

[PumpkinPony]

Actually (I'm prolly going to be giving away my identity here) I DO give r/t fuel from a tankering base. I also give max fuel load based on planned payload for the big birds.
​

Just make sure you know the fuel price first... It's been 'suggested' the last few days to tanker to r/t the OKC turns out of Denver... After a bit of digging turns out the fuel is actually cheaper in OKC. oops.
​

 

[The PIC]

With all this talk from dispatchers about fueling why did I have to call 5 times last week on a 4 day trip to amend the release to show no ALT so we wouldn't need gas at an out station? I'm more proactive then most about this, but can you imagine how many "lazy" CAPT's are not calling dispatch and buying gas when they didn't need to because dispatch has an ALT listed when we didn't need one. Just my 2 cents, are dispatchers are great.