RFP Announced at DCI

[FlyComAirJets]

Congrats to ASA for snagging the lion's share of the RFP. There was really no way that Comair could get any portion of the RFP because it would be seen as rewarding us for our reluctance to taking concessions. But if there really are no further growth opportunities, what other carrot can they dangle before us when they come back in a few months (or sooner) after the Delta pilots take concessions? Nothing like getting us fightin' mad, didn't management learn anything in 2001? Apparently not, long live the whipsaw!

 

[Cardenal]

I am happy for us, because we have been loyal, hard working employees looking out for all. We deserve it. And, it's the first good news we have had in a very long time.

The only thing I profoundly resent is those mo#$%^ers at CHQ getting more flying and aircraft instead of CMR.

 

[FreebirdGA]

First of all, the jets aren't on ASA property. Obviously Delta is punishing CMR for refusuing concessions. So the next likely event to occur from DCI to ASA is:

If ya'll don't agree to status quo we're gonna put the jets elsewhere. Bring it on!

Oh yeah...anyone see the nice bonuses for Delta management? Why doesn't the present CEO (grinstein?) ask those folks to NOT take the bonuses? Why not ask Ron Allen to give up some of the sweet deals he has? Why haven't the rest of Delta employees (besides DALPA) been asked for concessions? Why hasn't ASA requested other ASA employess (besides pilots, F/As,both union) to give it up?

It's gonna get nasty at ASA, and soon I'm afraid.

 

[g159av8tor]

It's the ASA part that confuses me.

So, during further contract negotiations, DAL can hold the keys to the shiny new CRJs over your collective bargaining heads and tempt you with proposed "growth" to get a contract with little furtherance in MGT's favor. Stick and carrot.

Tailwinds...

 

[wms]

ASA did not give in for these aircraft. If they want to take them away for bargaining power, let them. A pilot flies A to B whether there are 100 or 150 airplanes. Our lives don't change. We didn't cave to get them, and we won't cave to keep them. The fact is mgmt is hungrier for growth than we are, and have more to lose.

The memo at ASA said CA didn't get them because their bid wasn't competitive and because they already have 157 jets. They stood firm and are to be commended.

The memo also said 400 new pilots at ASA with 150 upgrades. With the misinformation about the basing of the 70 seaters, expect that things can change in the future.

 

[TWAER]

The only thing I profoundly resent is those mo#$%^ers at CHQ getting more flying and aircraft instead of CMR.

When are IDIOTS like you going to realize that us MOFO's at CHQ had nothing to do with any decisions that were made. We show up and fly the planes PERIOD!! How bout blaming the MOFO's at DAL for making the decision. Get a life...............

 

[AFELLOWAVIATOR]

O0H GEEEEZ... COME ON PEOPLE. IT WAS DECIDED LONG LONG AGO WHERE THESE PHANTON JETS WOULD GO. YOU ALL SOUND LIKE DCI ZOMBIES.

You should listen to your selves. You act like this was a "real' announcment or something. I think some of you have actually been "waiting" for this announcment as if it was real. ASA was told they needed to "give" to get jets. Well, the truth is they are getting 25 because it is their turn. We took the lions share the last couple of years, and in an effort to keep the two companies equal in size, they now get the lions share.

Fred Butt rell is full of s h it, and plaeeze tell me you people see it for what it is. Good greif.

 

[172driver]

TWAER,

I believe your pilot group did, in fact, make the decision to fly for lower wages than CMR. If you would've stood firm and demanded a competitive contract, DAL's decision would not have been so clear. As it stands, it was easy for them to justify giving them to the lowest bidder.

CMR pilots refused to drop their wages and work rules in exchange for these airplanes. CHQ pilots settled for much less than CMR was willing to accept, plain and simple. In fact, they even settled for less than the concessionary levels CMR was asked to accept.

That's where the hostility comes from, in case you're having a hard time understanding.

 

[StaySeated]

Same kaka, different dia

As "afellowaviator" stated, there was no decision made. Delta owns deliveries, and they just told some people where those deliveries are going to be...today. I can just see the negotiating table at ASA when compensation is being battled and I can already hear those useless mediators...

"You guys are getting 25 jets, do you want those to go to chq or comair or blah blah blah blah..."

The assault continues, and it is so predictable. I am suprised that they didn't throw a couple "jets" at coex to see if they could get a nibble from them.

 

[Corbon]

The only thing I profoundly resent is those mo#$%^ers at CHQ getting more flying and aircraft instead of CMR

You wanna suck on my nipple? Will that make baby feel better? While your undying loyalty for Comair is commendable, I seriously doubt you'd be singing the same tune if CMR got all the jets and ASA pulled the big goose egg out of the hat. Keep crying if it will make you feel better.

 

[Axel]

The only thing I profoundly resent is those mo#$%^ers at CHQ getting more flying and aircraft instead of CMR.

When are IDIOTS like you going to realize that us MOFO's at CHQ had nothing to do with any decisions that were made.

Blah blah, blah...Like all this fussing will make a whit of difference or change anyone's opinion. Next there will be threats of jumpseat wars. Give it a rest.

 

[OldManPilot]

I am happy for us, because we have been loyal, hard working employees looking out for all. We deserve it. And, it's the first good news we have had in a very long time.

The only thing I profoundly resent is those mo#$%^ers at CHQ getting more flying and aircraft instead of CMR.

Sour Grapes taste terrible.

CHQ is able to bid lower because their cost structure is lower, not the pilot rates. What does it take to make you understand that????? The Pilot pay rates are very competitive with all other regional airline pay rates. It's like comparing Southwest to DAL. It's all in how your business model is designed.

 

[embraerjetpilot]

Maybe it is because the Comair guys deice at the first sign of a snowflake!

HOw many times Ive seen Comair Deice when there was barely a flurry and they were on the ground for 15 minutes... Oh, oops..i doubt they do 15 minute turns either.

 

[gordon24]

How many times have I seen you sh@ttaco morons screw up. Do you idiots even know basic procedures? Case in point, coming out of GSP this morning. CHQ had no idea who to call for a clearance (had to ask an eagle flt). Couldn't wait the two mins before tower opened and started blabbing away on the radio. Missed two calls from tower on the taxi out and then stepped on four or five aircraft trying to answer the radio. Yea, class act you got there...fu#king dipsh#ts!

 

[FurloughedAgain]

There are dipsh!ts at EVERY airline and this is a VERY small industry. The Chautauqua pilot you lambast today could be your Captain tomorrow.

Worse yet, you may find yourself in a few years filling out an employment application at Chautauqua.

This industry and our profession is nowhere NEAR stable enough to show such disrespect to our fellow aviators. After all, we live in the biggest glass-house on the planet.

Good advice for everyone. The F/O you mistreat today might be the chief pilot at your NEXT job.

Lets try to be above all of the petty namecalling. Pilots dont make the decisions regarding what airplanes to fly and in which market.

The Comair pilots knew the possible consequences when they chose not to negotiate. This should be no surprise, and no source of animosity or anger. We made our bed (proudly I might add) and now we'll lie in it.

Did anyone honestly expect NOT to get underbid? The one truth in this industry -- the one constant -- is that there will ALWAYS be someone willing to do your job cheaper than you ... and even some who will be willing to pay $11,000 for the opportunity.

-Furloughed Again

 

[TWAER]

There are dipsh!ts at EVERY airline and this is a VERY small industry. The Chautauqua pilot you lambast today could be your Captain tomorrow.

Worse yet, you may find yourself in a few years filling out an employment application at Chautauqua.

This industry and our profession is nowhere NEAR stable enough to show such disrespect to our fellow aviators. After all, we live in the biggest glass-house on the planet.

Good advice for everyone. The F/O you mistreat today might be the chief pilot at your NEXT job.

Lets try to be above all of the petty namecalling. Pilots dont make the decisions regarding what airplanes to fly and in which market.

The Comair pilots knew the possible consequences when they chose not to negotiate. This should be no surprise, and no source of animosity or anger. We made our bed (proudly I might add) and now we'll lie in it.

Did anyone honestly expect NOT to get underbid? The one truth in this industry -- the one constant -- is that there will ALWAYS be someone willing to do your job cheaper than you ... and even some who will be willing to pay $11,000 for the opportunity.

-Furloughed Again

My thoughts exactly. I don't care who got the flying, but showing up on here calling other pilot groups names is pretty sad in my book.

And 172driver, that horse has been beaten to death already. See post last year.

 

[aewanabe]

172 Driver: If you're a Comair pilot with 1100 hours, then no way in hell have you been around for ANY of the labor battles that have been fought the last 4 years on the regional level. After you spent 80000 dollars for your ratings at DCI and taught in a seminole for a year or so, you got to interview at one of the premier regionals in the country with less than a THIRD of the experience required of anyone else. Congratulations; now you get to enjoy the fruits of a contract that OTHERS fought for, while you were still in High School jacking off to old Flying magazines. STFU. You know nothing about the labor situation at Chautauqua, or anywhere else probably.

The more thoughtful, educated pilots at the DCI WOs already realize ther's a helluva lot more than pilot salaries going on with who gets airplanes. Otherwise, why not give all 45 airplanes to us at CHQ? Or better yet, why not MESA? For the rest of you idiots that scream about us "choosing" to fly for less than Comair to steal growth, get your heads out of your asses and study some basic Airline Econ 101. Nobody has topped Comair's contract post 9/11. And as pilots at a contract carrier, we own nothing in terms of flying. We fought to scope our own parent company from using its resources against us. But we have NO leverage to tell Delta, USAirways, American, or anyone else to send flying our way. I'm surprised as much as you wholly-owned guys scream about brand scope that you don't realize this. I was willing to strike to keep my own holding company from using its resources to start a lower-cost, union busting company. Had we actually gone on strike, I can guarantee you right now y'all would be bitching about having to compete with Republic, with no union, paying less than our OLD contract did. BTW, one minor detail.... my brothers at ASA and Comair, y'all were also "contract carriers" until a few short years ago.

Lastly, everyone, including my fellow Chicken Taco eaters, sounds absof#ckinglutely ridiculous when you bitch about another pilot group's skill, or lack thereof. I've seen blunders, big and small, from every pilot group represented on this board. By and large we are all professionals who know our sh!t and bust our asses to do the job right. But if you wanna play remember when (And this is for you, Gordon24, dumbass)... well, I remember having a good friend coming home from college a few winters ago getting splattered all over a cornfield in SE Michigan because someone's company didn't train their Brakillya pilots to escape and evade severe icing conditions. Since we've been around for 30 years and NEVER lost a passenger, your bitching about somebody clusterf#cking an early-morning departure from a Class C airport with the tower still closed seems pretty **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**ed stupid. (And pointing fingers and playing "remember when" still sounds dumb, even when I'm the one doing it. Get the point, children?)

 

[145EXR]

Maybe it is because the Comair guys deice at the first sign of a snowflake!

HOw many times Ive seen Comair Deice when there was barely a flurry and they were on the ground for 15 minutes... Oh, oops..i doubt they do 15 minute turns either.
gordon........i dont fly for your company, nor comair..but i do fly emb-145s...i would HOPE that you would NEVER compromise safety with regards to icing...if my wife and 4 month old son were on your airplane, i would hope that you would de-ice with the 1st sign of a snowflake...you wanna flame guys here for not taking concessions or not being "competative" , thats your right to free speech, but NEVER flame ANYONE for being safe!!!

 

[OldManPilot]

How many times have I seen you sh@ttaco morons screw up. Do you idiots even know basic procedures? Case in point, coming out of GSP this morning. CHQ had no idea who to call for a clearance (had to ask an eagle flt). Couldn't wait the two mins before tower opened and started blabbing away on the radio. Missed two calls from tower on the taxi out and then stepped on four or five aircraft trying to answer the radio. Yea, class act you got there...fu#king dipsh#ts!

Wow!!!!!!!!

Did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed?

Your perfection has me perplexed, should we call you "God"?

 

[FDJ2]

Chautauqua was voted the best Regional Airline of the Year, it therefore comes as no surprise that they would get additional jets and flying at DCI.

Delta Connection Carrier Chautauqua Airlines Named Air Transport World Regional Airline of the Year
Monday January 26, 11:29 am ET


ATLANTA, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Connection would like to congratulate Chautauqua Airlines for receiving the 2004 Air Transport World (ATW) Regional Airline of the Year award.

"The ATW award is a great honor, and Delta Connection is proud to have Chautauqua as part of our portfolio of quality regional airlines," said Fred Buttrell, president and chief executive officer of Delta Connection, Inc. "Chautauqua joined Delta Connection in November 2002, and has been a valuable addition to the DCI family, allowing us to further expand our geographic reach with a high quality product into key markets."

The ATW award is based on exemplary service to customers, technology innovation, superior safety record and development of new markets and services. The award began in 1974, and has become one of the most coveted and valued honors a company or a person in the airline industry can receive."


I'm also glad that ASA got a large part of the additional flying, since they apparently don't have a problem hiring furloughed ALPA pilots, unlike the CMR pilots. That should provide more job opportunities for furloughed ALPA pilots who would like to keep flying while retaining their contractual recall rights. I'm not sure, but don't Skywest and Chautauqua hire furloughed pilots too, without forcing them to resign their contractual recall rights? If so, than all the better.