RJ legs getting much longer......

[AirBill]

Try reading the post a little clearer...

Your post was crystal clear. What I got out of is was your impression of the pilots at the three airlines: "We so dumb, we not know good contract if it bite us on bottom, duh huh huh!" Well, I work for CHQ, so I can't speak for the other two pilot groups and I won't. But if you'd take a second to read our contract and compare it to the previous one -- which I doubt you did -- you'd see the major improvements to pay and QOL issues. Our contract is not perfect, and it's certainly not industry-leading. But it is progress. And its duration is very short, so we can improve on it in 36 months.

Unless and until your pilot group can knock the socks off the rest of us with a new contract, I'd be happy if you'd just leave the self-righteousness at home. You haven't done anything yet.

 

[MedFlyer]

DFW/JFK is new (hasn't even started yet!) and looking ahead at the bookings it's still light. Hopefully it'll start over-selling and it will upgrade to mainline. This is one of the best uses for the RJ next to serving small communities... Seeking out new routes and then upgrading to mainline when feasible. Per-seat-mile the CRJ is more expensive to operate than mainline aircraft, and if the airline wants the best ROI it'll use mainline aircraft when possible. We know that, surely the bean counters know that and hopefully it'll start flowing back up soon.

DFW-JFK is hardly a new route. DL has flown it for years. It was only cancelled after 9/11.

DL restarted flying DFW-JFK at the beginning of this month using an MD88. It will turn over to an RJ in March.

In theory, you are right. RJ's are a great way to seek out new routes that can eventually be upgraded to mainline. However, in practice this has rarely ever happened.

 

[tlax25]

General, you are right...

My PHX - ORD flight did have one stop. I cannot remember where though...

Just give me a plane I can at least almost stand up in, and I will be happy!

 

[J32driver]

You can be sure I'll vote with my feet if in the future this 'regional flying' (which includes city pairs like DFW-JFK) continues to offer the vast undercompensation that some groups overwhelmingly accepted.

Nimitz...

You are correct about the poor contracts that some groups are currently operating under. BUT... Please understand that ALPA National is ultimately responsible for the contracts. If the pilot group's at the majors are unhappy with how the contract carriers are operating, take it up with National. After all.... the National MEC has to approve the contract too.

I'll say it again... If the guys/gals at the majors want the regionals to bring up the pay, then go to your ALPA reps and tell National to quit supporting substandard contracts at the regional level!!!

 

[Ted Striker]

Nimitz...

You are correct about the poor contracts that some groups are currently operating under. BUT... Please understand that ALPA National is ultimately responsible for the contracts. If the pilot group's at the majors are unhappy with how the contract carriers are operating, take it up with National. After all.... the National MEC has to approve the contract too.

I'll say it again... If the guys/gals at the majors want the regionals to bring up the pay, then go to your ALPA reps and tell National to quit supporting substandard contracts at the regional level!!!

This is such a load of horse**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**. ALPA is a resource, the pilots vote rank and file for their contract. You don't like it, vote no. Duane doesn't come to your base holding a gun to your head to get people to sign the contract. Bottom line, you don't llike it-then have some stones to stand up and say no. The majority likes it...then that's what you get. I get tired of hearing that ALPA screwed me. Poor victim...

 

[crj579]

No, ALPA national doesn't hold a gun to your head. Duane Woerth only says stuff like " I've been talking to management and they are going to go through with their threats, so you better sign the contract". That IS NOT supporting pilots and their attempt to make their contracts better. Duane Woerth had a choice to sign or not to sign Mesa's contract - and he signed. IMHO, Jet for Jobs and flowdown is of utmost importance to him.

 

[J32driver]

Duane Woerth had a choice to sign or not to sign Mesa's contract - and he signed.

Thats all I was trying to say. He signed. He just as easily could have told the MESA MEC, "Ya know, this contract does a disservice to the hard working Mesa pilots and every other pilot group that is trying to maintain the bar in these difficult times. Go back and try again."

ALPA National should be bending over backwards to stop the "race to the bottom". Only by supporting the bottom can you stop the top from falling.

If the costs of flying were greater at the regional level, do you think the mainlines would have as much subcontract flying as they do? My guess is the less beneficial subcontract flying is, the more mainline flying gets done. Isn't that what everyone wants? I know as a regional pilot aspiring to get hired with a major, thats what I want.