SA In for a Rough Ride

[From FWA W/Love]

Well, whether or not we stay in business is one thing. Whether or not we have enough pilots to complete our flights is another. The powers that are not, i.e. middle management and SA execs have cancelled a new hire and upgrade class. Seems reasonable for now. We are going out of business, right. Well even if we don't, either Oct. 27th or whenever, There is about to be a large outflow of pilots from our list.

Interviews, Hirings and plain just wanting to leave the profession are a few of the reasons. I hope that the great minds that run this place see it coming sooner that a day after it happens, because the number that I heard (15-20) are all planning to leave within days of eachother, and most are senior, leftseaters, not with the intention of destroying the company, just happens to be an added bonus in most of their minds, and I for one don't know of many crewmembers that are too keen to answer a call to service on their days off.

 

[cargoflyr69]

Huh?

What is this about an "outflow" of "senior left-seaters" all about?

seems 15-20 captains is about 1/4 of the company.... I know you are frusterated, as are most shuttle drivers, and myself too. I see you have only posted once, so if this is FLAMEBAIT, please don't go spreading new rumors, its the last thing needed right now. There are already more than I can handle out there right now!

 

[cargoflyr69]

Indeed I am a proud NO voter.

Just that I know a few that were in FWA last week for the interview. They are confused as all H#ll, just as I am!

 

[tiktak]

does an upgrade to strong buy mean
sell sell and sell short.

Wexford Capital invests primarily in the transportation, technology, energy, and natural resources industries. The firm also seeks investments in bankrupted companies

Republic Airways Holdings' constituents are some of the biggest airlines in the US. Through its main operating subsidiary, Chautauqua Airlines, the company provides connecting flights for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and US Airways. Using a fleet of 50 Embraer regional jets and 17 Saab turboprops, the airline serves more than 40 cities in the US and Canada. Chautauqua plans to phase out its turboprop planes and replace them with the more efficient regional jets. Republic Airways began operations in 1998 when it purchased Chautauqua. America West ceased its partnership with Chautauqua in 2003 to save on costs.

Transportation
The airline industry is beginning to show signs of recovery. Restructuring efforts at the major airlines are continuing and cost reductions recently put in place are starting to show results. Summer travel volumes are strong, but airfare price increases are lacking. The next few years will continue to be turbulent for the airline industry, but things certainly look better than they did three months ago.

We have concentrated our recent distressed activities in the transportation (airline) industries. The companies in which we have typically invested have monopoly characteristics, with strong underlying cash flows and are businesses in which we would be comfortable holding equity after they have been reorganized and their capital structures right-sized. We continue to scour these sectors of focus for opportunities, and, in some cases, have been participating in other parts of the capital structure as the risk/reward shifts away from appreciated debt to more junior securities.

 

[koho18]

congrats to those who have put in their notice and also to those whom soon will. no rumor many pilots will soon be leaving. i would like to thank many of them for they dealt with too much for too long...good luck!!

as far as getting pilot concessions, I would first like to invite the 1 person in corporate with a window view onto the line to see what really happens to keep this airline up and running. no more trying to get to pitt or try to fit everyone. you have created this and the ball is out of your court.

we have voted and the vote will still be the same regardless of how many times we vote.

but i do have one question. the company is doing so bad, HOW CAN WE AFFORD TO TYPE A MGT PERSON, EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL NOT FLY THE LINE AS CAPT???

 

[From FWA W/Love]

Not Flame

Hey guys and gals,

This thread was not meant as flamebait. I am a SA pilot with no prospects for myself other than a few months of unemployment followed by many years of telling people that I sit next to on a random flight to see family, when I purchase a full fare, "Yeah, I was an airline pilot once."

I have spoken with plenty of crewmembers, from all the lists, and bases Capt. F/O and F/A who are looking for other things. Some have found them and some have not, but the search continues.

BTW: I spoke with one of our flight attendants today who told me something amazing. Crew scheduling called one of our fa’s the other day and jr. manned her for a 6:20 am show. When she arrived at the airport today for her DH, she was informed that there was no 6:50 am departure. She called the powers that be and was told that she was supposed to be at the airport @ 4:30 am, so she missed her departure. They still needed to get her to PIT to use her, so they put her on the next flight. Here comes the amazing part. They DH her on jr. man pay (1.5X1/2 credit for DH), to do a CLE leg, then DH her back to base. I also spoke with a FA that was sitting in PIT that same day and time in a day room paid for by scheduling @ a pay rate of $18.00 per hr. that’s $73.13, FOR A CLEVELAND LEG + the $30 rate for the day room.

With problems like this, and them asking US for money, why wouldn't anyone chose another opportunity if it arrived. They shred $103, and ask us to pay for it.

 

[Snakum]

I really hate to hear this about Shuttle America. I have a friend (I know ... hard to believe) who was laid off out of seniority order at Chautauqua then went to SA ... now this.

What a sh!te fekking industry!



Minh

 

[blott]

We were not "laid off" . We were FIRED...lest others forget...

B

 

[crewguru]

Re: Not Flame

BTW: I spoke with one of our flight attendants today who told me something amazing. Crew scheduling called one of our fa’s the other day and jr. manned her for a 6:20 am show. When she arrived at the airport today for her DH, she was informed that there was no 6:50 am departure. She called the powers that be and was told that she was supposed to be at the airport @ 4:30 am, so she missed her departure. They still needed to get her to PIT to use her, so they put her on the next flight. Here comes the amazing part. They DH her on jr. man pay (1.5X1/2 credit for DH), to do a CLE leg, then DH her back to base. I also spoke with a FA that was sitting in PIT that same day and time in a day room paid for by scheduling @ a pay rate of $18.00 per hr. that’s $73.13, FOR A CLEVELAND LEG + the $30 rate for the day room.

With problems like this, and them asking US for money, why wouldn't anyone chose another opportunity if it arrived. They shred $103, and ask us to pay for it.

I think that if you know so much about scheduling, that maybe you should come in here and try and cover the open time that is generated from all the sick calls, training, vacations, etc. Everyone makes mistakes, but when you are in a rush to get something covered you may overlook things. Remember, hindsight is 20/20. Until you understand all hassles we go through trying to cover these trips, don't knock us. And for your information, we did not pay for a day room for that fa. It was her base so she paid for it herself. Next time, get all the info before you do the math. We are working our asses off in here, too. We are also short staffed, under paid, and under appreciated. Think of that next time you ask for a day off.

 

[koho18]

crewguru...
yes everyone here has been working their a$$ of to help keep SA running. you are complaining that scheduling is short handed. so i would suggest that you use all of your resources....so that means mgt should not be in ground school if things are not up to snuff in their dept.

just like they should not type this same person when money is short. is that where my paycut would have helped out? oh wait...i forgot we all need to be team players. lets get a re-vote, i would love to give up money so we can shafted....forget it...

but it should turn fun once the 2 weeks notices start rollin in.

 

[BendOverAgain?]

Just got off the phone with one of the "New Hires" to be. He was told not to count on comming to SA now by someone in the front office, (he couldn't remember her name) and that SA has surrendered ALL of it's scheduled OCT Sim time. Too bad this unlucky sole already quit his other job.

If this is a repeat of June, it's sad that SA even tourments those applying!

 

[BendOverAgain?]

Update to my last......

Colgan Air was supposedly asked by Flight Safety if they needed any more SAAB Sim time in Oct. that there was time available 'cause SA cancelled ALL of their sim time in OCT.

Knowing Colgan, don't know how far to trust that either. They might just be trying to rub salt into the wound. Won't be their first time.

If anyone else has any info let us know!

 

[cargoflyr69]

Hey, even if the rumor of oct. sim time being cancelled is true, that in itself is not the end of Shuttle. The fact that the new hire class didn't go as planned is a good reason why Shuttle won't need sim time, as for recurrent, do you know of anyone that is due next month?

Just trying to look at the cup 1/2 full guys. As bleak as things may sound I'm trying to keep positive....... it's tough!

 

[crewguru]

I'm sorry if everyone thought I was whining. I didn't realize that only pilots were allowed to do that. Please forgive me for having an opinion, and for trying to explain scheduling's side of the story. And as for being short staffed, I think every job I've ever worked for has been short staffed. I only mentioned it as an explaination as to why people are stressed out and may overlook an obvious answer when covering open time.

 

[the turtle]

You guys are getting screwed!!!

With as crappy as Mesa's new contract is we were still able to merge all of our CCAir pilots (160 total) that MAG left hanging in the wind into our seniority list...I have yet to hear a reason from the CHQ guys why they couldn't do the same for you!

 

[AirBill]

Hey Turtle. Know what you're talking about, or shut up. SA is NOT a part of RAH, period. It is owned by Wexford, and trying to negotiate a scope for SA is like trying to negotiate a scope for Colgan or Piedmont or Allegheny or whomever else decides to badmouth us. It just ain't possible.

Despite this, our EC tried in vain to help SA. This despite the fact that SA accused us of stabbing them in the back for whatever reason. This despite the fact that SA tried to negotiate lower RJ rates and take flying away from us to basically become the new Republic Airlines.

Do your homework before you open your mouth. Just because it's fashionable to jump all over CHQ now doesn't help your argument one bit.

 

[godsgift2aviatn]

AirBill, I think you need to do some homework as well if you think the relationship between WEX, CHQ and SA isn't incestuos at best.

I don't recall anyone at SA badmouthing CHQ seems that most of their rage is directed at WEX. SA pilots never tried to negotiate lower jet rates infact we voted down a TA for a paycut, the concequences of which will probably be us on the street.

Keep your flying, take all the flying in the world for all I care. All I wan't is a job that pays me a fair wage.

 

[I.P. Freley]

GodsGift hit the nail on the head.

You (Airbill) may construe our (SA's) frustration as "badmouthing", but you aren't the one who is facing extinction... Quite to the contrary. The bulk of the ill will is aimed squarely at Wexford and most of the rest at the senior management in FWA. That which has been said about CHQ by SA people was in fact mostly a knee-jerk reaction to the undeniable fact that we voted down our TA (with pay cuts) on tuesday and by friday CHQ suddenly had a new TA (with a raise). If this wouldn't raise your hackles, or if you don't understand how it would make us stand up and take notice, you are truly delusional. Maybe you could be a little understanding instead of deciding that we are all out to get you.

Your trying to stir the pot by accusing us of trying to negotiate lower jet rates to "take flying from you" (my absolute all-time favorite know-nothing phrase used by airline pilots) is unfounded, ludicrous, and totally at odds with reality. If you knew anything about our failed TA, which you clearly don't, you'd know that jet rates didn't enter into it... At least not the final version. An earlier version of the TA with lower-pay jet rates, not voted on, was rejected out of hand by our negotiators (and was suggested by management, NOT the pilots, DUHHH!).

Either you knew this and you are trying to show smoke where there is no fire, or you are pulling things out of your crap-hatch. Take your pick.

If it has become fashionable to "jump all over CHQ", maybe it's because of uninformed posts like yours.

 

[chperplt]

Colgan or Piedmont or Allegheny or whomever else decides to badmouth us.

When did anyone from Colgan badmouth you?

 

[BendOverAgain?]

I couldn't put it better myself!!