Sky West 1Q Earnings

[BigLebowski]

fin you make a good point and i agree. I'm not arrogant about my pay or bonuses, etc, but when I am being labeled and told that i fly the scraps left over there is a problem.

For the record eaglefly I have no problem with ALPA. I believe they are there for the better of the pilots, however I don't feel they would do any good here at SkyWest. BTW...you never answered my question either...
If ALPA was so strong and they don't P*ss on their fellow brothers, then why is it during the comair strike aca flew comair "work".

 

[eaglefly]

fin you make a good point and i agree. I'm not arrogant about my pay or bonuses, etc, but when I am being labeled and told that i fly the scraps left over there is a problem.

For the record eaglefly I have no problem with ALPA. I believe they are there for the better of the pilots, however I don't feel they would do any good here at SkyWest. BTW...you never answered my question either...
If ALPA was so strong and they don't P*ss on their fellow brothers, then why is it during the comair strike aca flew comair "work".

I'm not defending ALPA, they've had ethics problems for decades (See CAL).

But, you guys are staring across the table at people who know they're in the drivers seat and accordingly, you'll ultimately get what they give you.

What could you do if they don't ?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Lebowski - The Dude,

I don't think ACA flew any Comair code. If you know something else that would be a HUGE new flash because the Comair guys watched their flying very closely and never made that allegation.

Unfortunately ALPA does pi$$ on its members, as you phrase it. National blames this on the crisis of the airline restructurings early this century and promises to do better. However, "brand scope" never made it from policy to implementation and we regional pilots should go to National dressed like the Gorton's Fisherman for all the effluvia ALPA has sent our way this decade.

So, I can not disagree with your assertion. However, I think you would be well served by ALPA because the union facilitates you and me working together. The ASA and Comair MEC's stood as a great example of this sort of cooperation for almost 8 years. ALPA thought the alliance was strong enough to whip saw management into increasing pay, but management used ALPA's lousy scope policy to undermine both of us and Comair caved due to competitive pressures from CHQ, Mesa, SkyWest and ASA.

We can learn from those lessons and do better. But without a organization to coordinate our efforts we have no chance at all.

 

[BigLebowski]

Fins, again I agree. However, I don't feel that ALPA's "priorities" are at the regional level simply because of dues. ALPA is a business and like every business objective A is money.

A classic example of this is years ago when TSA had a 100% strike vote and was told by ALPA national that they would not strike because they would hurt or possibly end TWA. This to me seems counterproductive...you are paying union dues to a union that is supposed to be there for your best interest, but at the same time tells you to sign whatever the company gives you because they won't allow the "major" to be hurt.

I feel we as regional pilots all need a union. I think we should have our own union, one that represents us and only us as regional pilots. I believe Duane himself said there was a difference between regional and mainline, yet we're represented by the same union.

Unfortunately I don't see this happening, and lately I feel ALPA is doing regional airlines more harm than good (this is just my opinion).

Eaglefly:

our management is in the driver's seat? So is yours and every other company out there. Don't be fooled because you are union. If alpa would not allow any bad to come of your company why is tsa and chq doing "your" flying out of stl?
Any airline these days can do what they want with the flying, your union is not going to stop that...if you think they will I believe you are mistaken. Ex.) G0Jets, Freedom; what's next?

 

[SkyNation]

Unfortunately ALPA does pi$$ on its members, as you phrase it. National blames this on the crisis of the airline restructurings early this century and promises to do better. However, "brand scope" never made it from policy to implementation and we regional pilots should go to National dressed like the Gorton's Fisherman for all the effluvia ALPA has sent our way this decade.

Fins,

good point. this is precisely what keeps most people from buying into it. And yet, one of the biggest flag wavers for ALPA here actually posted this today in response to the question 'how can we improve morale her at SW?'

"Vote ALPA and your morale will improve"

 

[Gr82Aviate]

Fins,

good point. this is precisely what keeps most people from buying into it. And yet, one of the biggest flag wavers for ALPA here actually posted this today in response to the question 'how can we improve morale her at SW?'

"Vote ALPA and your morale will improve"

What do you and Newwoman propose to improve morale and other issues, aside from your usual anti-ALPA drivel?

 

[Ponchus pilot]

Fins, again I agree. However, I don't feel that ALPA's "priorities" are at the regional level simply because of dues. ALPA is a business and like every business objective A is money.

This is not true. I believe the major airline dues subsidize the regional. And you are also wrong that ALPA is a business. The airline however is.

 

[HelloNewman]

What do you and Newwoman propose to improve morale and other issues, aside from your usual anti-ALPA drivel?

Morale isn't nearly as bad as you may claim it is. Most of the complaining comes via the internet. Here and the SAPA forums is where you hear the most complaining and it is the same people over and over again. Most people I have flown with have actually been quite positive. Its a tough buisness out there and you gotta do what you gotta do to survive. Other issues are currently being hashed out such as some of the zoltar items. It has been slow but I believe we will see some positive changes in the not too distant future.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

What do you and Newwoman propose to improve morale and other issues, aside from your usual anti-ALPA drivel?

I've heard that HelloNewman, SkyNation and MELIT improve their morale every Saturday night with a slumber party and a Pretty in Pink marathon.

 

[Gobi Gred]

Hellonewman, You and I must be flying with different people because I have seen a drop in morale. The biggest change I've seen is that a lot of the FO's I fly with just don't give a hoot that they fly for SkyWest. There was a time that most people I flew with were pretty happy to be at SkyWest and not at the other regionals. This is simply not the case anymore. Most see SkyWest as being no different then any other regional. I can't say that I blame them either because it certainly isn't the airline I came to work for. That's why a lot of senior guys are the ones complaining because we have been here long enough to see the downward trend. I'm hoping though that with the inevitable slow down in growth we will get caught up with our staffing and focus on being a quality employer again.

 

[Leroy Smith]

A regional that isnt growing is one that's dying.

With growth slowing dramatically, how long will it be until the fast upgrades stop, some folks actually have to sit reserve for a good long while and the calls for concessions to be "competative" start (and its a good bet, by most accounts the compensation is pretty rich at the moment)? Will productivity damand the erosion of some work rules?

Those who have been there for a little while and have upgraded or are about to, and who just want to get their time and move on..... they really dont have to care. What are the rest of you planning to do? Your management has been more benevolent than most, but what will happen when the music stops? There were times when the pilots at ASA, Comair, PSA, PDT, AWAC, TSA, etc. were all feeling pretty good about their lot. Things can change pretty quick, especially when you are employed at will.

Now is the time to be thinking about it.

 

[Exskydiverdrivr]

Newman--- Uncle Hulas say's the moral is great at Go-Jets. He wants you as a captain. Please don't keep him waiting...

 

[BigLebowski]

in defense to a few people on here...I don't think that anyone at SkyWest is Anti-ALPA. I think that a lot of us don't feel the need for it. Maybe that will change over time.

I've been with a carrier with ALPA before. They were necessary and did the best they could. I don't see how they would benefit us here at SkyWest. This is coming from a personal experience.

 

[SkyNation]

BigLebowski,

Ditto for me

 

[FlyingToIST]

SkyW has already given a pay raise.

Not to the hard working EMB pilots who are flying more broken equipment than the freightdawgs.

 

[FlyingToIST]

I've been with a carrier with ALPA before. They were necessary and did the best they could. I don't see how they would benefit us here at SkyWest. This is coming from a personal experience.

- How about being represented by someone so that you can feel you have someone on your side? How about not being threatened by JG from day 1 because your name is foreign and you don't belong to the same religion as him.
- How about a training captain yelling to your face, screaming profanities and the CP not doing anything about this?
- How about a mormon being protected despite having some shady history of criminal records?
- How about a mormon getting a tap on the shoulder because he was showing his schlang to the hotel bar employees, but a pilot given a first strike because he called the CP about this matter?
- How about feeling defenseless, not having a voice in the airline because whoever you are going to go to will side with JG.


Do you think a representation would help in these cases?

 

[CFIT]

-


Do you think a representation would help in these cases?

No I don't.


Who the hell is JG?

 

[USCtrojan]

No I don't.


Who the hell is JG?

Who is John Galt? Character from the 2nd most influential book of all time, Atlas Shrugged.

Trojan

 

[Tarzan]

No I don't.


Who the hell is JG?

Me thinks you be Mormon.

Now your just being ignorant and demonstrating you're a company lackey.

 

[CFIT]

Me thinks you be Mormon.

Then you obviously have no idea of who I am. I get just as sick of LDS garbage as anybody, and I'm on a first name basis with the gals at the liquor store.

I just get tired of hearing people who want ALPA because they screwed up and feel they don't deserve any reprecushions.

I still don't know who JG is.

 

[Gr82Aviate]

Then you obviously have no idea of who I am. I get just as sick of LDS garbage as anybody, and I'm on a first name basis with the gals at the liquor store.

I just get tired of hearing people who want ALPA because they screwed up and feel they don't deserve any reprecushions.

I still don't know who JG is.

It must be really great to be perfect and never ever make mistakes?!

 

[SkyNation]

I love how all the crybabies always in desperation end up blaming their problems here on the Mormons.

get a life.

(plus what CFIT said)

 

[Texx]

-
1. How about being represented by someone so that you can feel you have someone on your side?
2. How about not being threatened by JG from day 1 because your name is foreign and you don't belong to the same religion as him.
3. How about a training captain yelling to your face, screaming profanities and the CP not doing anything about this?
4. How about a mormon being protected despite having some shady history of criminal records?
5. How about a mormon getting a tap on the shoulder because he was showing his schlang to the hotel bar employees, but a pilot given a first strike because he called the CP about this matter?
6. How about feeling defenseless, not having a voice in the airline because whoever you are going to go to will side with JG.


Do you think a representation would help in these cases?

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes. Pro standards.
4. Yes but limited by law.
5. Yes.
6. Yes.

 

[Texx]

I just get tired of hearing people who want ALPA because they screwed up and feel they don't deserve any reprecushions.

No, there is a difference between taking your lumps and having an over zealous management applying pain. We had one at ASA. Fired a pilot because management didn't know the difference between a waiver and a SODA. End result, pilot back on line with full back pay. Arbitrator ruling.

 

[i fly boxes]

I heard that if you are based in salt lake city, you are allowed to have more than one wife, is this true?

 

[BigLebowski]

In response to all the negativity on here:

Anytime I had a problem with someone or something with the company...All I do is go talk to my chief with the door closed. It is always immediately resolved within that day, and I've never been brushed off. I am not a mormon either.

Maybe if you are having problems with this company you need to look at yourself in the mirror. Maybe you're not being a team player. If you're one who bashes the company and starts trouble on line and in the crew room, on the message boards...the company has every right to come after you. No company owes you or anybody else anything.

This company really cares about you and wants you to be happy here, if you're one that likes to b*tch, than that's a different story.

 

[HelloNewman]

It must be really great to be perfect and never ever make mistakes?!

The company doesn't punish people hardcore for just making mistakes. Trust me getting fired for no reason just doesn't happen at this company. The only person I have ever heard of is DD. With DD you only get the pilot side of the story. There are always two sides to every story. I haven't heard of an official ruling in that case yet. If he won what people say he won then we never needed ALPA in the first place. One pilot out of 2500 still makes me sleep pretty easy at night.

If you get wrongfully terminated here instead of just getting your job back you can sue and win a couple million then you don't need to fly again. In either case ALPA isn't needed. Again this person is the only one I have ever heard of. Out of 2500 pilots thats not bad at all. No one else can produce wrongful termination evidence for anyone else.

One of the things the OC harps on over and over is how a lot more people have been fired here than at ASA. This is actually a good thing it means people that deserve to be canned are not keeping their jobs when they shouldn't.

 

[eaglefly]

Fins, again I agree. However, I don't feel that ALPA's "priorities" are at the regional level simply because of dues. ALPA is a business and like every business objective A is money.

A classic example of this is years ago when TSA had a 100% strike vote and was told by ALPA national that they would not strike because they would hurt or possibly end TWA. This to me seems counterproductive...you are paying union dues to a union that is supposed to be there for your best interest, but at the same time tells you to sign whatever the company gives you because they won't allow the "major" to be hurt.

I feel we as regional pilots all need a union. I think we should have our own union, one that represents us and only us as regional pilots. I believe Duane himself said there was a difference between regional and mainline, yet we're represented by the same union.

Unfortunately I don't see this happening, and lately I feel ALPA is doing regional airlines more harm than good (this is just my opinion).

Eaglefly:

our management is in the driver's seat? So is yours and every other company out there. Don't be fooled because you are union. If alpa would not allow any bad to come of your company why is tsa and chq doing "your" flying out of stl?
Any airline these days can do what they want with the flying, your union is not going to stop that...if you think they will I believe you are mistaken. Ex.) G0Jets, Freedom; what's next?

Of course it's true certain aspects of out contract allow them flexibility due to lack of language to prevent that.

But, that's A LOT different then having NO say about anything. If things go south, they cannot "adjust" our pay, cannot do anything they choose with schedules and are required to respect the concept of seniority, just as some examples.

Without certain protections (or the only weapon to back them up), you're at managements TOTAL mercy. We gave up our right to strike in exchange for certain protections including guranteed yearly raises, merger protection and successorship among others.

You guys might be able to ASK for those, but if they don't want to give them up, AGAIN.....................what will you do ?

 

[starshipdrvr]

I would say I am more in the majority than the minority. The funniest thing I have seen in a long time was the OC letter about pilot apathy today. Who are they to tell us how to act? If we want to be apathetic then let us. I am definately apathetic about the union drive and the things the OC tries to make a big deal about. When it comes to participation in these type things the group is apathetc. Apathy is good, there are more important things in life to worry about than the crap ALPA wants us to waste our lives on.

The OC members accuse our group of being apathetic. I say that is much more of a compliment than an insult. The non apathetic groups such as ASA are getting spanked the the NMB. Here at SkyWest me and the other apathetic pilots have much more important things to worry about such as our next tee time, whats for dinner, etc. The stuff the OC wants us to worry about is way down the list. There is a very vocal minority here at skywest. Most of them are just bitter old fogies who were never able to move on in life.

Newman, I'm sorry but you are embarrassing the rest of us SkyWest and ex-SkyWest pilots. You, sir, are pathetic!! How long have you been at SkyWest? How much of the degradation have you observed? What has happened to what used to be the best regional airline to work for? Ask pilot recruiting how many new applicants they're getting? Ask the Director of Training how well the new applicants are doing in training? Ask any check airman they're opinion on the quality of the new pilots? SkyWest Airlines has worked itself into a spiral and is rapidly spinning out of control. I'm glad that I've bailed. My hope is the Jerry will see the light and turn SkyWest around. My hope was that Jerry would embrace the ASA portion of the company and work both companies together, whether it be through merger or just treat both sides fairly and continue as it was. ASA was/is a great airline and SkyWest, Inc. has slowly been dismantling it for no reason other than to piss off the pilots. Pilots will either stand together or die together. Do you want to be flying in the left seat of an airbus at $60/hour? Have some pride in your profession and yourself? I guess in your opinion you're only worth the $34/hour you're getting paid. Good for you!!!

 

[capt. megadeth]

Those who have been there for a little while and have upgraded or are about to, and who just want to get their time and move on..... they really dont have to care. What are the rest of you planning to do? Your management has been more benevolent than most, but what will happen when the music stops? There were times when the pilots at ASA, Comair, PSA, PDT, AWAC, TSA, etc. were all feeling pretty good about their lot. Things can change pretty quick, especially when you are employed at will.

Now is the time to be thinking about it.

Good post.