Skyway Delta Thoughts

[chperplt]

I doubt things will stay the same.

You keep saying that GL, but nothing has happened so far. I hope for all our sakes something happens for the good quickly.

If this goes to CH11, you guys are going to lose a lot more than I (we) will. I'm already use to living in poverty (not quite, but close).

 

[General Lee]

chperplt,

This is all done like we are at a poker table. We all have cards to show, but we are keeping them close. Eventually all of us will show our hands. But, if one shows too early---the others will not double down. Everyone knows we (pilots) will be giving back a ton. But, we don't know what the creditors will do---and we need their help also. If we just laid down and said "here you go boys, $1 billion a year!"---the creditors may not do much at all. This is high stakes poker, and we will all lose something. By the way, I have been saving up for a large pay cut---and I think most of us have. I wasn't here long enough to really buy the huge house and new cars---which might save me in the end.



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[chperplt]

This is all done like we are at a poker table. We all have cards to show, but we are keeping them close. Eventually all of us will show our hands. But, if one shows too early---the others will not double down.

GL,

You aren't much of a gambler are you? You don't double down in Poker, but in Blackjack.

I completely understand what you're saying. I just hope that each group doesn't keep raising the stakes thinking the other is bluffing... at some point the company will have to go "all in" and everyone will lose when they do.

 

[General Lee]

Chperplt,


Man alive, you are right! Actually, when I layover in LAS I head for the craps table---not blackjack or poker. It is easier to play craps---since that is what I do a lot in my shorts, and how I feel often. Thanks for clearing that up for me.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[chperplt]

GL

You're too funny man!! In the almost 3 years that I've lived in Vegas, I still can't figure out craps... Just when I think I've got it, I realize I'm still a confused little puppy!!!

 

[DDpaysoff]

Poker

Know when to walk away, know when to run. I hear about 300 runnin' next month.

 

[General Lee]

DDpaysoff,


You mean 300 early retirements? I think a lot more if Dalpa and management get an agreement going. If they get what they want---the company would guarantee their lump sum and the pilots would stay for 4-6 months. If I could get my lump sum guaranteed---I'd do it too--because in a Chap 11 senario--nothing is guaranteed. I bet 500 Capts will do it. A huge bid would follow.



Chperplt,

I usually just go up to the table and throw down the minimum and just watch what people are doing. After a while I figure it out again. I was told by a dealer once that I should "learn how to play this game" and I retorted "Hey, I am the type of player your casino WANTS---leave me alone." I walked off with about $100 bucks from the table---not bad.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[DDpaysoff]

General, sht I don't blame them at all. I would do the same thing. They put in 20+ years and then expect them to stay around and clean up Leo's mess. I'd have been gone three months ago. I wouldn't wait around for the hopes they will use vasilene and be gentle.

 

[General Lee]

DDpaysoff,


IF the crap really hit the fan, expect more like 1000 or more (maybe 1500) guys to bail. The plan is funded pretty well, and even if the judge were to stop lump sums temporarily if Delta asked him to, he would eventually allow guys to take THEIR money and leave. I would be a 777 Capt by default! Kinda scary!(I know what you are thinking!)


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[DDpaysoff]

Wouldn't it be something if you guys started hiring again because of this? Who'd have thunk it?

 

[General Lee]

That would be interesting, and I am sure management would LOVE to hire new guys at new wages to fly the planes as the more expensive older guys leave....



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SYXDude]

Long time reader, first time poster.


A few thoughts about SYX:

If you had a newhire class postponed, understand there are many variables regarding the Delta deal. It may or may not come to fruition - the ball isn't in our court right now. Keep looking for other opporutunities. SYX may call when you least expect it.

The pilot group is solid. When flying the line, give 100% effort, be humble, have a positive attitude, and learn all you can from the Captain regarding your respective aircraft. You want a good rep on the line!

Finally, do NOT, under ANY circumstance, sit in Ops and complain/whine/comment about having to sit reserve for more than a month. There are pilots who've sat reserve for three years. It seems some newhires have already been overheard doing this and it has not been well received by more senior pilots. You don't want to alienate anyone that you may fly with in the future. "Loose lips sink ships".

Later

 

[Goldeneagle646]

Do NOT, under ANY circumstance, sit in Ops and complain/whine/comment about having to sit reserve for more than a month.

Ditto

 

[vagabond]

SYXDude Whoah is Me!

What gives a pilot the right to think that they have had it tough, or crummy luck to sit on reserve for years on end. Just remember there are a lot of new hires that have probably had it a lot worse than you. For example I know someone who has sat reserve many other times at other airlines, and been furloughed twice. I think that anyone who has the opportunity to be flying for an airline these days should be thankful. Just because there are new hires at your airline that talk about how they are on reserve and really arn't flying that much doesn't mean that they dont understand that its to be expected being new. From what it sounds like, there are quite a few new hires that i know for sure appreciate their new opportunity to work at SYX more than you. Nobody has the right to complain about anything. We all signed up to do this for a career, and we should all accept what comes along with it. It doesn't matter if you have 10 years seniority or 1 month, if you started on the beech 1900 or the DOJET, if you sit reserve for one month or 4 years, we all deserve it just the same. If you complain and have 10 years at the company, your just as guilty as the person that complains who has 1 month. Everyone just needs to shut the F____ up and do their jobs. WHOAH IS ME!

 

[WillFlyFoCookie]

Relax Vagabond

I think that all SYXDude was trying to say is that new guys more than anybody don't have the right to complain especially in front of everybody else at OPS. I am one of those new guys and I agree. I can at least understand more when the guys and gals that have been here a quite a while through thick and thin want to vent a little. We, the new guys, weren't here when Skyway pilots (to the best of my knowledge) were the first regional pilots ever to go on strike (about ten years ago?). We were not here during the years of contract negotiations to get our current working agreement. We were not here last summer when the pilot group banded together and aggreed to hold off on their hard fought new rates for a year to help save the company. We were also not here when the pilot group lost two of their own in a heartbreaking car accident a while back (new guys probably only know Travis and Michael as nameless pictures above the bid box).

Skyway pilots are a very close group and are going through some big changes right now with all the new guys and gals. I flew with a Captain yesterday that said he saw a guy wearing four bars on the Beech and had no idea who he was. He had never seen him before which was a huge shock because this guy was already a Captain. We are hopefully going to have many more changes with Cincinnatti opening up. Because this pilot group is so close, it is important that we all work extra hard to get along, to do a good job and not give the veterans a bad impression of the new pilots.

I, like SYXDude, have heard stories of new pilots complaining in the presence of their co-workers and that saddens me. Does anybody have the right to complain? Maybe not. We all know that their are Billions of people on this Earth that are far worse off then us. The bottom line that SYXDude was getting at is that new pilots at Skway Airlines in Milwaukee, WI definately don't have the right to complain.