Skyway & Delta's 328Jets

[House_X]

This has to be one of the most ridiculous threads I have ever seen on Flight Info.

It was initiated by a WMU Flight Instructor, given life by other similarly mis- or ill-informed individuals, and now has taken a life of its own. Please do yourself a favor and give many of the posts in this thread the same credibility you would as that of the former Iraqi Information Minister.

ACA D328Js are NOT going to Skyway.

The most likely scenarios for the ACA D328Js as Independence Air evolves is for them to be transitioned either to Comair, or to DAL mainline, who in turn could operate them as a third wholly-owned.
Speaking from an ACA FRJ perspective, CMR has seemed like a destination for our D328Js for a while. Were that to occur, I suspect the crewmembers would be given the option of staying or going back to Indy Air.

There would likely be some sort of 2-3yr window given to ACA pilots to make such a choice. Rational behind this: CMR can't train 350 FRJ pilots to crew the D328Js immediately, nor would they want to, when they have already-qualified people doing the job. It is to their benefit to offer ACA pilots the option of staying. Conversely, ACA would not want to have to immediately retrain the ~350 FRJ crewmembers we have to the CRJ or the A320 - we're already fat on pilots and doing so would only necessitate more furloughts.

There is no way Skyway could handle the demands of training/staffing/maintaining the 33 FRJs ACA flies, at least not with a considerable spool up time. However it has been explained to me by reliable sources that the way DAL does their accounting, were CMR or another wholly-owned entity fly them, they'd be making $$$, while in their present situation, the D328Js are barely breaking even. The FRJ is an airplane with some maintenance issues - however ACA has done well to head off many of the problems. It has its nice, esp out of CVG, doing short, "thin" routes, where our substantially lower fuel burn and other lower operating costs kick in. Note one of these operating costs is definitely not pilot salaries - many ACA FRJ FOs are receiving CRJ FO pay upwards of $35-36-37/hr, which can equal ~$45k/yr including per diem. I even know of one hardworking ACA FRJ FO who will make in the mid-50s this year - this is better than 50 seat RJ Captain at most regionals!

Any more questions, I'll be glad to answer.

JT

The chances of Hailley's Comet hitting 18L is higher than DAL getting the Dorniers direct. DAL has absolutley no interest in taking over our airplanes direct after the drama we're going through. Skyway has had more success with resolving MX issues than we have. Don't under estimate Skyway. Also, Comair has their own battles to fight....the Dornier is the last thing they are concerned about. I don't know what's going to happen, but the staffing for the CRJ is going to be high for independence air...

 

[Thunderchief]

More Dorniers?

I doubt highly that skyway could handle one more dornier to train for and maintain than what they have now. As a former pilot of that 'organization', SYX is stretched to the max and is cancelling flights for no crews NOW, add some aircraft in the near future and it would be an amusing scenario...

Their pay is low now but in the second year of the new contract (mid 2004) the rates jump to much closer to industry norms.

I don't think ACA has anything to worry about from SYX.

-TC

 

[DH106]

Thunderchief, I'm laughing at the rather subtle use of quotes around the word "organization." That's very diplomatic (and generous) --- I know what you mean. If only we could speak freely...

How's that 73 treating you?

 

[avpro91]

Yeah, they're hiring as far as I know. Got a couple of buds there and they're saying they can't hire fast enough and they're are looking for flight instructors to fill their new hire classes

 

[FlightTraker]

Just interviewed today. Said they are hiring into pool right now. Just to throw another log on the rumor mill, CP told me Skyway is actively pursuing to fly for another carrier as well as YX.




FlightTraker

 

[Thunderchief]

SYX rumors at there best....

First SYX was actively pursuing a United contract, then JetBlue, then Frontier, now ACA/Delta....

That is in the last 2 years or so. I don't mean to crush any rumors but I heard this BS for 5 years at SYX. Maybe they really were and are pursuing it, maybe its just fanciful talk.
I DO hope SYX the best. Now that they have a decent contract I hope they do grow and prosper, I have a lot of friends over there in the pilot group and management. But the logistics alone for a 200 pilot organization to grow to the required size to operate that many MORE DoJets is on the verge of impossible unless given years to make it happen. How many years do we have?

ACA and SYX are both ALPA, so there is no way that SYX would operate ACA aircraft and/or have any sort of seniority joining. Read stayseateds post, he knows his stuff....

FlightTraker, hope you get hired. Good luck.

-TC

 

[ThomasMore]

SYX Mins

Skyway's stated mins are 700/50, but apps with those hours are not seriously being considered. Competitive numbers are @1,250-1,500 TT with 150-200 ME. Milwaukee locals or willing to relocate to MKE is a plus. FYI.

 

[blueridge71]

Skyway is the prevailing rumor. This is especially true since Comair's MEC refused to approve a pay rate for smaller aircraft, which would mean that ACA Dojet pilots would get a big raise. A furloughed ACA pilot who is training with Skyway said that Delta brass was touring the classroom building recently.

Frankly, I think that the Comair ship has sailed. With their combative MEC and Delta's financial problems, I really don't see a bright future there.

The most recent rumor, from a connected source, is that, if the move happens, ACA pilots would get a bid to go or stay. If the pilots elect to stay, then they are considered displaced so there is no seat lock. If they go, there are recall rights to Independence Air.

I've also heard that if we go to another ALPA carrier, chances are good that we will keep our seniority dates.

If there are any Skyway DoJet FOs lurking, I'd really appreciate some details on the company and contract, especially pay, days off, etc.

 

[ilinipilot]

In this day and age it makes perfect sense for a smaller carrier to get as much flying as they can. Its good business practice to diversify your operations, same with a stock portfolio.

D

 

[captainv]

>Frankly, I think that the Comair ship has sailed. With their combative MEC and Delta's financial problems, I really don't see a bright future there

actually, the MEC was more opposed to giving up $8 million/year in exchange for - maybe - getting new jets. personally, i don't think anyone had a problem initally with paying less for the DoJet at Comair. The Brasilia paid less, so does the Jetstream. But then we noticed ACA pilots are getting CRJ rates to fly them, which Delta has happily paid. We're not going to take less pay to bring them over here, or screw the guys that currently fly them...

As for the rumors here, pretty good stuff so far, but it's all just talk until the airplane's in the hangar, y'know? When i came to Comair, it was established fact that we were getting a base in DFW and upgrade time was 2.5 years. no rumors there, the company was actively gearing up for the new base. things change.

one knock i do see against Comair is that taking the DoJet would give us all the flying out of CVG. Don't think DAL wants that...

 

[fastbird]

Any new rumors on this wild idea? I heard from buddy at Skyway they have a new hire class in March with 20 folks going to the FRJ.

For a company that operates 15 Beech 1990D's and 10 FRJ's, that seems like a whole lot of FRJ FO's starting into the pipeline.

 

[ilinipilot]

I am attending that class and the I heard it was 50/50 from the Director Of Training. BUt that could all change in the blink of an eye.
D

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Captain V

Not for long.

Chautauqua starts CVG service in March.

 

[captainv]

FurloughedAgain,

That's right, and welcome to CVG. How many flights initally?

I've been saying for a while now, especially if DAL wants Comair to fly the DoJet, that within a year or two CHQ will be flying a lot more out of CVG. It just goes with the strategy of dividing the hubs.

If the company starts giving you 3 hours productivity breaks like we get in ATL, come over to the trailers and make yourself at home. the least we can do is be as accomodating as ASA has been for us...

Captainv

 

[Propblast]

If there are any Skyway DoJet FOs lurking, I'd really appreciate some details on the company and contract, especially pay, days off, etc.

You can get most of this info off the ALPA website. After you log in, on the column on the left side of the page is a a link entitled "RESEARCH CENTER". Click on it and it will take you to their contract.

Propblast