SKyway looking better

[iahawkeye]

Just a question for skyway guys

I heard Delta is paying the bill for all of the training costs. Does this mean they are paying for all the excess and Dojet captains (I think its like 40) to sit around on reserve and make garuntee. I heard from someone they were paying for EVERYTHING.

 

[Justino]

Sure! What the hell why not? Whats an extra few thousand dollars anyhow? jk

Cheers
Justino

 

[Skyrtr]

Yes, the 1900 class was furloughed

All 20 of us were shown the door. Got offered the potential of Ramper positions if we wanted them so we could keep insurance, flight benefits, etc.... Not something I would consider, as I can make more money doing almost anything (same for the 1900 job, but I'm a pilot).

Yes, if and when we return, we're a bit worried about picking up at the CPT/Orals stage after a furlough. I'm sure some retraining will be offered prior to expecting us to pass an Oral and go to the sim. None appear willing to return unless the deal with Delta is actually signed and solid.

I'd love to wait around, and may, but it sure felt ugly to be asked to pile all of our materials up (Jepps, Co. Binders...), turn in our badges and parking passes and be shown the door. Not a good feeling at all, and I don't intend to repeat it. It's really crappy the way Delta keeps pulling the carrot out of the donkey's mouth... Some of those guys had a previous class canceled while they were on the road in August, and now got furloughed after moving up here for the second try. Some had new Wisconsin leases to break, and all of us had given up a paying job to come to training (most of us won't be able to get those jobs back).

Any management reading this can take it from me that every one of us appreciated being told sooner, rather than later. We also thought our instructor was Phenomenal. We had a good feeling about the company throughout our training, and none felt much animosity toward Skyway about the decision to furlough (plenty against Delta, however). Delta is footing the bill, and I guess Skyway can't afford to have us sitting around in addition to all the 328 guys.

 

[Propsync]

Harness the power...

1. Fallingbrick. Wow. That's great, I can't believe you can walk around with that big chip on your shoulder. Get real. BTW- Midwest had the major money problems last year, not right now.

2. Justino- I don't understand you.

3. Delta's supposed to be footing the bill.

4. For all of the rest. Step back and think about all of this better than 'the company is out to crap on me'. If this is pushed until May, what good is having another 20-30 people lying around? It just happened to be you. This could have happened two months ago before you interviewed, but if would just affect a different group of people. When you guys left, did they give you your recall date and oral schedule at the same time? Right now you need to focus on finding some work and less about where and when you'll pick ground school back up. To say that's a crappy thing to say is an understatement, but it's your reality.

My perspective-

Delta and FLYi will battle these leases in court. For every month Delta can keep those leases on Indy, the closer they can push them to chp. 11. If Indy files, then I guess I don't know who gets the airplanes, I don't have the leases in front of me. I hear the leases are much higher than what we are paying for our ten. After Delta closes DFW and redistributes the flying, I think they then can figure out if they really do want us in the whipsaw mix. I'll be honest, before they decided to close DFW, I would have thought this would have happened, now? I'd bet we wouldn't hear much until March. I figure by then it will either fly or die.

Flame Away, game on!

 

[SYXDude]

The fight between Delta and flyi is gonna be ugly. Its gonna take time to battle this one out in court. My guesstimate is Skyway wont hear anything until next spring. In the meantime, Delta has already coverd the 328 flying with Comair/ASA and Chatauqua.

Hang on - it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

 

[Justino]

I am not a complex person Propsync! What is their not to undestand

1. I am an optimist

2. I am always trying to make people smile rather then sh#t themselves by posting harsh comments, like most on the site

3. My favorite color is Blue

4. I am eager to fly

Thats about it!


As for the furloughs, Hang in their times will get better and we will all be where we want to be in the near future.

 

[248to2.8]

Well one good thing about it getting pushed back is all these new guys (and gals) can get a taste of winter flying before piling it into the snowbank at the end of Ironwoods runway as a captain.

 

[Fallingbrick]

I should just let this die, but I’m dumb. Ok man. You guys can think I have a chip on my shoulder but I don’t. I like the people (most of them) that I fly with and enjoy working for Skyway. The current Delta situation sucks for just about everyone. That being said, lets let this go and I’ll buy you a beer.

However, you are wrong though about MEH’s financial situation. Take a closer look at the Q-10 filed with the SEC. Net loss of 13.4M for the third quarter. People, this is a small cap company and 13.4M is a huge loss for an airline with only 96.3M in unrestricted cash. But wait, there is more!!! Total net loss for 04 through Sept. 30th is 23.7M and that includes a 11.4M payment from the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act. That means without Uncle Sam’s help we lost 35.1M this year,...net. And the years not over. Here is problem, companies don’t file without a significant amount of cash on hand for restructuring. Last time they were seriously considering at about 30M. One would assume with the price of crude and the load factors we are seeing (65% in October) we will post a significant loss for Q4. Is it time to panic? No, not if something is done soon to stem the losses we are taking. About the only thing MEH is planing is to out source MX on the MD-80s in 05. They sure do like to talk about how Jetblue is not making as high as a profit in Q3 on the company web site. The key issue is that they made a PROFIT(for the 15th quarter in a row), a humble 8.4M. And they also like to talk about how Conde` Nast Traveler likes us so much. That is like talking about how nice the Titanic is. These awards are moot if we are hemorrhaging cash. All of us could through a hell of a party for 13.4M, it doesn’t mean that its good business. The only thing we seem to be doing this year is praying for fuel to go down while only filling about 65% of our 88 seat 717s. The question is if you participate in the employee stock ownership program, do you have a rabbit’s foot?

Granted, when I jumped on the company about these furloughs it was unfounded and foolish, but I disagree with you about the condition of our own house. Read Kiplinger’s article from 11-12-04 entitled United, US Airways, and Delta not the only airlines in trouble. We get some free press. I hope I’m wrong and you are correct, but at this rate of cash burn I am fearful for the condition of this company in late 05.

 

[crzepilot]

Well I definetly feel that Skyway would be a great place to work for and with those 7 month upgrades it is very attractive, well let's see I think are friend Justino may have gotten hired and placed in an October class well with that upgrade should occur around May, oh wait a minute as class continues to be cancelled there are people getting hired at multiple other regionals and making some money and getting some flight time. I say it is time to start thinking about other airlines because Walmart is not going to keep you proficient with anything. Be an optimist, but when your career is now stagnant in MKE and 4 feet of snow are dumped on you, it is time to get hired somewhere else and be an optimist there.

 

[248to2.8]

I'm still trying to find a good place to be an optimist. What are the payscales at Pinnacle or Skywest? Any other "happy" places to go?

 

[Justino]

I was not in the October class. I have to say for the first time thank god I did not get called for it either. I will just hang out here, finish my masters degree and wait for an opportunity! I don't work for Walmart, I work for Walgreens, not to much of a difference though. My last day will be on turkeyday though!
I have all my options open with other companies, we will c what happens after the holidays, I presume hiring slows due to XMAS and the like.

Have a good one!

Justino

 

[crzepilot]

I'll tell you what, there are many other competitive places with low hiring times. Eagle, Express Jet, (but I guess they are going to take a paycut), Piedmont; has one of the best pilot contracts out there believe it or not. 23.41 an hour for 6 months then another raise, People I know have gotten paid $2800 a month before taxes, and they still have about 12-13 days off a month. Even still Skywest is hiring with about 1000 total time but they need about 100 hours of instrument time.

 

[PlanetK]

Sorry if this is a change of subject - is there a Skyway pilot who has a class date with WN this spring? If so, message me. thanks, PlanetK

 

[SYXDude]

...What are the payscales at Pinnacle or Skywest?

www.airlinepilotpay.com

 

[SYXDude]

Even still Skywest is hiring with about 1000 total time but they need about 100 hours of instrument time.

And they dont pay during training. Minor detail. Hey, getting paid while in training for a job at their company is highly overrated. I mean, who needs a paycheck for however long training takes??? They need to change that policy right quick.

 

[StaySeated]

Fallingbrick is correct. MEH is still hurting big time. Two years ago they put out this fancy shmancy "five year plan" that they used (rather effectively) to gouge concessions from all three unions (ME ALPA, ME AFA, Skyway ALPA) and a dozen or so creditors. The five year plan stated that they would be profitable with the new leases and new labor costs. Well, 8 quarters have passed and they haven't come close to a profit. If they hadn't unloaded the DC9's and their strong desire for fuel ME would be gone by now. Unfortunately, TH couldn't "manage" to enjoy a wet dream. I hope for the best for everyone there, you would have a hard time finding a better group of people.

 

[Cstyle]

I was in the 1900 class that got let go this week. It was a real kick in the gut. It's a crappy situation all around, but I dont think any of the guys in our class has any problem with Skyway. (Can't say the same for DAL or ACA) They just did what they had to do. I truely believe they hated to do it.

Many people (Mgmt and non) came in to our class on the last day to say how sorry they were and how bad they felt. I feel everyone of them was genuine. Our ground Instructor Mike was especialy great about the whole thing. The company truly cares about its employees.

That said, it would have been nice to be able to finish class. It was very difficult to be furloughed one day then take our ground school final exam the next. We found out the results of our test (all passed easily) then turned in our books and badges and left for the bar as a group. It was a pretty sickening feeling.

I still really want to work for Skyway, I think it is a great company with growth in its future. I really hope we are all called back in 2 months, but if the Delta deal tanks it could be years. I relocated to Milwaukee for this job so I will stick it out, and try to stay flying. But if I was in the pool right now I would definatly continue to look. You just never know.

 

[chperplt]

I relocated to Milwaukee for this job

With all the negatives that have surrounded expansion over the last many months, why would you relocate so soon?

Good luck to ya!

 

[Cstyle]

I was originaly in the 8-23 jet class, that was the first class that was canceled. I was informed 2 days before class was to start. I had already quit my job packed up my townhouse and was set to move. So my wife and I moved all of our stuff into my parents garage. My wife went to live with her parents and I went on the road as a freelance Cirrus instructor. First, we were told to expect a 2 week delay then a month. Well it wound up being 2 months. When I got the call from stephanie about the 10-25 1900D class, I thought we wouldnt be having class unless they were really serious this time. So I drove up from Dallas. Since my wife was pretty sick of sitting around her parents house waiting to findout what was going to happen, we decided to get a apartment in Milwaukee and start a life. We knew we were taking a risk, but what else was I suposed to do? I had already been away from her for the better part of 2 months. I really didnt want go another 2 during training. The good part is we really like Milwaukee. (no I am not on drugs) We are both from the midwest, so it is nice being closer to famly. Besides we were in Duluth MN before this...that place will make anywhere else look great!

We have both given up alot for my job with Skyway, I hope it is all worth it in the end.

 

[248to2.8]

Finally, someone else who likes MKE! I hope everything turns out ok for you. Good luck in the job department until then....