Skyway, Now what?

[Z28_Pilot]

To all the skyway guys out there.

Sorry, and Gals......I really do appreciate it!

 

[ShadowFlight]

No idea about UAL or DAL. Did hear about the FO's leaving and I would presume a whole slew of people have apps out to other airlines. And I would also think there maybe some jet FO's made into Beech FO's. Pay protection for them?

When your not told anything from management that leads to WILD speculation about what is happening, I'm not saying they should tell us information of a confidential nature but a short memo saying nothing new and we Expect to start date sometime in 2010 would be nice..

tirade over

Jobear
Master of trapping farts in lambskin

As painful as this will be for me D), I agree with JB (King of Flatulence) that a fair number of lower seniority pilots have apps out with other airlines. I would presume the reasons include better pay/QOL elsewhere (especially for the Beech FO's) and uncertainty/anxiety regarding the oft-delayed Delta deal, which is going on a year of being delayed.

Who knows what will happen. I would presume if we didn't get the Delta deal that somehow Midwest/Skyway would find a way to finance five DoJets for ourselves. I am concerned that, with our first quarter 2005 loss of $16M, our lending options have been reduced. However, that doesn't mean we will not find a lender - just that it might be a little more difficult.

Just another F/O along for the ride, hoping for the best...

Peace

SF

 

[ilinipilot]

I doubt they would pay protect the Jet FOs because according to the contract they can displace as they need to. It would be the lowest seniority guys on the jet going over and if there is no one below them, then no need to pay protect them. Plus if I was a current beech FO and these guys more junior to me came over and got paid more, I would be LIVID.

I think Mesaba hiring tons, and possibly into the CL-200 will hurt us more than any other airline. They are close in proximity to MKE, an easy commute with about 10 flights a day, and their new-hire pay is more than first year FO and slightly less than 2nd year jet fo pay. If I were upper management this would worry me the most.

At last count there are 4FOs gone and 5 downgraded CPTs to fill spots. We have increased flying for May and June, so we didnt gain any flexibility with the downgrades. Something has to give or else the best care in the air, will be the most canceled not in the air.

I have tossed out some ideas about ways to help and I will post them here just for discussion sake.

1. all beech FOs that pick up open time is paid at jet fo rate.
2. emiminate the MBL stand-up. It would allow for more usefulness of crews I would guess?

I wish everyone who moved on good luck and maybe something will come soon.
D

 

[last call]

not that its new news but I just ran into a couple of more guys that are leaving. Looks like Mesaba and Xpress jet are the popular places this month.

 

[FSIGRAD]

I would also be surprised if you don't see a big migration to Mesaba. I'm one of the "furloughed" Beech FO's from Skyway and already there are 4 of us from my class working here. New hires should start going straight into the CRJ with a MSP base. Appealing for people living in the midwest.

 

[WillFlyFoCookie]

Holding pattern and approaching "bingo fuel"

Is anyone having fun yet? Ohh what a long strange trip it's been (reference to the Greatful Dead). As far as displacements, I volunteer Propsync for the Beech right seat...you need BE-1900 under your "Aircraft Experience" profile. C'mon man! Take one for the team! Just Kidding.

I did hear that Skyway called United and asked if they could offer a bid to do flying for them, even though United didn't ask for one. United appearantly was very receptive. It's hard to imagine anybody being much cheaper than Skyway. You just never know. Flying for another airline other than Midwest would open a lot of avenues for Skyway, it's just a matter of getting the first one off the ground.

See ya around and keep the posts coming!

 

[sbn340mech]

Hey propsync, do you fly for Skyway?

 

[T-prop]

Sounds like they won't be displacing jet fo's to the 1900. They are planning a 1900 class on June 6th with 20 newhires and recalls. I just got the call today from George(?). I have been in the pool since Aug. and have since been unhappy at Eagle.

He was really honest, and said that the future is uncertain. They still could get the Delta deal and grow, not get the deal and still add a few Dornier's on their own, or neither and furlough 100 pilots, me included.

I have a couple of days to give a final answer and I am seriously torn:

-Stay eagle as just another number where I know I will keep my job, given I pass my probie ride, and sit right seat with decent pay for the better part of a decade.

-or-

-Leave for an honest, small, decent company (a LOT closer to home) and run the risk of becoming jobless for a faster upgrade (anything less than 5-7 years is fast enough for me.) But a small, honest, company close to home means more to me than an upgrade time.

Any advice from total strangers is appreciated.

 

[Waylon]

XJ is hiring and a 5-7 year upgrade is not out of the question.

 

[Propsfullfwd]

Well SYX is very uncertain right now. We are having a class because so many FO's have quit and are quitting. It is a good company to work for. If you stay at Eagle there is the possibility of that 7 year upgrade. I told my friends that are there to see how far from the bottom they are. Then find out how many flowbacks from AA there are. Then to take those and put that many under them. This should be where you are when AA starts to recall from eagle and then hires again. Sometime in the future I think Eagle will have a fast upgrade. I think there are like 500 flowbacks. Granted AA have 2500 pilots on the street so it might be a few years before all of this happens. You will have alot better pay at Eagle and they do have an ORD base that you can get your second year. And will make as much as an SYX 5 year Capt on the Beech. Quality of life at Eagle will get better. If you want to come to SYX I will take another # under me. I would say do the math and good luck to you.


Props

 

[SMOE]

I got the call from Skyway today about a 1900 class and had to say thanks but no thanks. I was in the pool since Aug and got scared when the Delta deal got pushed back from Jan to Mar. I was hired on with XJet in October, have been extremely happy, and see no reason to start over for less pay. And despite what Waylon says, unless things change, were looking at 2 years for upgrade, not 5-7. Even before the movement started last year it was 4-4 1/2.
Good luck to you all at Skyway, I like small companies where everyone knows everybody and envy you for that.
Best regards...

 

[Tooslow]

I have been at Express for 13 Months now and I am 240 numbers from upgrade. Moving up 60 some numbers a month plus 70 or so a month behind me being hired. Express will have around 3,000 Pilots by 2006. I feel for you guys at Skyway, I was furlooughed myself from Indy and flew the Dojet. The first Express guy that was furloughed after 9/11 will be in upgrade class this summer. After they upgrade, new hires are next and will probably be this fall going into winter, making a 2 year upgrade. All this mostly hinges on what ratio CAL takes the Express guys..
Good Luck to all.

 

[Propsync]

Hey propsync, do you fly for Skyway?

Technically, yes. Often, no. If you work up in CWA, I'm sure you know a few guys I know that work(ed) out of there. I wish the jet flew into CWA, haven't seen Mis. Demeanor at the New Yorker lately.

Anyway. Cookie, lay down the pipe man. Seniority rules man, let me know how it goes. But I do have all the respect in the world for the Beech FO's putting up with the staffing. Sounds like we're calling some back. That's great news. And us fly for United? Might as well say we're hooking up with JetBlue out of DSM.

Patience folks. You've waited this long to see what will happen.

 

[WillFlyFoCookie]

Patience folks. You've waited this long to see what will happen.

Propsync, you are even more wise than you are senior. Seniority does rule doesn't it? Unfortunately I am neither wise nor senior. I'm hoping either of these virtues will come my way at some point.

So is "XJ" Mesaba or ExpressJet? 'Cmon people, make up you minds here! I've seen "XJ" used to refer to both of these airlines many times. We are pilots, we should be able to standardize this!

Good luck T-Prop! Sounds like you have a tough decision to make. Why is life so full of those choices? I don't know much about Eagle but at Skyway your certainly not just a number. It depends on how badly you want to be based out of Milwaukee I guess. The chances of furlough are a little higher at Skyway at this point in time but no one anywhere is 100% safe. Starting all over at a new company kinda stinks (especially if it wasn't planned or desired) but with your experience, I'm sure you can do it. You'll make the right decision in the end. Just listen to your gut.

Peace All,

WFFC

 

[ilinipilot]

My 2 cents, anywhere you are at you can leave fairly soon. I have heard stories of it taking one week to get hired at Chatauqua with an ORD base, and someone getting called 4 hours after putting their resume in with ASA.

Moral of the story if you do get furloughed you will be able to get another decent job quickly, so don't let that stop you.

 

[b82rez]

My 2 cents, anywhere you are at you can leave fairly soon. I have heard stories of it taking one week to get hired at Chatauqua with an ORD base, and someone getting called 4 hours after putting their resume in with ASA.

Moral of the story if you do get furloughed you will be able to get another decent job quickly, so don't let that stop you.

Don't worry, you can easily get another job???!!!!???

Great advice dude, just what I'd expect from a 1900 pilot

 

[ilinipilot]

Hey now,
I guess I should have phrased my post better but If some people are willing to gamble and come here for a quick upgrade, and it falls through then you have places to go. I am looking out for my other crewmembers and giving them honest facts. I dont want anyone to leave but if they can improve their life, more power to 'em

Also, if god forbid there ever were furloughs: pilots with 121 experience can pick their job right now (comair, asa, chat, go-jet, mesa, skywest, coex), and not sit furloughed for years like it was in the past.

 

[jobear]

go-jet,

I would hope not

Jobear

 

[Propsync]

go-jet

Jobear, you're kinda right. But, everyone has been spelling it wrong lately. Just have to replace the G with an H.


It's HO-JET.


As Hulas would say, "Pimpn' ain't never bin so EZ".

 

[ShadowFlight]

Technically, yes. Often, no.

I can confirm there was a Propsync sighting, in the left seat no less, very recently in MKE. So he does get out every once in awhile.

As for old titanium head, Jobear, haven't seen his mug around in a many a moon. Is that a good thing?

Peace

SF

 

[jobear]

I can confirm there was a Propsync sighting, in the left seat no less, very recently in MKE. So he does get out everyone once in awhile.

As for old titanium head, Jobear, haven't seen his mug around in a many a moon. Is that a good thing?

Peace

SF

Oh yee of little faith, I have recently returned from the land of Lone Star and I am once again street legal. So pray your current captain doesn't call in sick or better yet I may pay him to be sick just for the pure joy of torture. Thanks to all for the well wishes during my recent Hemorrhoid surgery.( that's what my wife called it )

BTW congrats to AF on his final flight today

Fly safe
Jobear

 

[tuna]

Oh yee of little faith, I have recently returned from the land of Lone Star and I am once again street legal. So pray your current captain doesn't call in sick or better yet I may pay him to be sick just for the pure joy of torture. Thanks to all for the well wishes during my recent Hemorrhoid surgery.( that's what my wife called it )

BTW congrats to AF on his final flight today

Fly safe
Jobear

I got 'ya beat jo! Wanna see my scar?

 

[jobear]

NO WAY AMIGO!!!

 

[T-prop]

Why isn't Skyway displacing DoJet fo's to 1900 fo's?? Or are they low on pilots for both aircraft??

 

[GOULET!]

Shortage of Jet pilots? HA! Farthest thing from it right now. A Skyway Jet pilot has more time off right now and has better schedules than some senior captains and fo's at the majors. The reason they aren't going to displace us because they still need us incase Delta goes through. Plus Delta is paying our salaries. In my opinion, until things with Delta are signed, Skyway will continue to see FO's leave every week for greener pastures. There still may be a chance that more Beech Captains may be downgraded until the FO shortage is settled however, there are not may Beech Captains to spare either so downgrades probably won't happen either. Kind of a weird situation going on right now. Rumor has it that the Beech class in June isn't even "official" yet, just tentative. Guess we will see come June. Time for me to get off the soap box.

GOULET OUT!

 

[DrewBlows]

Why isn't Skyway displacing DoJet fo's to 1900 fo's?? Or are they low on pilots for both aircraft??

Way too expensive for what is considered a temporary problem. Whether or not it's temporary is debatable, but that's the stance the company and the union are taking right now.

 

[8AF]

How many pilots SYX have to furlough if Delta deal fall apart? How does it affect Beech FO?
I just dropped an app at 1190 Rawson.

X SYX Dispatcher

 

[b82rez]

How many pilots SYX have to furlough if Delta deal fall apart? How does it affect Beech FO?
I just dropped an app at 1190 Rawson.

X SYX Dispatcher

There are about 40 or so "extra" 328 CAs and about half that for FOs. So I would say about 60 people if we don't get any more planes.

 

[8AF]

Does that mean if the deal fall apart, the DoJet driver can move to the Beech if they are willing to? What I want to know is that if I get the June class in the Beech will I be furloughed if SYX is not getting more airframe?Thanks for the info.

 

[T-prop]

Does that mean if the deal fall apart, the DoJet driver can move to the Beech if they are willing to? What I want to know is that if I get the June class in the Beech will I be furloughed if SYX is not getting more airframe?Thanks for the info.

George Velguth told me that the June 6 class will have 20 newhires.
Possible outcome #1: Delta deal goes through and 200 people will be added below you, and everyone is happy.

Plan B: Delta deal doesn't go through and skyway still adds a few dojets.

Thirdly: Delta doesn't come through and dojets or financing is not available approximately 100 pilots will get furloughed.

Place your bets!