SkyWest back to Coex

[socalpilot]

Also, we only get 12 off every month

Actually it's 13 days off a month. 13 bids per year with 28 days per bid period. 16 on 12 off.

Even without the standups the average schedules are worth 63 hours and the actual flight time is around 55-58.

If you were at any other airline you would be sitting reserve for the whole month and not flying very much at all. At least junior captains get to fly at CommutAir. Just remember that sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side but when you get there you will find that it is not as green as it once looked.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but after the crap that some of our guys (and girls!) pulled durring the union vote, some will not be welcome back at Express. This is a very small industry and people don't forget, nor should they.

You Xjet guys need to get in check with reality. The COEX furloughs at CommutAir were not the reason ALPA was voted down. It's because ALPA didn't convince enough of the CommutAir pilots that there was much they could do to help us. Mckpickle, why don't you tell us what ALPA could have done to help CommutAir and give us a chance to respond with why we didn't think so? We are forming an internal Mutual Interest Commitee to help communication between the pilots and management. If that doesn't work I'm sure the next ALPA drive will be a successful one. As for the furloughs. Everyone of the Coex furloughs that I have flown with except for 1 or 2 have been great. If they decide to return to Xjet I will be sad to see them leave. I wish the best for them whatever they decide to do.

 

[NEDude]

you must have upgraded when all the growth started. The new guys do not have the same chance and as far as stand ups go they are not bidding them, thats all that is left for the people on the bottom.

No, I am fairly junior in fact, in the bottom third of the captains list. I know at least three guys junior to me who intentionally bid stand-ups, even when they don't have to, just because they are easier for commuting.

The opportunities are there. Remember that a lot of the senior guys aren't after the higher time trips. Neither are a lot of the folks who live in CLE. While the pickings do tend to get pretty slim near the bottom, there are still a lot of higher time trips still left. Even bidding 16 days of those and no cash, you should be able to get 68-70 hours per bid. At 13 bids per year that is 884 to 910 hours per year.

You are correct that the very bottom guys do get stuck with some reserve and stand-ups, but that happens anywhere. Just because these guys have been near the bottom for a month or two doesn't mean they will be there forever. Things can happen very quickly. Remember that all but the top five or six captains in Cleveland were F/Os 9-10 months ago. Phase two of Cleveland should be announced by spring, and we have a few guys who will be leaving for Southwest as they start draining their pool. There will be plenty of movement here over the next year or so.

I will second what Socalpilot said, the vast majority of the Coex guys here have been great. If they leave, I will be sad to see them go and wish them the best.

 

[skootertrash]

Actually it's 13 days off a month. 13 bids per year with 28 days per bid period. 16 on 12 off.



If you were at any other airline you would be sitting reserve for the whole month and not flying very much at all. At least junior captains get to fly at CommutAir. Just remember that sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side but when you get there you will find that it is not as green as it once looked.



You Xjet guys need to get in check with reality. The COEX furloughs at CommutAir were not the reason ALPA was voted down. It's because ALPA didn't convince enough of the CommutAir pilots that there was much they could do to help us. Mckpickle, why don't you tell us what ALPA could have done to help CommutAir and give us a chance to respond with why we didn't think so? We are forming an internal Mutual Interest Commitee to help communication between the pilots and management. If that doesn't work I'm sure the next ALPA drive will be a successful one. As for the furloughs. Everyone of the Coex furloughs that I have flown with except for 1 or 2 have been great. If they decide to return to Xjet I will be sad to see them leave. I wish the best for them whatever they decide to do.

Oh so OUR fulroughed pilot/ALPA liason, had nothing to do with it. SHE IS A SCAB. Go ahead send her back. I know plenty of captains who can not wait to fly with her. The COEX pilots who woted against this, after they got jobs there because of ALPA should no be allowed to return. SCABS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BeechSlapped]

The people who have upgraded at commutair will milk the PIC for as long as they can and will return.

Thank you for that insight. However. given the projected 30% return rate and the fact that they will be needing 144 pilots by year's end, this "milking" will not continue long enough for them to gain any appreciable PIC time. They will indeed have a difficult decision to make.

The majority say that when they are among friends, its just not too politically correct to say that to other commutair pilots.

Thank you so much for sparing our feelings. That is very gracious of you. However, I can think of 4 furloughees off the top of my head whose departure would surely not generate too many tears among the remaining pilots here at CommutAir.

With the schedules the way they are at Commutair you are lucky if you get 1000 PIC within a two year period.

Let's see......2 years plus a 6-month upgrade equals 2.5 years to get 1000 turbine PIC. That's actually not that bad! Please remember this while you are complaining in the trailer about all of your stand-up overnights. Most likely, the person you are complaining to had to sit in the right seat for 2 years+. If you're really lucky, you might be able to find someone who spent an additional year as a CQF. Yes, please complain to these captains because they really want to comfort you

Not to mention the pay, work rules, no union, scheduling etc...

These are problems inherant to every airline. Please come back 1 year after your recall and tell us all about how wonderful it is there. I sincerely hope that CoEx can negotiate an industry-leading contract. It will raise the bar for everyone. Mostly, I hope they do it for the sake of you ExpressJet captains out there. Because if not, you're gonna have a heck of alot of whining from the furloughees to your right.


To all the furloughees who have a great attitude and are good employees, I sincerely hope you consider staying. To everyone else, I will gladly forward your Jepps and GOM to PLB for you.

 

[Flea]

You Xjet guys need to get in check with reality. The COEX furloughs at CommutAir were not the reason ALPA was voted down. It's because ALPA didn't convince enough of the CommutAir pilots that there was much they could do to help us.

You are wrong about this. Based on the number on Coex furloughs who actually voted (combined with the pro ALPA Commute Air votes), there were enough votes to vote ALPA in, had the Coex pilots voted for ALPA. Which means that, a number of the COEX pilots that owe their jobs at Commute Air to ALPA's efforts, turned their backs on the very organization that got them those jobs.

And, Mckpickle is right. Those people are not going to be welcomed back with open arms. In fact, at the last LEC meeting, the XJET pilots present at the meeting, voted to have the pilots (from Commute Air wanting to return to ALPA) stand in front of the membership, and plead their case on why we should let them back in. I don't know if that will still happen. It is up to the Chairman.

 

[Bluto]

I wonder how many of the people in that meeting have been furloughed for nearly two years? Have you ever considered that, as CommutAir pilots, the furloughed XJT pilots honestly felt that CommutAir would be better off without ALPA? It's funny, I thought the ALPA vote was a secret ballot. Yet here you are publically denouncing those pilots for their views.

"In fact, at the last LEC meeting, the XJET pilots present at the meeting, voted to have the pilots (from Commute Air wanting to return to ALPA) stand in front of the membership, and plead their case on why we should let them back in."

What a mature, professional-sounding group. Why am I not surprised that so many furloughed pilots will choose not to return to such a class-act?

p.s. The pilots who will return from CommutAir to XJT don't have to "return to ALPA" they along with all the other furloughed pilots have been ALPA members all along.

 

[MECH]

Guys do not bash any furloughted pilots because they could be the very pilots that make or break a strike on our property. I would not want to create an us against them attitude.

I have heard some distrubing rumors from the Skywest camp. Some of the pilots there feel that ExpressJet got there jobs there and not CALALPA. That is a notion that could be very dangerous for our future. ExpressJet has not given this pilot group a thing, that was not fought for by CALALPA. We must stick together as a group or we will fail in our attempt to get an outstanding contract.

 

[MECH]

Bluto

Actually they are apprentice members and can still be denied membership to ALPA. I do not think that interviewing the returning pilots will accomplish a thing, other then divide this group.

There were ExpressJet pilots campaigning against ALPA at CommuteAir. This is a violation of the ALPA by-laws and Code of Ethics. It is also a sign that if you can not trust some one to support you. Do you think they will walk the picket line or walk across. Everything you do in life has a consequence. Maybe our furloughred pilots did not realize that. But when the time comes they better be walking beside me!!!!

 

[Bluto]

I would find it supremely ironic if a union who grants amnesty to vast hordes of proven SCABS would bar furloughed pilots who have never crossed a picket line (our former furloughed pilot rep included). Considering the excellent treatment furloughed XJT pilots have received at the hands of CALALPA, I would be very surprised if anything like this happened. I don't really have a dog in the CommutAir fight to begin with. However, I am deeply concerned when a group of pilots who have never been on furlough, or strike for that matter, rush to judge a group based on the actions of a few individuals. There are fewer than 50 XJT pilots flying at CommutAir. How many of them voted for ALPA? I don't know the numbers, but these idle threats of 'not-so-warm-welcomes' do nothing to promote unity in a pilot group in desperate need of it.

 

[Bluto]

I'm not going to argue semantics with you. Sadly, this attitude of vengeance is a recurring theme with some members of the XJT pilot group. "Those flowbacks better not expect a warm reception." or "Those CommutAir pilots in CLE..." or "Those Skywest pilots in IAH..." Now it's your own furloughed pilots in danger of your unfriendly reception. Of course, I'm sure you treat everyone who picked up open time in the past two years with the same disdain, right? Just remember not to lump all furloughed pilots in with your view of the few bad apples at CommutAir. Many of us didn't use one penny of your medical assesment. And 90% of the furloughed pilots didn't even go to CommutAir, much less 'campaign against ALPA'.

 

[George Jetson]

In fact, at the last LEC meeting, the XJET pilots present at the meeting, voted to have the pilots (from Commute Air wanting to return to ALPA) stand in front of the membership, and plead their case on why we should let them back in. I don't know if that will still happen. It is up to the Chairman.

Which LEC meeting are you referring to? In fact, it is NOT up to the chairman. If a resolution "was" passed at the LEC level, it is up to the MEC to make a decision on that resolution at the next MEC meeting. Please enlighten us as to which LEC meeting this "vote" took place at. I call BS on that statement.

GJ

 

[CaptainCrunch]

For a group of professional airline pilots you xjet guys sure do cry like a bunch of beotches. You guys whine so loud I swear I can hear you over the jet engine when you taxi past. I guess that's what happens when you hire kids to be airline pilots.

 

[socalpilot]

As for the XJT furloughees at Commutair that campaigned against ALPA, you slapped us directly in the face, stabbed us in the back, and spit on us. The pilots of XJT gave of their own personal money through a monthly assessment to cover your health insurance, and our dues paid for the negotiations that secured you flying jobs while you were on the street. Don't be suprised if you're not warmly received when you wish to return to the pilot group you turned your back on.

I don't know of any furloghees at CommutAir who campaigned against ALPA. However, I do recall one time jumpseating on express and discussing the issues with the crew who told me that they didn't think we needed ALPA either. Better take a look in your own camp instead of blaming the furloughees for all you problems.

I'm still waiting for someone from express to tell us how ALPA could have helped CommutAir.

Bluto, were you able to get the Skywest slot? Wish you could have come to CommutAir. I think you would have enjoyed it.

 

[socalpilot]

But when they come into our hubs and then vote down our union, what kind of treatment do they expect?

They are not your hubs. I believe they belong to CAL. Aren't you guys going into mainline hubs and taking their flying. I guess your just treating us the way CAL treated you when you took away their flying. The main thing is this is a business. You guys do it cheaper than mainline so guess who gets the flying. Our 1900 costs less to operate and is better suited for some markets which makes more sense than flying an RJ at a loss.

Until they voted down ALPA, we had a very good relationship with the Commutair pilots. We would even take them bottles of water or meals from our planes.

Thank you your royal majesty for the precious water and meals. The only reason you brought us water and meals was because you wanted us to become ALPA. Never once did you consider that ALPA might not be the right choice for CommutAir. Just because express is ALPA doesn't mean that CommutAir needs to be. I'm still waiting for someone to post some valid reasons why we should have voted in ALPA. The only reason XJET wants CommutAir to be ALPA is for their own selfish reasons and it will never happen when you try to use bullying and coercion to get it.

Was just talking with a Skywest pilot in IAH today. Nice guy. No animosity there. He's doing the flying his company hired him to do.

CommutAir pilots are also doing the flying our company hired us to do. We didn't all get together one day and say "hey lets go get as much of COEX's flying that we can". CAL came to CommutAir mangement and asked them to feed CLE and IAH. Our managment said we can do CLE but IAH is to much to take on right now. how does this differ from SkyWest taking the IAH flying. They don't have ALPA we don't have ALPA. So what's the difference?

 

[AviatorTx]

Screw it...

Flame away, but NO Commutair person is getting my jumpseat unless you present a valid ALPA card. Period. If you have an ALPA card, then this post does not apply to you.

Sorry for you Express commuters this might affect. Thats the way it's going to be on my plane.

You Commutair guys and gals are just one small step above SCABS in my book. Actually, there are a few dictionary's out there that would say you ARE scabs. By taking our flying, you are doing Union work, for non Union wages and benefits. Thanks for doing your part to ensure the race to the bottom continues.

Yup... I'm an express crybaby. can I have another cup of waughhh?!