Skywest is buying ASA??

[Bluto]

...because??? We've got some pretty convincing rumors on our side of the fence. Can you enlighten us with any specifics? Or is it top secret information? If you tell us what the puzzle pieces are, we can decide if we think they're as relevant as you do.

 

[SSDD]

DOH with fences makes sense, but fences don't stay up forever. It is unrealistic for fairly junior SKW FO's to expect that they will upgrade and get their choice of domicile before the fences come down.

 

[Ben Dover]

Here's why SkyWest pilot will get the bad end of the deal if there is a merger. SkyWest pilot are used to the taste of mgmt kool-aid, and mgmt knows this. In fact the Kool-aid has been getting stronger and stronger over the years and yet the pilots still don't organize. ASA pilots, on the other hand, could never stomach the strong flavor right out of the chute, a fact SkyWest mgmt also knows. Hence, ASA pilots will get delt a better hand than OO pilots.

 

[Tim47SIP]

I certainly hope this is just a bad rumor. Not that the Skywest guys are a bad lot, I just dont think ASA and Skywest are a good match. XJT is a much better fit with the same personality traits as ASA. It would also help integrate Cont and Delta more efficiently. Dont know how the Cont scope clause would come into play here. Whoever it is, DOH is the only fair way to integrate. Fences can keep things operationally normal for 3-5 years which should be sufficient.

 

[DontFeedTheBear]

Whoever it is, DOH is the only fair way to integrate. Fences can keep things operationally normal for 3-5 years which should be sufficient.

Why not relative seniority? If your X% now, you will be X% after a merger. Fair is fair. If Skywest is the purchasing company, why should ASA benefit from a DOH merge? Let's be fair, I am not looking for an advantage. Just a fair shake...

Yogi

 

[Bluto]

It's interesting to me that all the ASA guys seem to be in favor of DOH integration. Not surprising, since it will serve their interests best. Unfortunately, it is not, in my opinion, the most fair way to integrate. Using a percentage system with fences is more fair since it negates the importance of when the company's last big hiring boom was (DOH) and keeps all pilots close to their relative seniority position. What can you ASA pilots possibly have against this kind of system, except that it wouldn't be as beneficial to you? ("It's not the best thing for me, so it's not 'fair'", doesn't sound like a valid argument to me.) Stapling the ASA list to the bottom of SkyWest's would be in my personal best interest, however, I would never want to see that because I don't consider it fair.

 

[shamrock]

It's interesting to me that all the ASA guys seem to be in favor of DOH integration. .......Using a percentage system with fences is more fair since it negates the importance of when the company's last big hiring boom was (DOH) and keeps all pilots close to their relative seniority position. What can you ASA pilots possibly have against this kind of system, except that it wouldn't be as beneficial to you? ("It's not the best thing for me, so it's not 'fair'", doesn't sound like a valid argument to me.)

The same question could be asked of Skywest pilots with regards to DOH integration.

Everyone will have their own ideas about what is fair. I'm sure that if the tables were turned and DOH would benefit SKW then that's what you would be arguing for. In that situation I'm sure ASA would want some sort of percentage integration.

"Fairness" seems to be determined by how detrimental an agreement would be to any person or group.

 

[DDpaysoff]

Why not relative seniority? If your X% now, you will be X% after a merger. Fair is fair. If Skywest is the purchasing company, why should ASA benefit from a DOH merge? Let's be fair, I am not looking for an advantage. Just a fair shake...

Yogi

I respectfully disagree.
DOH should be the standard of the industry. Until Alpa and our collective PWA's ensure this we have failed ourselves miserably as an organized labor organization. Just the way it is. In theory we should all get one alpa number the day we get hired and keep it until we leave. The question is how do you force that concept with a non union company? Allegheny-mohawk is only good for lawyers. It's job security for them, that's for sure.

It doesn't matter what we think anyway, just ask a lot of TWA guys/gals. Just hope your the lucky one I guess.

 

[Truckdriver]

If XJT bought ASA, then the seniority lists would be integrated via the ALPA merger policy. There would be one pilot seniority list. However, the two airlines would continue to be operated as independent operations with independent labor contracts. The scope at CAL would have no effect on the deal. ASA planes would continue to be flown for DCI and XJT planes would continue to operate as CALX. An XJT guy would also not be able to displace an ASA pilot from a domicile and an ASA guy would not be able to displace an XJT guy from a domicile. There would be provisions set up to allow bidding into the seperate operating divisions. One of the worst parts of the deal is that if you bid to fly at XJT, then you are subject to the XJT labor contract. If you bid to fly at ASA, then you are subject to the ASA contract. XJT buying ASA only creates one seniority list, but it does not place them under the XJT collective bargaining agreement. As far as culture goes, XJT and ASA would integrate much easier than SKYW/ASA. It would also place XJT in a position to have the majority share of regional feed when CAL buys DAL.

 

[Bako Cap]

1. SkyWest has not bought ASA. Chill out guys, we'll have plenty of time to debate seniority intergration if SkyWest does. There is no reason to get our blood pressure up over something that hasn't happened.

2. I don't believe that SGU wants to intergrate us anyway. Too many problems with little benifit. They would keep ASA as a wholly owned subsiderary and whipsaw the two pilot groups. Just look at us bickering about something that hasn't happened. Whatever happens (buy/not buy), it will be a business decision by the boys in SGU, not an emotional one.

 

[FlyComAirJets]

E-Bay perhaps?

Seems to me that if you wanted to get the highest price for an ASA or Comair, you would be ADVERTISING it all over the world to get as many bidders as possible. This would also scare some of the more reluctant bidders to get actively involved. Skywest might have to buy one of the subs as a tactical move to head off Mesa or Independence or Mesaba or whoever might have a couple hundred million burning a hole in their pocket. Well, that might leave out Indepence then.

 

[doh]

Continental is buying Delta!

Delta is switching to Lemon Lime Coke!

Delta called GEICO, saved a fortune on their car insurance!

I don't like the lemon lime that much, but if your cousin's father-in-law's brother-in-law's sister's son's girlfriend's hairdresser who once saw a widget on TV says it's true, I guess I can't argue.

 

[viper548]

Here's an idea, why doesn't someone send Brad a message and ask him if we bought ASA if it would be a DOH or percentile merger of the list?

 

[ifly4food]

Not that I'm entitled to speak for all ASA pilots or anything, but I can tell you SKW types that as far as ASA pilots are concerned, it's DOH or burn the new company down. Our pilot group is already pissed to the point of mutiny because of the way our management treats us, and if a buyout resulted in anything other than straight DOH integration, I promise that our pilots would go postal. The new company would inherit a mess.

We are very pro union and extremely militent, especially among the junior pilots of less than 5 years (which is a majority of our pilots). This subject has been debated ad nauseum on our in-house ALPA forum, and our pilots won't settle for getting rolled over in a merger/staple or separate list/whipsaw situation.

 

[FDJ2]

Could Skywest purchase ASA and maintain it as a seperate airline? Is a seniority integration required by either PWA?

 

[DontFeedTheBear]

Not that I'm entitled to speak for all ASA pilots or anything, but I can tell you SKW types that as far as ASA pilots are concerned, it's DOH or burn the new company down. Our pilot group is already pissed to the point of mutiny because of the way our management treats us, and if a buyout resulted in anything other than straight DOH integration, I promise that our pilots would go postal. The new company would inherit a mess.

We are very pro union and extremely militent, especially among the junior pilots of less than 5 years (which is a majority of our pilots). This subject has been debated ad nauseum on our in-house ALPA forum, and our pilots won't settle for getting rolled over in a merger/staple or separate list/whipsaw situation.

With comments and childishness like this, no wonder DAL wants rid of you!!! Be a professional and be fair.

Yogi

 

[viper548]

With comments and childishness like this, no wonder DAL wants rid of you!!! Be a professional and be fair.

Yogi

Maybe Mesa got DL flying because they agreed to buy ASA

 

[captain caveman]

Not that I'm entitled to speak for all ASA pilots or anything, but I can tell you SKW types that as far as ASA pilots are concerned, it's DOH or burn the new company down. Our pilot group is already pissed to the point of mutiny because of the way our management treats us, and if a buyout resulted in anything other than straight DOH integration, I promise that our pilots would go postal. The new company would inherit a mess.

We are very pro union and extremely militent, especially among the junior pilots of less than 5 years (which is a majority of our pilots). This subject has been debated ad nauseum on our in-house ALPA forum, and our pilots won't settle for getting rolled over in a merger/staple or separate list/whipsaw situation.

I think a good number of ASA pilots feel this way. It's not an attack against Skywest. I like Skywest. Just not enough to give up my position to a Skywest pilot. Unification is very important here, though and getting that done would be a high priority.

 

[captain caveman]

Maybe Mesa got DL flying because they agreed to buy ASA

Maybe, and I'm sure we'll see to it that Jonathon Ornstein get's his absolute money's worth.

 

[DontFeedTheBear]

I think a good number of ASA pilots feel this way. It's not an attack against Skywest. I like Skywest. Just not enough to give up my position to a Skywest pilot. Unification is very important here, though and getting that done would be a high priority.

Then why do you have a problem with relative seniority? You KEEP your position, seat, domicile etc. you just don't gain any seniority at the expense of others? Geez, why isn't that fair? It could be a lot worse, remember that the purchasing company has the advantage. You have a lot of 'class act' SKYW pilots asking for relative integration, not a staple.... Is this a sign of a true professional? You should really ask yourself that question...

Yogi

 

[IFLYASA]

How about ASA and Comair merging, and then Delta can sell us as an IPO. That should bring in quite a few bucks. Then we get rid of ASA's poor excuse of a management, use Comairs, and inherit there contract, unfrozen of course. I would love to see Chuck T and his fellow ex TWA'ers get the boot. I would personally hold the door for them.

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Here's an idea, why doesn't someone send Brad a message and ask him if we bought ASA if it would be a DOH or percentile merger of the list?

One of my buds was in CPT. charm school and this very question was asked,
B.H. replied "DOH" period.
Prepare for the burning sensation, if it happens it' s gonna hurt.
PBR

 

[Morgoth]

Not that I'm entitled to speak for all ASA pilots or anything, but I can tell you SKW types that as far as ASA pilots are concerned, it's DOH or burn the new company down. Our pilot group is already pissed to the point of mutiny because of the way our management treats us, and if a buyout resulted in anything other than straight DOH integration, I promise that our pilots would go postal. The new company would inherit a mess.

I can almost guarantee that if the ASA pilots did that, they would be out of a job pronto. SkyWest has very little tolerance for insubordination, and since they're a non-union company, it would behoove new pilots to act accordingly.

Now if ALPA is ever on SkyWest's property, then.......

 

[N813CA]

Morgoth vbmenu_register("postmenu_622780", true);

Dude, did you just say behoove?

 

[KingAirKiddo]

How about ASA and Comair merging, and then Delta can sell us as an IPO. That should bring in quite a few bucks. Then we get rid of ASA's poor excuse of a management, use Comairs, and inherit there contract, unfrozen of course. I would love to see Chuck T and his fellow ex TWA'ers get the boot. I would personally hold the door for them.

I wish it would happen exactly as you've written, but unfortunately I think it never will. Hopefully none of us finds ourselves working for Mesa Air Group when this all shakes out (Ornstein will definitely have a he11 of a labor problem; that's a promise ).

Best of luck to all of us.

KAK

 

[DDpaysoff]

How about ASA and Comair merging, and then Delta can sell us as an IPO. That should bring in quite a few bucks. Then we get rid of ASA's poor excuse of a management, use Comairs, and inherit there contract, unfrozen of course. I would love to see Chuck T and his fellow ex TWA'ers get the boot. I would personally hold the door for them.

Stop dreaming. That has been my best case scenario since I have been at Comair. Comair and ASA need to be one list, enough jerking around. You guys are a good group and together we can do well for all of us. Anything else is bad. We can do our own thing just fine.....together. Merge us and spin us!
Skywest wouldn't touch either one of us, delta would do better in ch. 11 keeping both. I could see a CAL/DAL merger and XJT/CMR/ASA merger and going from there would be good.
Don't take offense, but I would rather bag groceries than fly for skywest. Period!!!!! If I wanted to go there I would have interviewed when I had 600 hours.

 

[Morgoth]

Morgoth vbmenu_register("postmenu_622780", true);

Dude, did you just say behoove?

Um, yeah...I guess I did.

From Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:
Main Entry: be·hoove [url="http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif"]http://www.m-w.com/images/audio.gif[/url]
Pronunciation: bi-'hüv
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): be·hooved; be·hoov·ing
Etymology: Middle English behoven, from Old English behOfian, from behOf
transitive senses : to be necessary, proper, or advantageous for <it behooves us to go>
intransitive senses : to be necessary, fit, or proper

 

[DontFeedTheBear]

Don't take offense, but I would rather bag groceries than fly for skywest. Period!!!!! If I wanted to go there I would have interviewed when I had 600 hours.

You guys are the most uptight and conceited group of pilots I have ever seen. You are a true embarrassment to the profession. I hope you don't end up slinging gear for me...Oh and SKW doesn't hire at 600hrs!!! I guess ASA did...

Yogi

 

[Jungle Prop]

This is ridiculous. All three pilot groups, Skywest/ASA/Comair, are good people. You guys are slamming each other over a scenario that is probably never gonna happen. If it ever does happen, then the only way would be DOH, all three groups would sacrfice and gain.

 

[DDpaysoff]

You guys are the most uptight and conceited group of pilots I have ever seen. You are a true embarrassment to the profession. I hope you don't end up slinging gear for me...Oh and SKW doesn't hire at 600hrs!!! I guess ASA did...

Yogi

Sorry dude, I just never wanted to go there. What about that makes me conceited? Just because people don't see skywest the same way you do doesn't make them up tight and conceited. Yeah, I'm too good for that crap, flying around freaking 100 seat jets for saab pay or whatever. The bottom line is if you try to screw ASA/CMR they will drag your beloved company into the gutter. Best of luck to you over there. Don't swim in my pool non unionized whor.es. Grow a fking sack.

Yeah, I'm an embarassment, I am the one flying 50 seat jets for 50 seat rates and 70 seat jets for 70 seat rates. Can you say the same? Thank god your CEO is too intimidated of us to ever buy us, we will never have to deal with any of this in a serious matter. So, let's just leave it there. Good day.