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Spirit closing DTW pilot base

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Really think it's possible? Displace all the pilots yet keep the 700+ FA's & mechanics? Sounds like a logistical nightmare...
I'm guessing it's more like strong-arm negotiating tactics.
 
flyboycmsu said:
Really think it's possible? Displace all the pilots yet keep the 700+ FA's & mechanics? Sounds like a logistical nightmare...
I'm guessing it's more like strong-arm negotiating tactics.
Click to expand...

The flight attendants and pilots have a complete different schedule. Therefore i don't think that this is an issue there.
I do however agree that it looks like a negociating tactic. The best strategy would be to let them go ahead with it. 200 pilots at 6000$ moving expense is 1.2 million. I really doubt that Spirit would be willing to finance that....
Great move to ask for concessions in order to keep the base, and also to divide the pilot group.
 
I heard about the VARS message yesterday; I didn't get it.

After hearing this, my thoughts went out to my friends based up there...couldn't help thinking of one of the guys in my class. Married, three young kids, always lived in MI...he had to go home last night with, "guess what honey? remember when I took this job and said how I'd never have to commute? Well...".

It's times like this that should make us all wonder if this job is really worth it. Best of luck to my friends in DTW.

My guess is the company will continue asking for satellite bases now...if we give it to them, they PROMISE Detriot will be the largest one...

gator
 
USA Jet is looking for DC-9 F/O. KYIP based
 
So, FLL is the only other major pilot base (beyond small base at ACY)? Wow - that's a big difference in cost of living between the DTW area and FLL area... Not good. Yeah, I'd be upset if living at base was preferred.

Sounds like a negotiating tactic. Was Frank Lorenzo hired as a consultant there?
 
I Believe ACY closed a few years ago.

Didn’t US Airways/Mid-titanic try to "focus" on FLL flights? It didn't seem to work out all that well for them.


 
selling a house in Detroit could be a real treat if it happens
 
stall022 said:
I Believe ACY closed a few years ago.

Didn’t US Airways/Mid-titanic try to "focus" on FLL flights? It didn't seem to work out all that well for them.
Click to expand...

In no particular order, Spirit has closed the following crew bases in these last ten years.

MYR
CLE
MLB
EWR
ACY

With growth, uncertainty and upheaval exist. I don't like it, but then again, I didn't take a furlough after Sept 11th. That is, youz gots ta takes the good wit bad bad.
 
enigma said:
In no particular order, Spirit has closed the following crew bases in these last ten years.

MYR
CLE
MLB
EWR
ACY

With growth, uncertainty and upheaval exist. I don't like it, but then again, I didn't take a furlough after Sept 11th. That is, youz gots ta takes the good wit bad bad.
Click to expand...


You forgot OKC it makes the 10 year list and MCO prior to that..
 
i fly boxes said:
that sucks, well i have no interest in working there anymore
Click to expand...

MAN if that is keeping from you applying, glad we didn't interview you. This industry is wayy to volatile to have a pilot say such things. We want pilots here that want to work here period.

Granted, closing of the DTW base is going to be HARD real HARD for alot of senior pilots here at Spirit and the rumors are going to FLY around till the end of time why the company did this. But, if you look at our business plan - strictly dollars and cents - we are going to live and die by the Carribean/Central American/South American markets. Why have a base so far north?

By the way - I commute from Denver, so I live the hardships that are involved with this closure.
 
SplitBar said:
What is a SAT base at Spirit? How would that effect the DTW guys if it reamins a SAT base?
Click to expand...

A SAT base is an outstation base similar to what Piedmont and other small commuters do. You start your trip at the outstation and you end there everyday. It's essentially all day trips. Guys love it if they live in domicile but it sucs bad for a commutter. It saves the company big $$ for hotel expenses that they don't pay.
 
The company is in favor of satellite bases. They appear to be emulating the Ryanair business model to a certain degree. Ryanair has 20 bases!!!! Check the Ryanair website.
 
Mostly day trips and no overnights originating from the SAT base (ACY). Some relaxation on the contractual language to allow it to happen.

The MEC is NOT interested in any more SAT bases at the moment...........to the best of my knowledge.
 
Hey Shrek, I thought that you were working for Frontier? What happened? why are you working for Spirit? I don't see why you left Frontier to commute to FLL? Or were you Canned?


Shrek said:
MAN if that is keeping from you applying, glad we didn't interview you. This industry is wayy to volatile to have a pilot say such things. We want pilots here that want to work here period.

Granted, closing of the DTW base is going to be HARD real HARD for alot of senior pilots here at Spirit and the rumors are going to FLY around till the end of time why the company did this. But, if you look at our business plan - strictly dollars and cents - we are going to live and die by the Carribean/Central American/South American markets. Why have a base so far north?

By the way - I commute from Denver, so I live the hardships that are involved with this closure.
Click to expand...
 
Got a call from a fellow C-47 driver, he told me that Champion is closing their DTW base also
 
The MEC is NOT interested in any more SAT bases at the moment...........to the best of my knowledge.[/quote]


I would not be surprised if this position changes.....
 
Well here is the way I see it. They are using this as a contract tatic. I'm sure they would love to see us buckle up here in DTW. We make this the big SAT base and they get everything they want and more. They divide us, piss us off even more and create more animosity with the FLL base. If there is no base here, the LEC here no longer has a voice. Convienient eh....Now it's all the Herbinator. Funny how that works out.

I'm just going to wait and see. I guess I'll commute for a little while and see where it all goes.

Pissed off doesn't even begin to describe the feeling up here though.

Is Virgin still hiring into the Left seat?
 
It seems odd that Champion and Spirit both announced DTW base closures within 2 days of each other.

Is there something going on with the Airport authority there or something? Or any other uninformed speculation about why 2 airlines close DTW bases simultaneously?
 
Hi!

I heard a rumour that DTW was going to stay open as a FA and mech base.

cliff
YIP
 
Shrek said:
MAN if that is keeping from you applying, glad we didn't interview you. This industry is wayy to volatile to have a pilot say such things. We want pilots here that want to work here period.

Granted, closing of the DTW base is going to be HARD real HARD for alot of senior pilots here at Spirit and the rumors are going to FLY around till the end of time why the company did this. But, if you look at our business plan - strictly dollars and cents - we are going to live and die by the Carribean/Central American/South American markets. Why have a base so far north?

By the way - I commute from Denver, so I live the hardships that are involved with this closure.
Click to expand...


The fact that I could be based where I live now was my main motivation too, I live in the Detroit area and I'm not moving to Florida or commuting. Yeah, I would have liked to have worked there, but I hate Florida enough to not be particularly interested anymore. I understand that it's a volatile industry, but that fact doesn't mean I'm just going to take any job out there, or stay at one if conditions become undesirable. It's really a moot point though since they never called. I do also know that they are in the proses of out sourcing all their reservationist and customer service agents to over seas, and laying off all Detroit Based customer service agents.
 
Last edited:
ex-nutjeter said:
Hey Shrek, I thought that you were working for Frontier? What happened? why are you working for Spirit? I don't see why you left Frontier to commute to FLL? Or were you Canned?
Click to expand...

What are YOU smokin?! I never worked for F9.......just have tons of friends there.
 
RedGuy said:
The fact that I could be based where I live now was my main motivation too, I live in the Detroit area and I'm not moving to Florida or commuting. Yeah, I would have liked to have worked there, but I hate Florida enough to not be particularly interested anymore. I understand that it's a volatile industry, but that fact doesn't mean I'm just going to take any job out there, or stay at one if conditions become undesirable. It's really a moot point though since they never called. I do also know that they are in the proses of out sourcing all their reservationist and customer service agents to over seas, and laying off all Detroit Based customer service agents.
Click to expand...

I applaud that you can wait for that perfect job - family is important.
 

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