"this should improve Republic's ability to be opportunistic"

[FDJ2]

By Matt Andrejczak, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 5:02 PM ET Jan. 14, 2005



Elsewhere, shares of Republic Airways Holdings (RJET: news, chart, profile), parent of regional carrier Chautauqua Airlines, fell 15.5 percent to $11.10. Late Thursday, the company said it plans to sell 5 million shares in a deal that could raise about $60 million based on current market prices.

If the offering is completed, "this should improve Republic's ability to be opportunistic,"said Calyon Securities analyst Ray Neidl, who anticipates a major restructuring among regional airlines over the next few years. The stock sale, he noted, might also fuel further speculation that Republic is interested in acquiring or taking a stake in FLYi Inc. (FLYI: news, chart, profile), the parent of struggling low-fare carrier Independence Air.

 

[MetroSheriff]

"Opportunistic"

Is that a polite euphamism for bottom-feeding????

I've got an idea for a corporate renaming:

Republic Airways Holding dba Plecostomus Airlines

---nobody flies for less

 

[I.P. Freley]

"Opportunistic"

Is that a polite euphamism for bottom-feeding????

Well, that didn't take long, did it?

 

[JetMidway]

"Opportunistic"

Plecostomus Airlines

Now that is some random humor.

Not bad.

 

[RedheadCFI]

Bottom Feeders? You know it cracks me up to hear how everyone thinks CHQ pilots work for so little yet companies like express or transtates that are .50 more. How about pinnacle, mesa, or skyway? I would love to see the numbers worked out how of a pilot that is with CHQ for 4 years versus a pilot that is with Eagle, XJET, Comair or basically any other regional. 2 yrs of FO pay and 2 years of CAPT pay at chq versus 4 years of FO pay at the others... After 4 years who is in the left seat? Who has made more money cumulative since day 1? So, who is actually working for less? I added some numbers up based off airlinepilotpay.com These are the per year for the first 4 years. Now, based on these 2 other companies CHQ is the only pilot that will see an upgrade in the first 4 years but since Comair and Eagle are often referred to as the leaders I thought they make a good comparison. These #'s do no include per diem, but are based on monthly guarantee per company. These numbers are based off 50seat aircraft.
Eagle
19782 21600 23328 25920 =90630
Chautauqua
19800 26100 42300 44100 =132300
Comair
20700 33000 34200 36000 =123900
So, I don't get it? The CHQ guy has a type and 2,000hrs pic turbine and on his way to a major while the others have made less money and are have only sic to show for it. Can someone explain how this makes the chq guy a bottom feeder?

 

[Paul R. Smith]

Bottom Feeders? You know it cracks me up to hear how everyone thinks CHQ pilots work for so little yet companies like express or transtates that are .50 more. How about pinnacle, mesa, or skyway? I would love to see the numbers worked out how of a pilot that is with CHQ for 4 years versus a pilot that is with Eagle, XJET, Comair or basically any other regional. 2 yrs of FO pay and 2 years of CAPT pay at chq versus 4 years of FO pay at the others... After 4 years who is in the left seat? Who has made more money cumulative since day 1? So, who is actually working for less? I added some numbers up based off airlinepilotpay.com These are the per year for the first 4 years. Now, based on these 2 other companies CHQ is the only pilot that will see an upgrade in the first 4 years but since Comair and Eagle are often referred to as the leaders I thought they make a good comparison. These #'s do no include per diem, but are based on monthly guarantee per company. These numbers are based off 50seat aircraft.
Eagle
19782 21600 23328 25920 =90630
Chautauqua
19800 26100 42300 44100 =132300
Comair
20700 33000 34200 36000 =123900
So, I don't get it? The CHQ guy has a type and 2,000hrs pic turbine and on his way to a major while the others have made less money and are have only sic to show for it. Can someone explain how this makes the chq guy a bottom feeder?

Blah!

Gosh I'm tired of hearing about this whole bit.

 

[scar1900]

on his way to a major

No one's really on there way to a major these days buddy.

 

[JetPilot_Mike]

So, I don't get it? The CHQ guy has a type and 2,000hrs pic turbine and on his way to a major while the others have made less money and are have only sic to show for it. Can someone explain how this makes the chq guy a bottom feeder?

Which one of the many majors that are going to be hiring in the next 5-10 years are you going to? The point is, how many majors aire hiring right now? Southwest, AirTran, jetBlue...maybe throw a UPS or FedEx in there. Now, how many pilots are on the street? 10,000? What if USAirways goes under...UAL...? Do you think they want a guy with 2,000pic at CHQ, or the guy with 7,000 hours and has 2,000 in the A320 or B737?

You guys have the mindset that you will upgrade in 24months and be out of there in 48. The problem is, for the vast majority, it won't work like that. Then you will have spent all that time on your knees with nothing to show for it.

 

[rptrain]

...Eagle [is] often referred to as the leader....

dude, where have you been? is it 1998 again?

 

[T-Gates]

dude, where have you been? is it 1998 again?

LOL...anybody have tips on filling out the United scantron???

 

[RedheadCFI]

I agree with what you're saying most of the majors are not going to be picking up ALL of the regional guys but there is a good flow of people moving into heavier equip especially with the companies you listed above. In my opinion I would rather fly left seat sooner and start building the PIC time knowing if I do get a "break" and an offer from a major I have the pic time to take it. If you break the numbers down you'll see that until you get beyond 6-7 yrs in most cases its still the same if not more at chq. In all actuality there are quite a few people moving into the above mentioned companies from chq. So yeah I do think it is realistic but that may just be an optimistic attitude.
One other thing...your quote...
"What if USAirways goes under...UAL...?" In a situation that one of the major players goes under I would rather be at the company with 4 codeshares and the ability to incorporate others vs. a single source of flying.

 

[AirBoard]

Bottom Feeders? You know it cracks me up to hear how everyone thinks CHQ pilots work for so little yet companies like express or transtates that are .50 more. How about pinnacle, mesa, or skyway? I would love to see the numbers worked out how of a pilot that is with CHQ for 4 years versus a pilot that is with Eagle, XJET, Comair or basically any other regional. 2 yrs of FO pay and 2 years of CAPT pay at chq versus 4 years of FO pay at the others... After 4 years who is in the left seat? Who has made more money cumulative since day 1? So, who is actually working for less? I added some numbers up based off airlinepilotpay.com These are the per year for the first 4 years. Now, based on these 2 other companies CHQ is the only pilot that will see an upgrade in the first 4 years but since Comair and Eagle are often referred to as the leaders I thought they make a good comparison. These #'s do no include per diem, but are based on monthly guarantee per company. These numbers are based off 50seat aircraft.
Eagle
19782 21600 23328 25920 =90630
Chautauqua
19800 26100 42300 44100 =132300
Comair
20700 33000 34200 36000 =123900
So, I don't get it? The CHQ guy has a type and 2,000hrs pic turbine and on his way to a major while the others have made less money and are have only sic to show for it. Can someone explain how this makes the chq guy a bottom feeder?

This is the kind of logic that will keep us down forever.

If your rationale for lower pay is a quick upgrade what are you going to do when that doesn't happen - jump to the next quick upgrade regional???? Ask the Indy guys about quick upgrade - back in 1999/2000 things were going nuts and quick upgrades were happening and promised to some. Well many didn't upgrade and now they're out of a job 4.5 years later.

But having said that there's enough 20 year newbies out there with no financial obligations who will go wherever. I wish you the best of luck in making ends meet with a wife and kids - you'll probably start looking to get out of aviation. Good luck with your upgrade!

 

[Always deferred]

Being labeled a bottom feeder is not necessarily an accurate term to bestow upon a pilot for an airline unless the motivation of that pilot is to specifically undercut a competing airline for their flying.

IMHO, to be a truly stand-up, unified pilot group, it isn't enough to simply walk a picket line together, vote together, etc. It doesn't even come down to raising the bar as we have heard so many times. A truly unified group looks out for all its pilots, ensuring that no matter what, each will have a comfortable standard of living when times are good and bad. You don't have senior pilots making the bucks while junior FOs live off food stamps. A pilot group that is forward looking enough to consider that 'hey maybe one day this growth will slow or stop, as will upgrades, and we want to take care of our young..' is a pilot group that will redefine unity and earn respect amongst its peers.

 

[DrinkSweetTea]

I agree with what you're saying most of the majors are not going to be picking up ALL of the regional guys but there is a good flow of people moving into heavier equip especially with the companies you listed above. In my opinion I would rather fly left seat sooner and start building the PIC time knowing if I do get a "break" and an offer from a major I have the pic time to take it. If you break the numbers down you'll see that until you get beyond 6-7 yrs in most cases its still the same if not more at chq. In all actuality there are quite a few people moving into the above mentioned companies from chq. So yeah I do think it is realistic but that may just be an optimistic attitude.
One other thing...your quote...
"What if USAirways goes under...UAL...?" In a situation that one of the major players goes under I would rather be at the company with 4 codeshares and the ability to incorporate others vs. a single source of flying.

You cant use the argument of upgrading quicker as a way to justify a lower wage. Wages are negotiated by pilots, contract for quicker growth are not. So the only thing you can control, inpart, is the wage contract! So when the growth stops, again this is out of your hands, now what?

 

[LearLove]

LOL...anybody have tips on filling out the United scantron???

Hey I still have blank app and an update scantron that was sent summer of 2001. Just waiting for the word.

In June 01 my "sponsor" checked my app. and said the powers that be should get to me by Sept/Oct. 01. My months may be off here but it ws right before they did the big kabosh announcement on hiring.

O well I wonder how much could get for a blank app/scantron on Ebay?

Also pertaining to the tread and being oppertunistic I thought MDA was the cheapest. I'm 6th year FO pay = 36.12 and basically no sked rules what-so-ever.

On reserve I get 75X36.12=2709 gross.
15% to 401K is .15X2709=406.35
taxable is 2709-406.35=2302.65
25% for taxes leaves 1726.99 take home plus some per diem (only flying like 6 day per month).

Good thing I'm crashing at my parents house (Hint - Yo move back home, chicks really dig it). Never thought I'd be 30 years old and moving back home. I feel like I'm in high school again. What a life.

 

[EMBPLT]

In defense of Republic - Those looking to place the label on bottom feeder should look another direction. In a recent article in Air Transport World a COO was quoted saying that if 11 regionals pass up a contract they would be willing to work for the least amount and accept it. I am not going to name names as to what company that was. You people need to get off of Republic's back for growing. The person who will have the last laugh will be the one who buys the stock and holds it. There is a reason that Analysts think the stock is worth having. Good luck to all.

 

[MetroSheriff]

The CHQ guy has a type and 2,000hrs pic turbine and on his way to a major ...

Let me know how that works out, ok?