USA JET PILOTS: Now what?

[FracCapt]

Certainly dont need a college degree to know you're getting bent over on this one!

Damm....as I read this thread, I thought the same thing....but somebody beat me to it!

 

[clansinclair]

Hey guys, lighten up on pilotyip. You have to know the man. He's just trying to maintain a positive mental attitude about the situation. It's actually one of the many things I like about him.

The "situation" is not his fault, and I happen to personally know that he does believe pilots should be paid well for what they do. While he does do the "management song and dance routine" from time to time, I believe he does what he does in order to remain in a position to help us pilots as much as he can as a manager.

As disheartening as this situation is, the thing that gets me is that we've always been told that our owners have "deep" pockets, that USA Jets is in "good" hands, and that to come to work here is a "safe" bet. Yet, my experience here reaffirms that the only "safe" bet is that those "good" hands keep reaching "deep" into MY pockets everytime the economic situation turns sour. What really saddens me is that now I feel like we've finally stooped to the Ameristar level. Until now, I've always felt like we were the premier outfit in our industry.

Maybe our "arrogance" is coming back to haunt us. I realize now, that we aren't any safer a gamble as a career choice than anyother outfit in this industry. I heard that our D.O. is directly quoted as saying to the pilots at the meeting today, "If the 'goes-outtas' keep exceeding the 'goes-intas' at the current rate, USA Jet has about 3-4 months to live."

For the first time in my aviation career, I'm seriously taking a hard look at maybe perhaps being a truck driver might be the way to go from here. It's not just our company that's in trouble in this industry. We all know this. United, US Air, etc.? God knows, who'll be next. Fuel prices, FAA mandates/regulations, and a host of other things has wrought havoc on our industry.

The trouble with all this is that there doesn't seem to be any end of it in sight. I'm beginning to think that there really isn't anybody smart enough to lead our industry out of this quagmire. The "Unions" have failed to protect their members, "Industry Management" has proven to be inept, and we pilots continue to be hopeless addicts to "flying", willing to endure anything just to stay in an aircraft and in the air.

 

[House_X]

Hey guys, lighten up on pilotyip. You have to know the man. He's just trying to maintain a positive mental attitude about the situation. It's actually one of the many things I like about him.

The "situation" is not his fault, and I happen to personally know that he does believe pilots should be paid well for what they do. While he does do the "management song and dance routine" from time to time, I believe he does what he does in order to remain in a position to help us pilots as much as he can as a manager.

As disheartening as this situation is, the thing that gets me is that we've always been told that our owners have "deep" pockets, that USA Jets is in "good" hands, and that to come to work here is a "safe" bet. Yet, my experience here reaffirms that the only "safe" bet is that those "good" hands keep reaching "deep" into MY pockets everytime the economic situation turns sour. What really saddens me is that now I feel like we've finally stooped to the Ameristar level. Until now, I've always felt like we were the premier outfit in our industry.

Maybe our "arrogance" is coming back to haunt us. I realize now, that we aren't any safer a gamble as a career choice than anyother outfit in this industry. I heard that our D.O. is directly quoted as saying to the pilots at the meeting today, "If the 'goes-outtas' keep exceeding the 'goes-intas' at the current rate, USA Jet has about 3-4 months to live."

For the first time in my aviation career, I'm seriously taking a hard look at maybe perhaps being a truck driver might be the way to go from here. It's not just our company that's in trouble in this industry. We all know this. United, US Air, etc.? God knows, who'll be next. Fuel prices, FAA mandates/regulations, and a host of other things has wrought havoc on our industry.

The trouble with all this is that there doesn't seem to be any end of it in sight. I'm beginning to think that there really isn't anybody smart enough to lead our industry out of this quagmire. The "Unions" have failed to protect their members, "Industry Management" has proven to be inept, and we pilots continue to be hopeless addicts to "flying", willing to endure anything just to stay in an aircraft and in the air.

I'm a fomer "Detroiter"...got a couple of buddies that are design engineer's for GM. USA Jet must be getting hit hard by the downturn in the automotive industry...GM, Ford and Chrysler are hurting "big time" due to the lack of truck sales.

 

[Wankel7]

I'm a fomer "Detroiter"...got a couple of buddies that are design engineer's for GM. USA Jet must be getting hit hard by the downturn in the automotive industry...GM, Ford and Chrysler are hurting "big time" due to the lack of truck sales.

Not sure where you got your "Big time " quote. But Chrysler is doing a bit better than the GM or Ford.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050302/news_1b2autos.html

I wish GM and Ford would figure something the #^$#%#@ out because I am tired of not flying.

Wankel

 

[Dart]

If you want more days...come to evergreen! all the flying you want. Normal 16 day lines but Im out for 22. Great paycheck...but lots of work.

Its like upper mng to give...but they like to take. That sucks for you guys. If you all thinkin of movin on...PM me! We need good guys over here. Drinkin free german beer in FranKfurt..and getting paid!! What else do you need.

Cheers

 

[pilotyip]

The Facts mam, just the facts

Thanks Don, hey! Guys were talking about great news, so I gave the good. However since the downside has been posted. We are not flying; pilots are being paid for 65 hours while flying 15. The on-demand business still runs on the automotive coattail. Any who reads the business section of their newspaper knows the US auto industry is in big trouble. If the US automakers do not sell cars, we do not fly as much. There was company wide lay offs in every department. Including upper management reductions. Pilots were the only group to not get laid off. At our current flying levels, it was no surprise to anyone; everyone was expecting a lay off. From my immediate feedback, particularly from the junior pilots, this was a good plan. It preserves jobs, and gives the capability to come back if business levels return. And the catch is, if we are as busy this June as June of 04, and every pilots sells those three days off back to the company their pay will be almost identical. In fact it will be more, everyone is still getting annual pay rate increases. The alternative was a lay off by seniority in equipment. That would have been grossly unfair. USA Jet has tried to break away from the mold of the typical on-demand operation, with great training, above industry starting pay, a base pay that allows you to apply for a decent mortgage, a good number of guaranteed days off, licensed dispatchers to release every flight, and fantastic maintenance. All this puts us at a cost disadvantage when bidding against the likes of Grand Aire, etc. It has been working our turnover is around 10% per year, and we have been successful in attracting and hiring high quality pilots. We were doing the right things but this is a cutthroat business. Hopefully we will all have big smiles when business comes back this summer.

 

[asipilot]

As one the USA Jet captains that just lost 26% of my pay yesterday, I am seriously looking to move on if anyone has any good tidbit's of info. The other problem with this company is that history has shown that once they take something from the pilot group, it will never return. In other words I seriously doubt if our pay will ever go back up. That's hat happened with the $3.00 per diem and extended layover pay, once the company takes, you will never get it back.

Good Luck to all my commrades at JUS, J

 

[pilotyip]

Jeb, come on! you left out the other part, I went throught that change with every pilot who had your question three years ago before you even worked here. Everyone made more money under the new pay plan in 2002 and not just a little. But $1000's more per year. If you elect to leave, leave for the right reason. Do not leave to show us you, put your career before your heart on your sleeve. Like Ray said this is temporary. In fact we may have the guys who like to sell days not want to change back to the way it was.

 

[asipilot]

Well, I hope you're right Randy, but the fact is I have to at least look for a second job just to pay next month's bills. If the company doesn't survive this, I don't want to be one of those going down with the ship!!

 

[iaflyer]

The sad part is that USA Jet actively stops the pilots from leaving. As in - they call companies that pilots are trying to get interviews at and tell them not to interview USA Jet pilots.

It shows what kind of company it is when they won't let their employees further their career - kind of back door contract. Then they cut their pay. Real nice place.

iaflyer

 

[HS125]

Well Jeb, I see you haven’t lost your habit of whining when things don’t go the way you like. Randy, tell “Little Buddy” there to quit his sniveling or you’re going to b!tch slap him back to being a Baron pilot up in Traverse City. I’m sure he would be real happy to be working for Roy and Scott back at ASI.

 

[pilotyip]

Come on Alex, be nice, besides you still owe me a beer, or do I owe you a beer?

 

[N817AA]

Why would layoffs by seniority be unfair? It has been done 3 times in the past 4 years.

 

[clansinclair]

Personally, I think that not laying off any pilots was really only mostly fair to the company. This way the company gets to keep all the junior pilots on the line without losing their training costs. It's not that great a deal for the junior pilots, as they are now getting paid approximately what they would be getting on unemployment. Although, they do get to keep their benefits. I guess that's a plus for them. I know it sounds selfish, but I'd have preferred the normal layoff routine over losing almost 30% of my pay.

 

[jumper52]

Way to go, USA Jet!!!

O.K. guys, I have listened to both sides and come on. With the industry the way it is right now, would you want more days off with the possibility of getting to sell back those days at some time OR would you like to sit on the streets and collect unemployment, while trying to find work. Of course, it is easy for the ones up on the seniority list to complain about the 3 extra days off instead of the lay-offs!! Here is a thought, start at the top and work down. Attitudes would suddenly change wouldn't they? But, then again we know THAT couldn't happen don't we? I have been on the streets four times now and let me tell you, it's not fun wondering IF or when your unemployment check will arrive so you can pay those bills. (Kinda nerve racking)
SO look at the bright side of things, you have a good job right now with tough times and an industry that is very competitive. And one more thing, WHEN have you ever heard of companies laying off all departments and UPPER management without laying off the pilot core? I personally want to thank USA Jet and the management for thinking of us, the pilots.