USA JET PILOTS: Now what?

[clansinclair]

Being laid off really sucks. I know, I've been there, but I endured it like many others. I did what it took to get through it like many others have had to. I had always hoped that doing whatever it took to get rehired, build my seniority, staying on the equipment that would insulate me from most of the layoff threat, and not going somewhere else/starting over would somewhat assure me not having to go through another economic crisis. I bought an expensive new car (that I really didn't need) to do my part to bolster car sales for our major customer, and now I can't afford to pay for it.

I've endured all the hardships right along with everyone else at this company, really tried to remain positive about the outlook for the future, but now I'm just really depressed about the whole situation. Somehow, it just doesn't feel "fair". I know that life is not "fair", but **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**, it just seems like right when things are starting to look up, I kicked kicked in the teeth again.

 

[clansinclair]

Note to God:

Lord could you please send either my wife or I an instant fatal heart attack, so one of us can collect the life insurance and not have to worry about the economic condition of the auto or aviation industry anymore? Would really appreciate it!



Thanks

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Careful what you wish for.....

Note to God:

Lord could you please send either my wife or I an instant fatal heart attack, so one of us can collect the life insurance and not have to worry about the economic condition of the auto or aviation industry anymore? Would really appreciate it!



Thanks

Scenario: You have the fatal heart attack and your wife collects the insurance. Pilotyip stops by to console your wife in her time of need, after all he has 3 extra days off. After working through the grief, they find they have a bunch of cash, extra time off, and what do you know, NWA has a few non-stops to Vegas. I could paint o few more lurid details, but let's just say he's not called Randy for nothing!!! Plus, you'd be on cloud nine as the events transpire observing the play-by-play as punishment for even thinking of such a thing.

So make use of your extra three days off, try to negociate a fourth day at the same base payrate and go help rebuild the Yankee Air Museum.

 

[clansinclair]

You don't know my wife. Trust me, Randy would rather take another 30% paycut, and have the company give it to me to prevent that scenario. However since you mentioned it, "God? I'd like to ammend my last prayer. Could you make that instant fatal heart attack for my wife please? After thinking about it, that would really solve ALL my problems!"

 

[clansinclair]

Another note to God:

Lord if your not going to send her the heart attack thing, please don't let her read this. I got enough problems to deal with!

Thanks

 

[pilotyip]

Ooooh! nice post jumper!

 

[pilotyip]

Hey, Jeff I got in trouble in Australia by telling the girl I was Randy. She told me she was getting married and not interested.

 

[speedbird1974]

I feel for all of you guys. I hope the pay cuts and the lay offs don't spread around YIP. This is about the slowest I've seen in years.
Are you guys still flying pax?

 

[rnobson]

Didn't kno we had a "birdseed" at YIP sure yu're not at the wrong airport ???

 

[8inMan]

bump.

 

[Wiggums]

What really saddens me is that now I feel like we've finally stooped to the Ameristar level.

I think you went below. Average captian pay at Ameristar is about 8k ahead of USA Jet pay now. An Ameristar FO almost makes as much base pay as a USA Jet FO, and typically makes an extra 12k/year in bouns money. How many hours do you have to fly in order to make extra money at USA Jet? How much can you sell your days back for?

 

[Wiggums]

Now I've heard the rumors and even felt the "cold shoulder" from pilots who work for our "competitors". I'm sure that some of them distrust us and hold us in contempt. Frankly, I can't help but feel that it's nothing more than professional jealousy. For whatever reason, they aren't working at USA Jets, wish they were, and their "misery" inflames their egos to look at us with "tinted" lenses and project their disatisfaction as our "arrogance". I can't help that they were unwilling to take whatever steps, make whatever sacrifices to come to work for USA Jets. I can't help that they locked themselves into unreasonable "training contracts" with other outfits and are stuck where they are. I can't help the fact that USA Jets insists on our pilot's wearing uniforms, looking sharp and professional, and their outfit could care less. I applaud the fact that USA Jets takes better care of its' pilots on the road than our competitors do for their pilots. I refuse to apologize for the fact that my employer cares more about me than theirs' seem to care about them!!! All I can say to them is this, "If you're not ready to move onto the "Majors", then as soon as you can, do whatever it takes to get yourself interviewed and hired here at USA Jets. I promise you won't regret it!"

This news really puts your words from back in February in a new light, especially your last sentence.

 

[clansinclair]

As I said, our arrogance has come to haunt us. At the time, I believed what I was saying. Frankly, I was defending the honor of the company, who up until now HAD taken exceptional care of me and my family. Is that wrong? Go ahead and take your shots at us now. If it makes you feel better, enjoy our misery. Honestly, everyone knows Ameristar is part of the industry's problem. You guys break the rules, bend over willingly for your employer's big green weenie, and make it really hard for all other honest businesses to compete honorably. Everyone suspects you and yours of trying to sabotage our aircraft in Laredo. Lucky for you guys, we can't prove it.

Yes, what goes around comes around, and we're reaping the woes of our foolish pride. So be it, but I'll get through this one way or another. You Ameristar guys have yet to pay for yours'. Go ahead and gloat while you can, but I still wouldn't be in your shoes for no amount of pay.

 

[pilotyip]

A USA Jet pilot gets 4 hours pay over guarantee for every day off he sells back to the company. Last June he got 8 days off, this June he gets 13 days off. If we are busy and a DA-20 pilot sells back 5 of his days off, he will get 20 hours pay over guarantee, plus have the same number of days off as last year. So lets say in 2004 he flew 65 hours, and sold no days he would get 65 hours pay. But in 2005 if he flies 65 hours he will get 65 plus the 20 hours for the five days off sold back to the company. He comes out 20 hours ahead in pay for the same days off as last year. Depending upon business levels it could be a win for the pilots. This is all about remaining viable in a terrible on-demand market.

 

[Wiggums]

Honestly, everyone knows Ameristar is part of the industry's problem. You guys break the rules, bend over willingly for your employer's big green weenie, and make it really hard for all other honest businesses to compete honorably. Everyone suspects you and yours of trying to sabotage our aircraft in Laredo. Lucky for you guys, we can't prove it.

Don’t get be wrong, I’m not gloating. USA Jet lowering pay hurts pilots at all the on-demand operators.

However, it was you that posted a seven page thesis on how great USA Jet was. Now that it sounds like USA Jet is in real trouble I think it’s fair to revisit your own words.

Now you come and throw out some wild and crazy accusations. It would be interesting if you could offer any examples to support what you are saying. Especially when you make the reckless claim that Ameristar pilots vandalized an aircraft. I would seriously doubt that any pilot would risk both their career and major prison time to do something like that.

If Ameristar is winning out in the on-demand field it is because of smart management and efficient operations, not because they are dishonest. If you have any actual examples to refute my view I’d be glad to address them.