Usair Or Not

[Old Jballer]

Does anyone else think it's funny how MidAtlantic

4)Has USAirways Express painted on the side of the E170.
3) Park at the PHL Express terminal F
2)Makes less money than CHQ and maybe even Mesa on a 70 seat jet.
(YET CHQ supposedly lowered the BAR)
1) And number 1, they call themselves USAIR.

 

[CWI]

Confused?

Makes perfect sense to me!

Why do you think USAiways is such a success story? An industry leader!

 

[~~~^~~~]

More evidence of just how badly ALPA is screwing up the industry by encouraging alter ego airlines under their "ALPA apartied" scope.

 

[8vATE]

How about the sad fact of flying there for 14 years and then being furloughed or getting a "soft landing" at year one pay at MidAtlantic...?

How about looking forward to a great pension $+80,000 /yr or $+1,000,000 lump sum and then getting kicked in the groin with an ALPA endorsed termination of your retirement plan and getting 0 to $30,000/yr ...??

How about the latest "transformation" proposal placing EMB190s at MAA?

 

[Whitestoneclimb]

Does anyone else think it's funny how MidAtlantic

4)Has USAirways Express painted on the side of the E170.
3) Park at the PHL Express terminal F
2)Makes less money than CHQ and maybe even Mesa on a 70 seat jet.
(YET CHQ supposedly lowered the BAR)
1) And number 1, they call themselves USAIR.

They have to use the "USAIR" callsign because they operate under USAirways' certificate. They don't have a separate certificate.

 

[Old Jballer]

They have to use the "USAIR" callsign because they operate under USAirways' certificate. They don't have a separate certificate.

I highly doubt the FAA cares what they call themselves. Just as long as they follow the rules set in there certificate.

 

[Whitestoneclimb]

I highly doubt the FAA cares what they call themselves. Just as long as they follow the rules set in there certificate.

Exactly. Who really cares what they call themselves. What's the big deal?

 

[AceCrackshot]

Its just funny...I remember strolling through PHL, and watching the "mainline" folks read the 1 point font below your wings that said "Express," and pretend not to see you...status esp. between mainline and express at U was always a big deal. It used to bother me, and now I recognize it as a East Coast thing.

Mainline Captain: "So, where are you headed, Salisbury?" (sarcasically...)
Me: "No, sir. Actually off to make your lifestyle possible."

The F/o was a rock star though...Actually split his crew meal with a hungry regional pilot. I owe you a night at the brewery, man!

 

[Old Jballer]

Exactly. Who really cares what they call themselves. What's the big deal?

The point is they call themselves USAIR and get paid less than MESA, now look who lowered the bar.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

yeah.... how dare those poor unemployed pilots take a job at a carrier with a contract that they had no part in negotiating...

The MidAtlantic pilots aren't the bad guys. It is the mainline negotiators who sold their junior "brothers" down the river.

mmmm pizza.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

A MidAtlantic pilot recently posted the following on their ALPA website message board.

It is in reference to a discussion regarding US Airways pilots who are denying the cockpit jumpseat to MidAtlantic pilots. (yeah, can you believe it?)

"Gentlemen,
There appears to be some misconceptions about MDA. MDA is part of USAIR Inc. flying under the same Operating certificate as USAir mainline. Any minor differences like pay are because of the union. As it was explained to me by an ALPA rep, "If we treat the E-170 division different then we should treat the B-737 different". Simple put: MDA is mainline, not wholly owned, not contract. That's why we can book the jumpseat."

 

[CheapFlyer]

Its just funny...I remember strolling through PHL, and watching the "mainline" folks read the 1 point font below your wings that said "Express," and pretend not to see you...status esp. between mainline and express at U was always a big deal.

I remember taxiing a CL-65 around the PIT terminal... The ramp controller said "Taxi clockwise to your gate". As we proceeded around I was curious as to which taxi line they would rather us take. So I asked, "Do you prefer the inner or the outter line when there is no traffic?". The controller politely responded, "Honestly it doesnt matter, whichever one you like.". Then some guy on the radio keyed in, "IDIOT". Hmmmm, I wonder which pilot group that came from.... I tell ya, those USAir pilots sure hate us regional guys.

-CF

 

[FurloughedAgain]

You're grouping the entire US Airways pilot group based on a single anonymous radio transmission?

wow.

 

[CheapFlyer]

You're grouping the entire US Airways pilot group based on a single anonymous radio transmission?

wow.

No. Maybe I should have said, "SOME of those USAir pilots really hate regional pilots". Since someone else on this thread told a story from their experiences I figured I would do the same.

-CF

 

[FurloughedAgain]

The following was posted on the ALPA msg board as a continuation of the thread above (regarding jumpseat).

[font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]Topic: [/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]Minimum Wage Operation (MWO) (15 of 15), Read 124 times [/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]Conf: [/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]MidAtlantic [/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]From: [/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]XXXXXXXX[/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]Date: [/size][/font][font=Arial, Helv][size=-1]Monday, August 30, 2004 07:49 PM [/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helv]Hi Jason,

"If that is the case, why do we still have "1879 Pilots on furlough"... MDA does not get treated like mainline."

No, it does not get treated like the mainline because it is not mainline. MDA pilots are, for all intent and purpose, unrepresented. MDA pilots and the EMB operation have served as the dumping ground for the AAA MEC. Your so-called "soft landing" evaporated into a cesspool of pay and working conditions because the AAA MEC, quite literally, threw your original pay, retirement and working conditions onto the negotiating table in the hopes that they could save a buck or two. It will be ironic if some of them one day end up there, which may very well happen if the 190's find a home at the minimum wage operation (MWO).

The speckle of good news is you've been robbed of just about everything possible so there is little if anything left to give away at our MWO. From this point forward the full brunt of concessions will borne by the mainline because that's all there is left.
[/font]

 

[FN FAL]

...The controller politely responded, "Honestly it doesnt matter, whichever one you like.". Then some guy on the radio keyed in, "IDIOT". Hmmmm, I wonder which pilot group that came from.... I tell ya, those USAir pilots sure hate us regional guys.

-CF

I know it's off topic, but I really think people that key their mikes for this type of thing should be identified and recieve some time off of aviation. They hide behind their annomous microphone like a punk and they tie up valuable radio time.

If you got something to say, back it up face to face in the parking lot or shut fu<K up.

 

[FN FAL]

But anyway, for the what it's worth department...the 141 school I went to in the 90's was being looked at as an ab-initio type feeder school for USAir back in '93.

This wasn't one of the regionals, this was USAir. After the guy from the airline gave a informational speech to our class about how this was going affect us in our relationship with them in the future, I pulled the guy aside and asked him what qualities they would be looking for in our backgrounds when they started looking us up to fill positions...he just replied, "We are looking for people WHO LOVE TO FLY!"

I suppose looking into the crystal ball, I never realized that "living on love" was the way this industry was headed.

 

[stb]

The retention rate at MDA...

is so bad, they have to park 2 new ERJ's for Sept since the pilots are leaving so fast.

Mgt. think the pilots have a commuter pilot attitude of "I need the PIC time" I'll be gone in a couple of years. That is furthest from the truth. 15%-20% of the pilots trained have left MDA, for other airlines or out of aviation altogether. 5 have left in the last week and another 10 will be gone in the next few weeks.

If U is around next year, MDA might be hiring off the streets next fall.

 

[On Your Six]

is so bad, they have to park 2 new ERJ's for Sept since the pilots are leaving so fast.

Mgt. think the pilots have a commuter pilot attitude of "I need the PIC time" I'll be gone in a couple of years. That is furthest from the truth. 15%-20% of the pilots trained have left MDA, for other airlines or out of aviation altogether. 5 have left in the last week and another 10 will be gone in the next few weeks.

If U is around next year, MDA might be hiring off the streets next fall.

Are people leaving because of pay issues despite knowing the low pay going into the situation or because of non-pay issues? Is JetBlue already picking off EMB-170 experienced pilots at MDA? I would think having that E170 experience would be useful for positions elsewhere and people would want to stay to build some time and experience on the aircraft.... Having flown on the E170 as a pax, I am a big fan - looked like a great aircraft to fly....

 

[stb]

The answer to your question is..

Yes.

Some pay, quality of life etc. Mainline there was a bid sheet, at MDA its in theory. 15 year pilots doing the reserve thing, 10 days off a month.
Some are taking LOA at one job to get the free ERJ 170 type then leaving to go back to original job.

It is so bad, mgt wants a no recall for pilots that quit MDA for mainline if and when there is a recall for mainline.

I have yet to talk to a MDA pilot that does not have their apps out.
Pilots have gone to America West, JetBlue, AirTran, Southwest, Fed Ex, Emerites, back to military, but mostly corporate stuff. Some have moved on to non aviation jobs.

Jetblue is hiring from the training Dept and line check pilots.
When the 190 program gets started at JB, no telling what could happen.