What's the status of Midatlantic?

[Heavy Set]

Just wanted to know about the status of Midatlantic? Are mainline furloughees being trained on the EMB-170 yet? How about initial routes? Any idea of when the starting date will be? I know that the original plan was November - what's the latest info.?


Thanks

 

[blzr]

One of our F/O's here at PDT just got hired there. (he was an md80 f/o at mainline). From what I have heard, not looking too good there. Airways is in deep dirty toilet water now anyway.

My guess.. either it will never get off the ground... or the 70 seaters will end up at PDT, ALG, PSA, or ...cringe... MESA and you guys will be able to fly most of them...

You better hope they go to a W/O.. just ask your mainline brothers at mesa that have K.Y jelly so far up their bums they can't taste their Bourbon Chicken at lunch in PHL.

Hope you have a good one.

 

[Heavy Set]

blzr,

"From what I have heard, not looking too good there. Airways is in deep dirty toilet water now anyway. "

Yes, I understand that USAirways posted a loss again despite better results at most other airlines. What do you mean by this? What makes you think that MidAtlantic is NOT the high priority from a cost-cutting standpoint that Siegal claims it is?

For the FO who just joined - do you know whether he was assigned an FO slot or Captain slot? Also, was any start-up date mentioned?

 

[blzr]

If you want me to I can P.M. you his info. He is way to junior to have a line position. I believe he will be a check airman. He started last week I think. As far as a startup date, Dave Seagull said sometime in the late first Q or early second Q.

As for Mid-Atlantic being a cost saving option.. I really doubt it. There are three W/O'ed and any # of contract carrier that would cost ALOT LESS.

PDT has the AQP all set up, for example, all we would need is an aircraft type and we would be on our way. No need to spend untold Millions to start a brand new airline.

For this reason, I believe Midatlantic is ans was a carrot dangling infront of a pilot group to get concessions.. I will continue to believe this until I see the planes taking off.

Let me know if you want the info. I'm sure I have a # around here somewhere.

 

[Wacopilot]

RJ Financing

How do you get jets at any WO at US when you can't get financing? We were up in Dorval picking up an airplane and the rep said US can't get anyone to finance any planes......no Financing=No RJ's....I mean SJ's.... I feel for you guys, I was a PDT Fo in TPA and remember the crap, the bad news never stops at US. Dave needs to think of something quick.

 

[d328pilot]

am i missing something? We have financing, and the jets are coming...first routes were announced today and we have 3 or 4 groups in YUL going through class.

 

[blzr]

Yes, you are right, but far far fewer thn are #1 NEEDED, and #2 than were proposed in Bankrupcy court by management. I believe the # was in the neighborhood of 400.

 

[Piedmont DHC-8]

The Rumors are.................

There is stuff going around that makes sense. Bronner who is head of the Alabama Retirement systems held a meeting with Worthless, PDT MEC, ALG MEC and US A MEC about 2 weeks ago. According to our hotline the meeting was productive and our MEC was happy with the "candidness" of the outcome so to speak. We werent told what happened because it was of the super secret nature due to competitive reasons (what a load of C R A P O L A) . We are thinking that Bronner has told Seagull that they are sick of him wasting money at this new airline that doesn't even exist when they have 3 perfectly good carriers to do the job. Bronner wants the jets put there. Remember this is all speculation about the meeting but it makes sense. My prediction is that Midaltantic won't ever fly, just because of the situation U finds itself in.

 

[JetProp]

umm..What am I missing here? If MidA. can get financing for SJ's, along with PSA (Both are WO's, yes?) Why not ALG/PDT.

 

[Long-Gonner]

I think they mean no "new" financing for "additonal" rjs. Once the economy picks up this will all change. Things change daily around this place. Also, the meeting with Bronner didn't go that well. What's my definition of "well"? Bronner is the money man, not the guy who runs the airline, you do the math. Wish I could tell you more.

 

[Piedmont DHC-8]

what do you mean?

What do you mean wish you could tell me more? are you on the PDT MEC? and if so nobody knows who you are? why don't you tell what you know? if your are not on the MEC how did you get your information?

 

[328dude]

LongGonner's comment is correct. We received a ASPEN message from Olaf that was forwarded to all three MEC bodies regarding the outcome of this meeting and it was not very good. LongGonners comments were worded very correctly. The ASPEN message was marked confidential and Private thus, we cannot devulge the content of that. I hope you understand.

PSA MEC

 

[Piedmont DHC-8]

?

I don't get it???? We get a hotline messsage to our pilot group that is good news and then you guys are telling us this. Who is lying here? our MEC who put this hot line up saying positive things and now you guys saying this stuff. I just want some answers? Can you at least divulge something so I know this is legite? I don't know who to believe anymore.

 

[328dude]

In a nutshell, Broner dosen't want to deal with this issue and wants ALPA and USAirways to work it out. End Nutshell. Specifics I can't devulge.

 

[Piedmont DHC-8]

Any body else?

Anyone else care to elaborate that is in the know?
Basically I just want to know if I am going to continue to have a job at Piedmont or should I start looking? If not I would like to know time frames. I don't care about learning the gossip, I want to know so I can protect myself and my family. I just don't want to be left with my dick hangin in the wind wondering where my job went and why I wasn't informed.

 

[328dude]

The meeting mentioned nothing about the future of either company, only their proposal to Broner for bringing RJ's to either property.

 

[FR8mastr]

328 just curious, how do you know went down at the meeting? that would be a neet trick seeing that nobody from PSA attended that meeting. This is not ment to offend, just trying to cut through heresay and fact.

 

[328dude]

Our MEC recieved a briefing from our MEC Chairman after being breifed by mainlines MEC Chairman who was at the meeting.

I don't see were trickery is a part of this.

I was mistaken on my earlier statement and after reviwing the ASPEN messages, Olaf's message was regarding the combined senority list which deals with the flowthrough (for wahtever reason) and getting it updated.

 

[akm]

Piedmont et al...

FYI,

I am furloughed U and I whole heartedly agree that you guys have been screwed royally by the worthless U MEC and U Mgmt.

I do not understand why ALL the jets could not be placed on the wholey owned certificates other than the divide and conquer routine.

With that said let me state what I do know and have verified:

To put the "not gonna fly fake airline" rumours to rest ...

Mid Atlantic is now a functioning subsidiary of US Airways operating under the US Airways certificate. The E170 aircraft are on the way. Number 1 is already painted in US Airways Express colors with the logo "Operated by MidAtlantic Airways" next to the 1L door. The a/c certification glitch is expected to be resolved this month and only involves a Honeywell FMC software issue.

The people I know (including some U frequent fliers) that have seen the a/c are pretty ecstatic. It is a mainline hull being operated at xpress costs. It is EXACTLY what mgmt. has wanted, and exactly what the U MEC caved into during "negotiations".

There are approx. 10 check airmen in training as we speak. There will be a class of 10 more starting this Monday (10/13). I will be in the 10/27 check airman class of 10. They will continue with 30 - 40 pilots per month training rate and a delivery schedule of 3 a/c per month until they are fully ramped up. 4 weeks G/S at the PIT mainline training center and then two weeks of sim at CAE in YUL.

As for the financing issue. GECAS has fully financed the first 36-40 a/c, and the wonderful U MEC has financed the rest with my/our pension plan !

I don't know what the future holds for any of us. I agree with Piedmont regarding protecting your family and your personal future as I am doing the same.

 

[ALGFLYR]

I heard the Bronner meeting went OK. That meeting lead to a meeting of the BOD. And that led to one big meeting yesterday between the pilots of US Airways Group and their managements. (That's a lot of meetings)

Listen to the ALG and PDT code-a-phone.

I don't believe that we ever had a report that the Bronner meeting didn't go well. And FR8mastr is right, PSA was not there. PSA has declined invitations from the other WO's, the Mainline MEC and even Bronner himself. The feeling is that PSA must feel that they got theirs, screw everyone else. There is noting to indicate otherwise. I would hope that's not true.

AKM,

Something big also happened at MDA yesterday that will change a lot of things. I don't think you will be in class 10/27. I'm sure you'll find out soon though, and will hopefully be rescheduled soon.