minimwage4

Yes this is the best advice anyone can give you. Don't look at guys upgrading today or whatever is happening right now. Do your homework and try to see if it's the right place for you in the long term.

OnCenterline

I was able to verify with a friend that the commuter clause in effect now is pretty recent, but the original language in the contract limited the user to 2x a year. The rest of the language was lifted right from the Comair contract (it's been copied into the contracts of several major carriers now as well), and in fact, it's the Comair guys that are there now, along with DO (ex-Comair) that got it changed.

As for cancellation pay, it's pretty sad that keeps getting brought up, because most regionals had it long ago. While there may be a few positives in the deal, there are some pretty serious negatives. It's inexcusable that a new-hire can't get paid for a sick call, and in this day and age, the fact that you can't use sick time to pay for a fatigue call is not good either (I have been told that this is being addressed as well, and will probably be done via ASAP reports, which is industry standard). The 10 hour RR is ludicrous, as is the fact that you get less than 5 hours pay for it. If I'm not mistaken, there is no limit on the number of RR's you can be assigned, but I could be wrong about that.

Most pilots have never worked under a reserve system that is any good, so they don't know have a basis for comparison, but a well-structured reserve system makes a huge difference in QOL, and actually encourages senior FO's to bid captain earlier, and encourages senior (expensive) captains to bid reserve.

As for pay, it's definitely better than it was under the old contract, but pay alone--including cancellation pay--does not a good deal make. And at the time it was written, it didn't improve on anyone else's pay (it's just now where it would match Comair). The insurance is still expensive, and the 401(k) is lacking by any measure.

CBreezy

Okay, give me a second while I take some notes on all that wisdom you're sharing.

-TSA is not Comair (defunct).
-TSA is not as good as a legacy or LCC.
-There have been lots of improvements but because of Comair (defunct) and the only good thing about the company is Comair (defunct).
- TSA is a regional airline

I think that about sums it up. So, we shouldn't go to TSA because it is a regional airline. I asked earlier but you ignored me so I'll ask again in a different way. Should we go to PSA, Mesa, Republic, Silver, Great Lakes, GoJet or CommutAir instead? Or maybe since they are the "scourges of the industry," I should go to Envoy (downsizing with threats of closing), ExpressJet (called too expensive and threats of closing), Air Wisconsin (no contracts after 2015), or Piedmont (on borrowed time with no fleet plan)? You're right, we should all stand in line to go to Skywest or Horizon with 6-8 year upgrades or Compass (which really has an average contract and wouldn't be nearly as attractive without rapid growth and flow-throughs).

Don't get me wrong, I haven't heard great things about TSA's management but everyone on here and my friends who work there say it's gotten much better in the last 2 years because of all the Comair people who've taken jobs there. In the end though, it's still very much a regional. Maybe all those people up on high at their respective majors can do us dirty and whiny regional pilots a favor and take back some scope instead of just condemning us for doing what we have to do to eventually earn a coveted spot with you.

OnCenterline

The DO is former Comair, and he's a great guy. It's taken awhile, but he's making the changes he wants to make and putting his stamp on the place, including bringing in some sharp people from, yes, Comair to help run the place. The CP nobody liked is out of the office, and the Training Dept. is being overhauled. I'm not saying that it's as bad as it once had a reputation for being, but I am saying that it has room for improvement, but much is limited by the financial commitment that HK is willing to show (FWIW, I think one of the reasons that the holding company is still running 3 separate certificates is that it allows him to sell one of the airlines outright--and quickly--if he so chooses).

As for who you should go work for...that's a personal decision. I could make arguments for and against each place you mention, and that includes TSA. There are pros to going to TSA, just like there are cons. Skywest is without a doubt the best run, most stable regional, but like you said, the upgrade is a long way off.

As for the whole scope issue, you won't find a bigger proponent on behalf of brand scope and the regional pilots than me. Likewise, you will be hard pressed to find one that dislikes ALPA more strongly than me.

As you said, it's a regional, and it always will be. My point is that it could--and should--be better. The folks that are TSA lifers need to make sure that they don't settle for an "improvement" just because it's an "improvement."

RgrMurdock

I will definitely not argue that it could and should be better. Every regional airline contract falls under that category (even Skywest or any of the other more well regarded regionals). You speak from experience I know. The only thing I object to is calling TSA a horrible place. Relative to all the other regionals in the US, I would regard TSA as slightly above average. Many of the improvements have come in the last two years and with the contract we got back in 2011. Slightly above industry average isn't a place we should be happy with, but fundamental changes at a company come slowly. As bad as this place used to be, it's much much better now. Hopefully we can continue that improvement into the future.

OnCenterline

I can drink to that.

RgrMurdock

Cheers!!!!

minimwage4

Tsa is arguably one of the only regional pilot groups that have never settled that's why we've been screwed so many times with little gems like gojets.

RgrMurdock

Anyone hear anything about a draw down in IAD? United is saying only 4 operators will be around. I know we were already downsizing but last I heard they weren't going to close the base because of the IAD-PHL and IAD-MDT routes. Anyone hear anything different?

TBucket

I don't think they know more than a month or so in advance.