Originally Posted by
BigGuns
I had two TWA friends go work there before being recalled by AA. They say that they will not allow their family to fly on GoJet because of the general lack of proper maintenance, the poor quality of many (not all) of the pilots they hired. Their maintenance has been fined several times, and their pilots had a rash of violations. The only reason that the FAA has not yanked the TSA and GoJet ops cert, is that they are the only two 121 carriers left in the St Louis FSDO. Thus they would be putting themselves out of work.
I can corroborate this. I rode their jumpseat home one day before I had any idea they existed. The F/O claimed to be a AF heavy guy, and the (UAL) CA had to take the airplane from him twice during the flight. I would imagine this guy didn't have the C-5 time he claimed he did.
Both pilots seemed to be embarrassed having me on their jumpseat, and in hindsight, I understand why. It's a terrible operation, full of UAL furloughs and mediocre people.
Luckily, these guys will now act as Delta ambassadors. This, quite honestly, is the worst airline these airplanes could have gone to. Mesa would be a step up; if for no other reason for the competent pilots that work there.
Lastly, this is a slap in DALPA's face, not to mention the ALPA pilots that fill nearly all the DCI ranks (except Republic and SKW). Rewarding an airline that exists under such sinister circumstances is wrong, and spits in the face of those of us who came by our jobs honestly.
Strange that Republic and GoJet (non-ALPA DCI carriers) have gotten a combined 24 additional 70-seat airplanes in the last 4 months while Comair and Mesaba park airplanes.
Noble move, Richard. I hope you live to regret it.