Originally Posted by
pilotc90a
The 744 fleet is over by so many pilots that almost a 1/3 of the list is reserves. The point is that it is either an early out, or large displacements. Combine that with comments made by executives at the last airline investor conference, about further capacity reductions, there are pieces that could fit together.
One could infer that this was my own private idea, but honestly, I could careless. At least we aren't talking about the "F" word...
Today the Strategic Planning expert said we were overstaffed by 4% for summer flying. In reply to questions about picking up more time for better pay one of the Reps replied if we flew more, the conversation could turn to
furloughs in this environment. ... Not that he was prognosticating furloughs, but the capacity pull downs seem to have no logical end in sight
I was thinking that getting widebodies out of the mod lines and eventually catching up with our half of the AF/FLM joint venture might turn things around. We are making money and getting metal, even if it is used Douglas jets no else on the planet wants. I expected a net neutral in 2012 with the first real positive bids coming near the fourth quarter.
Instead, it is looking like many of us are going back to career jeopardy performing experimental test flight & design work to finish the MD88's initial design phase through incident reports and NTSB recommendations ... and that we'll be grateful for that opportunity.
