My comment to follow is by no means an intent to take away the seriousness or take away my grave disappointment of the announcement or upset those in LAX...but...

...To keep it in perspective and to add some optimism. AE does 1800 flights a day currently. Please tell me what airline(s) are capable of taking over HALF, or even a QUARTER, of our flying? 1/4 of our current flying would be 450 flights a day. One quarter of our flying is a TALL ORDER for AMR to find a regional or regionals to take over.

If we lose 1/8 of our flying, 225 flights a day, maybe that is more realistic ( I dont know) but it seems even SKW, 9E, GOJET, EV/ASQ, combined would have a hard time taking more than 225 flights a day, due to the new pilot rules (duty/flight/1500hours + retirements).

With the upcoming flight duty rules and major retirements, I "personally" do see the hiring and recalls at AE. I think for the next 6-12 months, we will feel like this place is downhill or stagnant. But we do A LOT of flying and I just cant see more 1/8 of our flying being outsourced. And even after this announcement I think I feel optimistic. But we WILL be going for a ride.

I think the timing is PERFECT for AMR...to implement their SCARE TACTICS by announcing outsourcing. And I DO believe ALPA and Team Tony are on board with AMR to help them with their timing and scare tactics, and not help pilots like Team Tony is SUPPOSE to be doing. AE pilots will be voting on a TA very soon, whats better than to have a public announcement of outsourcing? Also, LAX is very senior and AMR may possibly think that most Captains there (who are "expensive") wont want to commute or move, and they will resign equaling a cost savings to AMR. I personally will put up a fight like APA did and hope majority of AE pilots understand that we have 1800 flights a day and it just isnt going to disappear or go to another carrier.

Garton wrote a ~10 page article to Washington DC expressing his great concern for a pilot shortage and it was his intent through writing that document to show (congress?) that if they implement the flight time, duty time, 1500 hour rule, AE will be hurting for pilot staff.

I think that AMR knows that with what their interested in doing for flying, they see the writing on the way and need one or two OTHER regionals to supplement AE cus AE simply wont have pilots.