Originally Posted by
CptGSXR
Thoughts:
1) Great Lakes is shriking. Not closing up shop, it's the cockroach of the industry, Voss will find a way to screw pilots enough to make money.
2) Current contract ALMOST guarantees there will be no hiring, see remaining thoughts for more details. This works because of #1, they need less pilots for the limited flying they will be doing in forseeable future.
3) There will be no new contract. Just an opinion? Yes. But hey, what are annonymous internet forums for.....well rumors too I guess. Pilots with 1500 Hours will not have a hard time making choice between Lakes and (insert 'my regional is better than your regional' here) when they look at pay and QOL seeing that both airlines have same minimums.
4) There WILL be pilots furloughed because of the ATP requirement, it will be a very small number, but I dont judge the actions of a company as good or bad based on the number of pilots they want to appease. It's wrong if even one guy loses his job because the shriking lines of the company prevent low-time FOs from obtaining their ATP in time.
5) The elphant in the room is the TRAINING CONTRACT. For those guys facing a difficult decision in the next few months this is what it's all about. Will Lakes force these pilots to pay $7500 (not prorated) and not work out a deal with them to get the required hours in time? Will they, on purpose, keep guys on RSV with as little as 6 hours a month to make a buck? (Ok the last part is a stretch but figured it fit on an internet forum)
6) Lastly, will upgrade matter? The MILLION dollar question for all regional pilots looking where their carreer is going. Will upgrade time on a Beech and the TPIC in a nonjet, non-FMS aircraft actually get you hired at a major over RJ jockies? Or with this impending pilot shortage (hahaahaha sorry I actually laughed IRL when I wrote that) will TPIC not mean much compaired to JET PIC? Today, March 16th 2013, TPIC still matters, but will it in two years looking to move on to majors?
7) Sorry for spelling, wrote on phone.
I feel like responding to these points.. so here shall be my thoughts:
1) Completely agree. Businesses will try to survive until their last breath, normally.
2) Realistically, all we're "shrinking" right now is only the town of Ely, NV. When ABQ closed the cities served were moved to flying done by other domiciles. Most the towns flown from Vegas will still receive service, except Ely. So I'm not sure how many pilots they want to "shrink" right now.
3) I can't help but get the feeling that mandatory retirement will hit me before the new contract comes down. I'm only 22 right now. Its a bit of a joke, but by living with that expectation, then there can only be good surprises I suppose.
4) I think the company really doesn't care who does or does not get their ATP. I think they view it as the responsibility of each pilot. I feel that they think their current hiring issues are merely a glitch and soon they'll be able to hire 15 a month like they used to. I think when FO's do get furloughed, it will do damage to this company. I also think they will not be able to hire enough to continue operations at normal capacity. I guess come August, we'll see which scenario pans out.
5) I believe getting the ATP is a furlough event, not a termination event. The 3 ways to quit without paying the $7,500 are a) loss of life, b) loss of medical, c) company folding. If furloughed, your 15 months hits a pause button until you are offered recall (which you must accept). If one is furloughed for a really long time (not sure the limit, 48 mos.?) then they do not have to pay or accept recall if they do not want to. This means the company will gain nothing by holding pilots under 1500. It would probably result in a furlough, "call us when you meet atp mins", and then recall people who will then either come back or pay.
6) I cannot attest to Turboprop PIC vs. FMS SIC. I figure they are both viewed as equal. But in the end I guess it all comes down to who is sitting opposite to you at the interview table. From all I gather currently, it would seem that both time sets are a requirement before employment at a major. With some exceptions, of course.
7) It's all good, mistakes happen. I apologise as well for all of mine, but they are just because I'm illerate.