Originally Posted by
Jungle Rat
Hey Guys,
Long time listener, first time caller.
Some news on the fleet numbers/hiring front:
Flew w/ management type directly involved @ 10 days ago. Revisions to The Plan:
Old Plan: Hire 120+/- from Fall 2013 thru late Spring 2014 to cover pt.117, increased Spirit-style utilization, a few additional used 320s as they were sourced, some legacy recalls, and a very few retirements.
New Plan (as of a few weeks ago): 223FR is at GYR getting the once-over and a shiny new flamingo on the tail- in from Manilla 3 weeks ago. Should be on the line in April. Another used 320 in from Europe any day.
-4-5 additional sourced used birds to deliver this year.
-10 +/- used birds sourced for delivery next year ahead of the NEO deliveries.
Training Dept is maxed out right now at 20 new hires/mo. Plan is to maintain 20/mo thru late Spring, downshift but not stop through Summer, and then step it up to 20/mo indefinitely. SSS is looking to add a sim ASAP, and training is looking for sim time anywhere they can.
Looks like we can look forward to quite a few welcome new faces!
Please don't be offended but whomever you flew with is feeding you inaccurate information. There is no possible way we can hire, train and staff an additional 4-5 shells in 2014 nor do we need to do so. You don't hire for what you need today you hire for what you need in the future. We have always had one additional 320 arriving in 2014 and the Company has increased our utilization by about 10%. Those two events equate to approximately 130 new pilots, or what we have been hiring/training since last year. The one new plane is arriving in a month or so, that leaves six months for an additional 4-5 aircraft? Not only is it not possible but it doesn't make any sense. Our schedule is very busy during the summer and then it thins out after the fall. Why would we add a bunch of planes during the lowest demand period of the year?
Forgive my pessimism but Management is nickel and diming pilots every month. Scheduling is violating our CBA every day. If I were in management I would be worried about filling classes. What better way to increase the number of applicants than a promise of rapid growth?
I hope I am wrong about the deliveries because this pilot group deserves the good news. Unfortunately it just doesn't make any sense. Indigo adding debt to the balance sheet prior to an IPO? Taking delivery of 10 additional aircraft in 2015 only to replace those 320's with NEO's in 2016? (We have a lot of short term 320 leases as well as a number of 319 leases that term in 2016-2020. The NEO's are replacement aircraft, not growth aircraft).
We aren't quite there yet, but F9 is creating a toxic atmosphere that isn't worth the low pay and constant abuse. David Seigel is a vampire that lives of the blood of labor. Indigo is a Private Equity firm that has no interest in managing an airline longterm. Apply here with your eyes wide open.