May 18, 2014

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Fellow Miami Pilots,

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We are severely disappointed with the communication from Pedro Fábregas.* His accusations of “false information” are appalling.* His desire to “set the record straight” is laughable. *Management have proven themselves the masters of misinformation.* One false promise after another.

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Management said during the bankruptcy, if we signed the BK deal we would get airplanes.* Now, they say that was different management. Nice excuse - we say that is a promise not kept.* During the AIP vote, they threatened us with a March 21st deadline for the vote closing.* When the MEC decided the vote would close on the 28th, management acquiesced.* Time and time again management has changed or fled from their threats.*

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Most recently, Mr. Fábregas said we will have 200 aircraft at Envoy.* This is misleading or in his words “misinformation.”* Let’s work through some of the company’s own statements.* We currently have 224 aircraft.* The company’s SEC filing says we lose 25 140s this year.* That takes us down to 199 aircraft.* So, we are already below Pedro’s “promise” of 200 aircraft.* But let’s keep working through their comments.* Repeatedly, they have said if we voted NO they would move the CRJs elsewhere, and they appear to be in the process of doing this.* As you know, the most recent vacancy bid was cancelled.* So, if we can take management word as truth, the CRJs are leaving.* Continuing with the math, 199-47=152 aircraft.* A far stretch from 200.* Yet, Pedro said, our Chairman’s message was “false information.”* If the company follows through on their “word”, they will park the remaining 140s.* This will leave us with 118 aircraft.* Yeah, sounds like Mr. Fábregas is really setting the record straight.

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We challenge management to lay out the details for those aircraft.* During the AIP we were given a 170 aircraft fleet plan.* We voted NO, and now we get a 200 aircraft “promise” from Pedro.* Pedro’s promise sounds like misinformation to us.* Before the AIP, management said if we voted no they would move the CRJs sooner rather than later.* Now Pedro says, “The CRJs stay here for the foreseeable future.”* In light of the recent cancelled bid, we dare management to define that time frame.

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When we read Mr. Fábregas’ statement, that the MEC came back to him, we were shocked.* HE CAME TO US!* Mr. Fábregas asked that the MEC develop a proposal that the entire MEC could get behind.* Shortly after, he asked us if the MEC would support the AIP with APA seniority numbers.* Our chairman explained to him that the process for that would be complicated and that the pilots would be skeptical of any new deal coming from management.* He told Captain Sprague to let him worry about getting the numbers. The Chairman was immediately aware that this seemed like a ploy from the company to have us make an offer.* Mr. Fábregas later came back to us and said AAG management was not interested.* In our opinion Mr. Fábregas was being used by AAG management to get the MEC to present an offer so they could reject it.* We now see in their rebuttal that this is playing out.* They want it to seem like the MEC is desperate.* Nothing is further from the truth.* The MEC is more resolved now than ever.

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I also take offense that Mr. Fábregas wrote Congress a letter detailing his concerns about the pilot shortage.* He wrote:

“This has become an obstacle to the industry’s continuing ability to provide regional air service to many small and medium sized communities around the country. Several regional airlines have already reduced their levels of flying, attributing it to the pilot shortage and the pilot shortage is not getting any better. In the relative near term it could well result in additional service cutbacks within the industry, hurting each of those many communities individually – including their residents and employers – and also having a negative impact on the national economy.”

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So management comes to us and says we are too expensive. Yet, they go to Congress and points out that the shortage is already happening.* We applaud the Congressional Committee for seeing these for what they are capable of.* They cannot have it both ways.* They can’t cry to Congress about a shortage, and yet they want to lower the income of pilots.* Some of these pilots are strapped down in student loan debt of over $100,000.* Every red cent matters to our FOs.* Management should be embarrassed.* We are embarrassed for them.

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Mr. Fábregas “mischaracterizes” the Chairman’s comments on PBS.* At no time did Captain Sprague accuse the company of implementing PBS as punishment for rejecting the TA. What Captain Sprague did say is that the push to implement PBS “fits nicely” with the apparent plan to punish the pilots at Envoy.* Captain Sprague rightly pointed out that the company will take a bite out of our hides if we vote no to PBS.

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As dire as things seem, this all could be alleviated.** The company could swallow their pride and come back to the table in a reasonable manner.* They do not appear that they want to do that at this time.* They have told us that they will place aircraft elsewhere.* They might come back to us further down the road.* Our fear is that it will be too late.* We cannot attract new hires, because pilots do not want to come here with this Comair II threat being held over our heads.* We can’t keep pilots here, because the company said there will be displacements and our future is uncertain.* We do not believe we can continue the amount of flying AA wants us to do while sustaining such a large hit against our attrition level.

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It is time for AAG to take the nearly 2700 pilots at Envoy seriously and uphold our current agreement.* Mr. Fábregas, please stop giving us empty promises!* It’s time for management to work with us to keep Envoy on a path to success, so that pilots can find a prosperous career here.** It is time to make good on your word, so we can move forward as healthy company with qualified pilots willing to fill the seats of our aircraft!

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Fly safe,

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Jamie and Ken