Originally Posted by
Bucking Bar
Although you were trying to be sarcastic, you hit on the truth...
D-ALPA believes outsourcing is good for us. We have tried to maximize the returns from constructively facilitating the DCI shell game.
Yes, the EtD program is poorly considered.
Delta is one RJ accident from being very difficult to insure entity. As the DCI model collapses and we lower our standards to induce pilots to seek employment (no degree, questionable time,unknown backgrounds) then turn up the heat on them (competitive bidding for work, threats, job insecurity, abrogation of seniority) something's going to give.
I do not believe that any more than you do. "outsourcing" is a vile, but necessary component to being a global carrier. Do you truly believe that we can make money flying all the time to everywhere on the planet? Let's take LHR for instance. How could we compete with AAL/BA. without the VA alliance? Any idea how much the LHR slots cost? Put it another way. Do you think SWA will be able to effectively compete with us if they buy a couple of 787s and start a couple of flights/week to CDG? You are choosing to focus on the smaller end of the scale, but conceptually, it is the same.
I am not so sure that EtD was poorly conceived, although I admit that I have not studied it all that much. If there is really a pilot shortage, it is all about controlling the flow of those pilots. If you were a youngtser starting out, and you had a guaranteed path to a DAL or a vague path to UAL/AAL, which one would you take? Like I said, I do not know all the intracacies of the agreement, but I guarantee you that a 20 something does not have the salt that you and Mesabah has. They see the path to Delta.
Now that being said, you are correct that DCI is a shell game, but I believe that it is in the waning throes of that game. Again, if the pilot shortage is real, there will be too little "competition" to whipsaw anymore. You're right, something's gotta give, and at this point it is all about who has control when the music stops. UAL/AAL are going to be fighting for scraps when the music stops.
Do I want that flying in house? Yup. It all depends on the cost though as I also think the 717 is gonna take a lot of it, and I would wager that we might see something newer along that size in the coming years. Maybe not before I leave, but there will be something. It is all about upgauging now.....