Talking to many former NWA pilots, GB seems to be a "love him or hate him" kind of guy. While I agree that the previous DO was well-respected, he and the Chief Pilot were ineffective (at least towards the end). While the CP was never an advocate for the pilots, I think the DO was just worn down over the years of having to tap dance for the ValuJet team at Headquarters. The Lake Charles incident was the final nail in his coffin and he was asked to "retire" in 2010.

I actually was one of the original cheerleaders for our current Chief Pilot and for GB (VP of FLOPS). GB came from an actual airline and I truly believed that he could turn us from a flying club into an real airline. To his credit, there have been a few sporadic operational changes to make our lives easier while flying the line. HOWEVER, together with a Sr. VP of Ops from NWA (who is gone after destroying the operation and cashing in his stock) and a Director of MX Control (also from NWA) they have definitely brought the "NWA of old" philosophy to Allegiant.

Even the current Chief Pilot (who was a senior line pilot and very well-respected) has all but disappeared into the abyss. I had high hopes for him but at the end of the day, he was no match for the 24 year old newly grads who are running FP&A. We are viewed as overpaid whiners who are an obstacle to a stock price which seems to defy the laws of economics.

As recently as a few years back, I would tell everyone that I will stay here until they kick me out. I loved the QOL and although the compensation left much to be desired, I knew there would be consistent improvement (and there was). I felt that I was part of the start of something great. The Allegiant of yesterday is over. What is left is an operation that you would expect to read about in Flying the Line, Vol 1. I am actively seeking employment at a legacy carrier and I hope to escape before the path we are currently on leads to a catastrophe with loss of life. There is still time to turn the ship, but I'm not hopeful.