Originally Posted by
ZBowFlyz
From the business stand point the 145's are the least economical in Hulas's fleet. Add to that TSA is the most expensive pilot group under TSH. I don't think TSA pilots will ever get furloughed in this climate. I think it's foolish to think TSA's head isn't on the chopping block first. Either you guys are getting 175's as fleet replacements or they will make a push for as long as they can on the CHQ flying until the staffing dries up. Then there will be a draw down. Don't mistake those comments for TSA basing, it's not. It's economics of an expensive aircraft combined with an expensive pilot group.
Obviously, they would cannibalize the TSA pilot group way before a furlough. At Republic it doesn't seem to be an issue but those guys are all on one list. If they do roll TSA into Compass or GoJet, to say it will be a mess is an understatement of mega proportions.
Of course, all my thoughts are just thoughts and who knows what will really happen? Time will tell.
On another subject, there are some good points on here about contract issues. It's just a reminder that picking a "good" contract at a regional is a lot like choosing which turd stinks less. The cancel pay is a legitimate argument and you have to change your bid strategy. The poster above sounds like he is using his companies contract to benefit him. Well, the flip side is that here at GoJet you would be a fool to bid high credit in the winter. You just bid 75hr lines and don't worry about it. That's not an excuse to justify a weak spot in the contract. It's the remedy to keep from loosing money.
Since becoming a lineholder at TSA I have averaged 105 hours a month of credit. I'll take the extra 30 hours a month on my paycheck. For those of you in Rio Linda that is an extra a $1249 a month vs Gojet (34.76X105=3649.80 TSA vs 32X75=2400 Gojet) On year 2 pay. That is $14, 988 in extra year two pay alone. I didn't throw the year one numbers in because guys are spending more time on reserve. The Captains pay is even gaudier. There was a reserve CA who brought in $8500 in one month last summer before taxes. So as I said earlier, its pretty easy to see how you can blow through a five or ten thousand dollar hiring bonus on a substandard contract pretty quick.
I'll take the extra money and risk at TSA. TSA upgrade is faster than Gojet right now as well. The only airline displacing anyone right now is Endeavor because they can't staff due their substandard contract. I'd say the odds are better Gojet has to displace in the future do to a lack of new hires than TSA displacing due to a lack of work.
Make sure you understand the contract you will be working under and how you will get paid before deciding on a place to work. There are plenty of opportunities (not just TSA) that pay you well and have decent contracts. They are worth the extra time to get hired vs jumping on board with a substandard contract.
We'll see where we all are five years down the road. Hopefully these crazy mainline hiring numbers are true and we all will have moved on to better place.