Originally Posted by
slumav505
cancelled flights are usually staffing related these days. there's only one play the company has left before it gets ugly. The regionals that survive are going to pillage the bottom of the other's list. RAH is losing this battle right now. Only way to fix it is a solid contract that speeds up upgrade.
though upgrade time is about to drop from 7 years to 4 years pretty much over night. Almost through the 2008 hires now. No one was hired until 2010 and just a handful remain.
A Couple quick thoughts/points:
1) RAH has stalled contract negotiations for
OVER 8 YEARS,..... and counting. If RAH REALLY wanted to stem pilot attrition and attract new hires, they'd get serious about reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. Clearly, they're not serious about it so we can reasonably assume that they don't
WANT to fix it. Why??? See 2)
2) I believe Rev. Bedford's angle is to literally create a pilot shortage, cause cancellations, and reduce or eliminate airline service to smaller communities so that pressure will mount on congress to do away with the new 121 pilot hiring minimums, (including 117 rest/duty rules). From there, the good Rev. will once again be able to hire
CHEAP, starry-eyed, newly minted, 250 hour, wonder pilots with fresh commercial pilot licenses. And
3) IF that strategy doesn't work, I believe RAH will simply evolve into an aircraft leasing company, (much like GE Capital, et al), and will simply take delivery of their firm-ordered CS Series 100 seat jets, (and perhaps other airframes) which they will then lease to Delta, United, AAG, or other (foreign) airlines. Eliminate the pilots, mechanics, operations, administration payroll (and their unions),....... and just sit back and watch the monthly lease payments roll in. The lord giveth,.... huh Reverend?