Originally Posted by
Slick111
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?
I believe that's what SkyWest and TSA plan on doing with their larger aircraft orders. Not necessarily shrinking their pilot group, but definitely leasing them out.