Originally Posted by
Westernflight
They wouldn't make it a big deal if the FAA didn't make it a big deal. Flying in there in a Falcon or Challenger is a lot different than in an RJ. The 700 currently is the only plane with the single engine performance to "extract" itself out of there. It's not a big deal till you lose an engine shortly after V1 in the middle of a blizzard, then you better hope all that extra sim training pays dividends. I'm not saying that another airline couldn't do it. But so far only SkyWest spent the money to fly their own jets empty in there for months during the summer, practicing V1 cuts to validate to the FAA our lower than standard approach minimums (for ASE)... Something the bizjet guys don't' have.
This topic has gotten way off track. Hope you guys get your money. If this isn't grounds to strike or "informational picket" I don't know what is.
AAs 2016 fleet plan shows a net gain of 7 crj-700s. That's in addition to the 61 combined that are currently operated by PSA and Envoy. Skywest has 200s coming off contract with AA and 700s coming off contact with UA. It only makes sense that Skywest takes 7 former UA 700s and puts them into operation with AA in exchange for AA 200s coming off contract. AA doesn't have to spend the money on PSA to get ASE qualled and Skywest can takeover the ASE routes if and when Envoy hands over the last 700s to PSA. It's also worth mentioning AA is showing a net decrease of close to 25 200s in 2016. Currently PSA, Skywest, ASA and Wisconsin are the only AA 200 operators and aircraft could be coming from either operator. I think Wisconsin is already down about 5 aircraft from their 70 and as I mentioned early Skywest has some 200s coming off contract.