I laugh at those that say AWA saved US Airways. In the eight quarters since the merger, AWA has not posed a sing profit, while the US Airways portion of the airline has generated almost 500 million in profits last year and will be in the neighborhood of 650 million this year.

AWA was headed for CH 11 without this merger by the words of the AWA CEO and have never had any long term strategy other than being the number 2 airline in a PHX and LAS, low yield markets dominated by Southwest. There long term viability has always been in question and there was no growth potential. All that was available to them was to run a cut rate outfit in the shadow of Southwest and drive narrow bodies around the desert. Not a single dollar was spent on this merger by AWA, as all the financing was provided by outside investors. They weren't buying into the low yield operation of AWA but the profit center they new existed in the East and the huge concessions, including pension termination of the pilots, and the profits that would generate going forward.

All during the period of distress by US Airways, ALPA economic advisors were there every step of the way, whispering in the ears of the MEC to ensure no stand was taken that might threaten the 11.3 million dollars in dues ALPA collects from the US Airways pilots. This culminated in the voluntary termination of the DB pension plan without membership ratification. The rationale behind this was "saving your jobs", "your years of service", and protecting the "career advancement" you have so deservedly earned and sacrificed for. All of which through flawed ALPA policy and inaction was destroyed by the Nicalou award. So all the benefit of these sacrifices, sacrifices that ALPA made the case for were transferred to pilots from another airline via the Nicalou award.

None of the tenets of the policy were followed in the arbitration, and ALPA's response, "well they are guidelines for the direct negotiations(which only lasts 40 days) ", as their lawyers spin this. ALPA now says there is no "policy", only a process they provide. So much for the argument of ALPA merger policy that ALPA has touted for many years as a reason to be a member airline. There actually is no policy and the same protections of Negotiation and Arbitration are provided in Allegheny-Mohawk LPP's contained within most everyone's scope protections without the ALPA time line or bias and utilizing arbitrators prejudiced to longevity based integrations.

Perjured evidence and testimony was given to the arbitrator about the status of the Mid Atlantic pilots. When the airline was conceptualized, it was to be operated under the "potomac air certificate" and run as subsidiary and staffed by furloughed pilots. The FAA quickly shut this down and US Airways was forced to add these aircraft on their mainline certificate, a fact that was not divulged to the returning pilots and knowledge that ALPA possessed. None of the furlough recall provisions of the CBA were followed and they did not receive pay and benefits consistent with their longevity. They were being paid at first year. When a grievance was pursued it was not supported by ALPA because they were complicit in the matter and thus a 250 million dollar DFR lawsuit is now pending against ALPA. Obviously so as not to weaken their status in the DFR suit, ALPA would not provide a certified list that properly indicated the status of these pilots.

People rant about what the AWA pilots may or may not due but you can argue the flip side. The 3000 US Airways pilots could do the same under the ALPA cram down and 3000 strike breakers would be bad for US Airways or any ALPA carrier, and they would be qualified veterans to the tune of 20+ years to boot. I personally couldn't blame someone for not sit idly by who lost their pension and made huge sacrifices, while someone else now seeks to enjoy the benefit. It's pilot greed and theft in its purest form. Any attempt to devalue the concept of tenure is always an attempt by someone to justify jumping the line. The US Airways pilots should hang their head high because this profession led by ALPA is a gang of thugs and thieves, and someone should take any slight to the words of a thief because who the F$ck are they?