Simple. The economic impact of 9-11 was an absolute joke compared to this. Unlike the much slower and more predictable slide back then, this is sudden, severe, and unknown in duration. A faster climb out of the sinkhole is more likely than the typical recessionary market cycle, even one force multiplied by the short lived fear factor for our industry back then. If we furlough to the bone instead, we will lose out long term much worse. We need to be ready to quickly recapture lost flying and prevent massive marketshare hemorrhaging.

I'm all for SIL's and think the company should have done them at the agreed upon 55 hours for May and maybe even June. If we don't do a lower ALV (unless we liquidate or rapidly recover to industry powerhouse status) then we'll probably have to go much lower on SIL's and if there aren't enough takers they may have to assign them. I liked the general tone of the MEC's recent letter. The part that smacked of ignorant bravado though was the abject nonsense about the ALV relief request only granting a few days of liquidity. Um, yeah, in an almost zero revenue environment.

IMO it is very unlikely that lasts all year and beyond. Its also very unlikely we make a roaring back recovery this year, or even next year. So for all the likely middle ground scenarios, we will need to significantly reduce our "billable hours" and there are many ways and combinations of ways we can do that. SIL's, early outs and lower ALV's are the best stratedgy IMO, although we will likely see some degree of furloughs. We should give nothing in the way of relief without not only snapbacks (ALV reductions can be temporary and extendable and will always snap back with a recovery) but also immediate upsides like company provided medical for all furloughed pilots, vacation and training pay improvements, longer long call, SC credit, DH improvements and on and on. I'm also in favor of limiting their dangerous burnback scams in the future by getting a punitive cut of any future burnbacks as an immediately payable bonus in partial exchange for our temporary relief now. If they don't want to reciprocate for our help, then so be it. Full ALV til the last day then.