Originally Posted by
Amg4me
Yes, I am fully aware of this problem. But Skywest forced upgrades and how many folks left due to that?
If the FOs woukdn’t upgrade they were part of the problem. They were sucking up the limited SIC hours available to keep others who WERE willing to upgrade from accumulating the 1000 hours of SIC necessary to upgrade.
They had an opportunity to poll the pilots anonymously to find out why they didn't want to upgrade and offer them incentives that would make them feel good about upgrading. Isn't it cheaper to give certain incentives to your current pilots then have to pay bonuses and training for new DECs?
Apparently not, since managements generally ALWAYS go for the cheapest alternative.
What if you gave those pilots certain alternatives they could chose from, such as (1) remain in the base they are currently in (2) longevity match (3) additional paid training, etc., and you can chose one of those alternatives to make the transition better?
1. So you want them to violate other CA pilots seniority to keep you at a base? Or just stack CAs at a base where they aren’t needed?
2. Longevity match with what? How many different regionals have your senior FOs been employed at?
3.I am reasonably sure that you actually get paid during upgrade training. And the pay raise from making CA is non-trivial.
It doesn't work in the regional model to have FO lifers, it reduces the pull needed to train new pilots.
It would be acceptable if they were balanced by lifer CAs, but the vast majority of CAs prefer to move on to someplace that pays better and has more benefits.
But with all the smart folks working there, they can't come up with a better model that significantly reduces the problem?
Doesn’t matter how smart they are, they cannot change the CA requirements mandated under
§ 121.436, and slavery and indentured servitude were outlawed by the 13th amendment. Most CAs are GOING TO leave for a major eventually, barring exceptional personal circumstances or so close to mandatory requirement it doesn’t matter.
It seems shortsighted because the way the market is now if management doesn't get more creative, they are going to struggle with this problem for a long time and it will negatively impact operations and financial outcomes for years.
If they DON’T mandate updates they will be out of business before that. They can replace FOs with 2000 hrs of 121 time with brand new guys right off IOE. If the high time FOs aren’t going to upgrade, there is little reason to keep them. That’s attrition they NEED to have.