Originally Posted by
alfaromeo
In the June 27, 2008 NW flying plan memo they said they will have 58 in service at the end of 2008.
The problem is not what happens to the 58, but what has happened this year. NW has lost 50 airplanes, 1 out of 7 from January 2008, and still has the same number of pilots. How can you lose 14% of your airplanes and still be staffed properly?
If you assume 5 crews per airplane, a loss of 50 airplanes would amount to 500 less pilots needed for 2009. That is why it is not a stretch to have NW pilots at the bottom of the list. Absent the furlough mitigation letter, they would be furloughed right now or in the next few months. What happens at DCC when the furlough mitigation letter expires? Where do all those surplus pilots go?
We don't have surplus pilots right now. We are short in nearly all categories. For all practical purposes the furlough mitigation letter is already expired. None of its provisions are being used. No PERPS were allowed again for this month, and very few PML's, etc.
Carl