Originally Posted by
alfaromeo
You can maybe get the RJ pilots to change uniforms and now are mainline pilots, but you won't get what you really want, which is hundreds of more big mainline airplanes (like 737's) to come back so you can make captain at 5 years. ...
As many have pointed out, pick the carrier with the best scope (AMR?, CAL?, or whoever) and show me what is happening to that carrier in mainline.
OK, lets play. I like this game
American Airlines Orders More 737s For 2010
FORT WORTH (AP) ― American Airlines said Wednesday it will take delivery of another six Boeing 737-800s in 2010, in an effort to speed up the replacement of gas-guzzling MD-80s in its fleet. The move brings the total number of 737-800s expected to be delivered in 2009 and 2010 to 76 aircraft.
American said the deal is part of an amendment under its purchase agreement with Boeing, in which the airline exercised its right to buy 20 737-800s for delivery in 2009 and 2010.
Originally Posted by AlphaRomeo
I support the reintroduction of 70-76 flying back to mainline. You have to remember that once you do that, you will lose ALL control over how many of those airframes that management gets.
This part I don't get. You say you support bringing the flying back, but then very eloquently outline all the reasons we should not and politely explain this about a bunch of junior snot noses just wanting a fourth stripe. (nailed me by the way
)
It is a matter of priorities. What is more important than scope? Scope is the only reason the Company abides by the rest of the contract. Otherwise they would just "farm your job out."
First of all, Compass is 88 seat flying, not 76 seats. 76 is a subjective "line in the sand" that is just as likely to be washed away by the economic tides as the other lines in the sand that preceded this one. When the crap hits the fan, what's our track record? In 2001 it was 34%, then it was 37%, then 50% and when it got too ugly to look at we took out the Section 1 limits on block all together. Reports are that the number now exceeds 60%.
What is the end game for this?
Our "friends" know our history and realize scope by Type Certificates is a whole lot more objective. They want that 88 seat jet as a bridge to 122 seats. If you look a couple of moves ahead in the chess game, the importance of the Embraer comes into focus.
.... There is no magic bullet to this. Technology has changed and we aren't going back.
We are a union. We need to focus on labor issues. The only question we control the answer to is
who flies the airplane. We really don't have a dog in the fight of whether a 767 replaces a 747, or a RJ replaces a DC9. Our #1 job as a union is to ensure our pilots are at the controls. If it has a Delta logo on it, I want a Delta pilot flying it.
How about go develop a business plan for recapturing this flying and you will be much more successful. I know that will be a lot of work, might as well be you that does it.
How about we let management run the airline and try to get our union to focus on labor issues?
I'm not being critical of the MEC, they have handled the merger brilliantly. They have been smart to partner with management when it makes sense. However, the foundation of their power is unionism. Outsourcing attacks that foundation and reduces their power.
The argument that "we don't want RJ's because their pay stinks" is very short sighted. Pay lasts only as long as the next contract. We need a longer term strategic vision (particularly since we are not in Section 6, or even close to it right now, we don't know what the pay issue will be three to four years from now)
If we divest Compass, the opportunity to capture, up to 122 seats is at risk. Further, we will have created another Comair with its own representational demands and you can be sure they will want more than 36 jets. They will also join the Comair pilots in demanding a raise on the 76 seat cap because that is the business case for their pay. We don't need more enemies at meetings of ALPA's Collective Bargaining Committee, or Scope Oversight group.
I understand you being concerned about the pay rates. My response, don't bid the thing. The more important matter is that those are Delta jobs, under the control of the Delta MEC instead of our adversaries.