Originally Posted by
Wheels up
Another possibility could be that the APA grants exception for a certain number of 76 seat aircraft with the proviso that furloughed AA pilots fly the captain's seat at AE pay rates.
The APA already tried this move years ago and it failed miserably. To be done at Eagle, it would require the agreement of Eagle ALPA (good luck) or another flowthrough type agreement that AMR wont want any part of considering the last nightmare.
At first glance, it would seem more likely at the other carrier they're sure to bring in, but two things ruffle that plans feathers (and ruin its economics), 1. It would be too unpredictable and expensive planning that carriers captain staffing (which affect ALL it's staffing) if sudden furloughs or shortages occur at AA. It would be very undesirable in planning and predictability and will rise any costs at this carrier (not to mention the anymosity of that carriers F/O's). Since AMR would have to relinquish a segment of that carriers profit TO that carrier, instead of all to AMR (like Eagle), it would further erode profitability. 2. That scenario would place at least SOME control of that carriers operation within the APA and that is a sure fire way to increase costs over the long-term by once again granting leverage to mainline labor to use at a later time.
I think I can safely assert this idea is a non-starter at worst or a non-finisher at best.
Originally Posted by
Wheels up
I think Arpey is loath to take the company to bankruptcy. He just renegotiated debt due at the end of the year. Despite some commuter pilots' dream for once again dumbing down the industry, Bk is not what is used to be and AA can't just come in and dictate the terms of a change to the employee contracts, so the outcome is not certain. Keep in mind also that a change in scope would also, almost certainly, mean that AE would NOT be the only small jet supplier. However, eaglefly's right in that AE future is uncertain without viable jets, vice the 37-50 seat money pits they have now.
There's a lot of angles to all this and it's not anywhere close the the slam dunk fait accompli that eaglefly would lead you to believe.
Yes, BK is the LAST option, but backdropped against hopeless unprofitability, it may be the ONLY option. The industry is already "dumbed" down and I'm just highlighting the obvious. It is WELL known that Eagle will not be the sole feed provider for AA in the future, so again nothing new there.
Gee, we used to be a "regional pilots", but now we're just "commuter pilots"..........I guess that's a step up from "losers" or "lifers" as seems to be the rage here on Mainline Pilot Forums, but I will (and did) take that as a condescending insult as it was obviously meant to be. It reminds me when the APA referred to us as AA's "propeller division" when that label suited them.
Ahh, what can you do...........some things never change.
Starting to taste it a little bit now, Phrog ?