Originally Posted by Rightseat Ballast

I honestly don't think there is such a thing as a fair solution in this case. The big gotcha to any solution is that there will still be about 400-500 pilots on furlough after the integration. No group wants their pilots to end up on the bottom. Each company can make a valid case as to why they should not bear the brunt of the furloughs. Any solution I come up with invariably leaves one group holding the bag more so that the other players.

Here is my most recent opinion. It changes as I reconsider other facts, and is by no means sanctioned by any union rep or single other pilot at my company. I think you first have to separate active from furloughed pilots. I feel that the Midwest list ought to be considered from the time when they had 16 717's on property, not just 9.

Next, I think you have to separate captains from first officers. In this case, you have to assume that everyone who could hold captain does hold captain. Senior FO's would be given hypothetical captain status, and junior captains may be knocked back to F/O for seniority consideration. With active captains isolated, you then go by date of hire. That is how the top of the list would look. Mostly Midwest and Frontier guys at the top, with the eldest RAH lifers speckled in. In general though, RAH and Lynx captains would be beneath Midwest and frontier captains.

Next, take your active first officers and do the same...DOH among this group. YOu would end up with a similar striation of the different pilot groups.

Finally, furloughs would be integrated by original DOH as well.

This would serve to keep most everyone in their same seat and equipment. Frontier and Midwest might have some shuffling, but most everyone would stay on the Airbus and 190. RAH'ers would end up on the 170's and 145's, and Lynx'ers would mostly remain on the Dash. People could bid for whichever aircraft they choose, so some odd cases may exist. This would also, in general terms, assure that Midwest and Frontier FO's would have the first access to upgrades. Would this mean that RAH and Lynx captains have first access to Airbus and 190 captain seats? Yes. Nothing is perfect, but this would preserve pay for the most senior in each seat, protect many from displacement, and give recognition to both DOH and relative seniority. Constructive input and criticism is appreciated, but please don't reinterpret my words into something other than this being one pilot's fleeting idea.