Originally Posted by
unitedcop30
There are furloughed guys flying in the middle east that can't break their contracts, and now they will lose their seniority number because there are no leave of absences being granted. I find it funny how spirit all of a sudden needs All their furloughs back due to extreme growth. I'll believe it when I see it. The way spirit management runs the airline all it will take is a stiff breeze in FLL to furlough again..and trust me...Baldanza does not give two craps about any pilot at spirit. And it would have been nice to see spirits mec fight for the leave of absence for their furloughed guys.
According to our (newly anointed) VP of Flt Ops, the desperate need for pilots is not currently driven by "extreme growth", it is due to his belief in a realistic staffing model.
Our "recently escorted out of the building" Senior Crew Planning Director used a former NWA VP's view at pilot staffing- that is, razor thin staffing, throw it in open time and let the pilots pick it up. Problem is, no one is picking it up. So this "desperate need" of pilots is actually being driven by an attempt by management to actually staff the airline somewhat properly.
Which leads us to the mandatory recall (and decision to deny further LOAs). Actually, the intent on the recall is to issue 4 different vacancy bids from Jan-Apr and allow the returning furloughs to pick a date of return within that time frame. Our contract is very clear: with an acceptable reason, an LOA will be granted for 6 months, and may be extended beyond 6 months with the consent of the VP Flt Ops. If the mandatory went out at the end of October...what's 6 months beyond that date?