Airline Pilot Central Forums - Letter from Alaska Chief pilot

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- - Letter from Alaska Chief pilot (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/alaska/4596-letter-alaska-chief-pilot.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShyGuy (Post 3350952)

Not sure I see the point of this post. The letter from the original post clearly states:

" Just wanted to give our Pilot Group an update on the hiring practices, as a few things have changed in the past couple of months. Alaska is in the driver’s seat in regards to hiring right now. Even though many of the carriers are starting to call back furloughed pilots, it is apparent that many will remain off those carriers’ active rolls for a while. Until they have had a chance to recall these pilots, we, along with FedEx and Southwest seem to be the major players in the hiring game right now. This gives us the ability to actively search out the best, most qualified, and interested pilots who show the desire to make Alaska Airlines their future. We, along with the other carriers, have all raised the standards by which a candidate is considered. "

Those are just facts. It was an entirely different landscape back then versus today. Why is this relevant today? Everyone knows it isn't 2006.

The point of the post is that having stumbled upon that old post, given the historical context, the light bulb came on for me as to how AS might view contract negotiations. They have always seen themselves in the driver's seat, and despite changing circumstances over the years, that mindset seems to persist.

It is one where pilots hired by AS should consider themselves extremely lucky to be admitted to this exclusive club, and once admitted, the idea of demanding an industry standard compensation package is seen as craven, ungrateful, and a passing of one's place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by All Bizniz (Post 3350984)

That’s not my take at all. He’s basically stating what was then, self evident facts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EskimoJoe (Post 3351144)

That’s not my take at all. He’s basically stating what was then, self evident facts.

Not sure I'm following your response, so I suspect you may have misunderstood my post you quoted.

SG was wondering about the point of MY original post, given that the facts as they existed at that time, way back then, made that management mindset understandable.

My response was that my point is centered on how interesting I find it that though the times and facts have evolved, it seems to me that up to present day, the mindset hasn't - (but, given current hiring trends, it may be forced to).

I should point out that if you take a quick look at some of the original forum responses to the CP letter, way back then, you can see that many viewed it as quite pompous, even given the then facts of the day.