Indy
 

Hi all, I’ve perused this forum up and down and can’t seem to find info about the Indy base. Are there still just 2 airplanes based there? How senior/stagnant is it there? I know the whole company is stagnant right now, but does anyone have any predictions? How are the trips?

Thanks!

There might be 3 airplanes. Indy seems like a good base, they fill up the airplane. I could see it getting bigger. Any growth in this company is directly linked to availability of used Airbus aircraft at a price they want to pay. They are an opportunistic buyer of airplanes. Aircraft availability drives the growth of this company, not the other way around.


In my opinion, its a double edged sword. On one hand, the company would be well positioned for a downturn in the economy, but on the other hand there is no growth or movement at a time when pilots are rapidly gaining in seniority at any other airline.

Indy
 

Not sure about the Indy op, but a very good source told me no hiring in 2019.

At our current airplane count, we are probably 100 over staffed. Looks like attrition may be picking up as well as pilots make lateral moves.

Indy
 

Plus they are still determined to whittle it down to 7ish pilots per plane.

That's the goal as stated in the 2017 Investor Day presentation, 7.6 I believe by 2020. In practice though not sure that is possible.

Indy
 

Much like back in 2012-2013 they’ll probably make it happen just to realize how big a mistake it was and be behind the 8 ball again. But in this hiring environment they may find it impossible to catch up. This of course is assuming they even want to run an airline anymore.

The go karts are planned to be 4.3 drivers per kart.

Yeah, I’ve been keeping up to date on their projected hiring; sounds like the absolute earliest would be summer, but if they actually want it around 7 pilots per plane then that wouldn’t make sense.

Thanks for the info on Indy! Trying to weigh the benefits of staying local. Always like to see airlines serving IND do well with it

Indy is pretty small (like 13 CA/FOs), many of which don't plan on leaving IND. If there is growth, you could probably get there but, much like many other bases, expect to be junior and on reserve for the forseeable future. I think gate availability (we only have 3, one of which is actually ours) will be a limiting factor for growth in IND.