labbats

Do you know several?

We all know lottery winners. That isn't what we're discussing.

ShyGuy

Fair point. There is no pilot shortage right now. Only the military, luckiest, multiple job fairs, or very well connected are getting the calls for Delta. That's not a shortage, that is slim pickings from an over abundance of pilots.

A true pilot shortage will be when you apply to Delta, American, and United, sit back and within 6 weeks get an interview from 2 of the 3. That's a shortage.

belliott

I think you have mistaken my attempt at humor as complaining. I was attempting to mimic the proverbial "addled idiot." I'm not complaining nor will I fly unsafe aircraft. I am not a liar or a dunce for the record.
You are quite correct in that leaving is an option that carries with it a clear cut message... if you choose that path in the future I do wish you the best of luck!

dawgdriver

At the risk of coming off like a hypocrite (I left), pilots voting with their feet may be exactly what the company wants. Management plans to change the nature and foundation of the airline business ('different'), and ridding the ranks of those senior folks who disagree has worked quite well. Look at the flight attendants: Buyouts and making life miserable forced senior flight attendants to bail, leaving in their wake nothing but eager, giddy, unitiated new workers happily jumping at the chance to "work directly" with their benevolent managers...on a vote to decertify their only protection. Put another X in the win column, 2 down, 1 to go.

Having succeeded with them and the dispatchers, and given the CEO's identical tactic of refusing dues check off, is there any doubt he's attempting the same thing with their pilots? And if he succeeds in getting large numbers to vote with their feet, will the union stand a chance? For obvious reasons, smaller operations with high turnover and outward mobility seldom succeed because no one cares. The company knows this, so does F&H Solutions. If that happens, I suspect they will eventually be decertified and go the way of the other two groups, left to deal directly with management (isn't that scary prospect the reason they got a union in the first place?).

As an airline pilot under a different contract, I would be concerned if the G4 pilots lost this fight.

I also wouldn't discount the impact two years of negative accounts from these guys have had on the company's ability to attract qualified pilots. Yes, there are still plenty of starving regional guys out there, but that balance will soon shift. It's secondhand information, others can verify, but isn't G4 starting to have more difficulty filling classes?

I don't begrudge anyone for leaving, everyone has a duty to themselves, their carers and their families. But for the sake of the profession, I selfishly hope good people stay and fight the good fight. If the Allegiant pilots lose, we all lose.

I encourage everyone out there to support these guys, they are an awesome group of pilots fighting a tough war. I wish them the very best, for all our sake.

fishforfun

I'm mil and haven't received a call. The stats have shown that Delta has hired about a 50/50 split of mil/civilian recently. Don't complain about guys coming to work at Allegiant when you won't leave because it isn't just your phone not ringing. This thread is a complete joke. It's no different than any others on this board complaining about contracts, management, pay, work rules, etc including the Delta TA thread.

The pilot group has one button to push and it has been mentioned but it's not getting enough air time. The Valujet connection to the CEO and current emergency return numbers need to be exploited to the max in the public. Until then, stop blaming others for your lack of a call.

fishforfun

July 7th class was full. Another starts Aug 3rd and I've heard another in August as well. At some point the cost of training and the rate at which guys leave could out pace training.

CLMP

With all due respect, it's NOT the same. If DL, AA, UA, and WN never change one iota of their contract from now on, they will still be light years ahead of where Allegiant pilots are. We are missing basic provisions in our work rules that even some of the scummiest regionals enjoy. The CEO's of the majors and legacies are reluctant to give the pilots more because it's a business decision. Allegiant's CEO won't do it because he has a fundamental hatred for labor and especially labor unions. It's not business, it's personal. I listen to all my friends at the legacies complain about not having a new contract; but when I tell them what our working conditions are, their jaws break the concrete.

Packrat

There's your key. As long as the classes are full and they can find suckers to fill them, you have zero traction.

labbats

I think your numbers include flows. For off the street hires it is indeed a military pilot's game at all the majors. Break down any newhire class at Delta, AA, United and Southwest in the last two years and remove flows and interns and you sure won't see half civilian. One exception is/was USAir.

I also disagree that this thread serves no point. I'd argue that this thread is exactly why this website was created. Seems everyone in the industry knows about Allegiant and its woes due to this very thread.

dawgdriver

Fish makes some good points. Looking at the stock and load factors, however, it doesn't appear that management is concerned by all the negative media coverage surrounding Allegiant. The media has done pretty good covering the maintenance problems, air returns, evacuations, even tying the CEO to ValuJet. I guess it will take another ValuJet type accident for anyone to wake up. The union seems to have done a good job showcasing the companies maintenance shortcomings and practices. Didn't they also came close to having several members removed from the board of directors? To date, only the threat of a strike seems to have made a dent in that crazy stock.

Between the government, the courts, and this Teflon CEO, these guys have tough times ahead. Hopefully the NMB will wake up and see G4's antics and give those guys the release they need to get a contract. Company won't budge until they strike.