Any idea how long it takes to jump from the mad dog to the 75? Or are those guys not going anywhere for a while since you only have 6 airframes?

 

I don't think there will be anymore 757 classes unless something really changes. Those aircraft are for sale and it sounds like they'll be gone by 2016-2018. One of the 757 guys told me that they have no intention of paying the high costs of the RR engine overhauls and 4 planes come due in 2016. He was told they would liquidate them first. So they are trying hard to avoid any further training costs.

 

I wonder if Allegiant's insurance underwriters, and the creditors that have given loans that are now secured by some of the tail numbers, are aware that non-AAY qualified pilots are moving these planes around, and are aware of the risks and liabilities associated with that? Some of these pilots wouldn't even be qualified to go to a regional, from what I have heard.

 

Everyone ferrying AAY jets is fully qualified under Part 91/Part 61 regs. Perhaps you should read up on the requirements.

 

I know a couple of guys doing it, and unless something has drastically changed in the last few months, I would argue that point, but maybe you are right and they flew a thousand hours in the last few months or so and would now be ATP qualified for the Regionals.

It might be legal, but I would argue the ethics of anyone doing it, and say that they should do some soul searching about how they feel if it were being done to them during negotiations/mediation.

The strike is coming, I wonder if these guys are going to move AAY birds then too? I could see them being like the Falcon guy and claiming that they didn't know what was going on.

I'm wondering if all those that are doing it are one are also reporting to their CP's that they are doing it too. I also wonder what the rules are for using company jumpseat privileges to get to a paid gig where you are moving another airline's metal around? I'm just wondering theoretically. Oh well, we'll know the answers to these questions soon enough from what I've heard.

 

I think your argument is more with AAY than with the people contracted to fly your jets to OKC. Why aren't AAY pilots tasked with ferrying Company aircraft? Seems like you've set your own precedent by not insisting Company pilots perform maintenance ferry flights. FWIW, the guys in the left seat are required by the FARs to have a current MD/DC-9 PC.

Until and unless you're actually on strike, there's no question about the morality of doing this flying. Put up a picket line and I'd agree with you. By extension, are AAY pilots doing something immoral performing daily line flying while mediation/negotiations are going on?

You can't have it both ways, Wurmy.

 

The argument is with AAY, but the guys moving AAY planes are providing AAY's management with the guns to keep fighting.

The insistence was there, that's part of what the negotiators are working on. It kind of makes it hard to negotiate something when a handful of contract pilots slink in and offer to do it for less than the standard rate. The Company pilots did ferry all maintenance and test flights until the negotiations got to the point where it was obvious it was going to mediation and then strike, and they started contracting it out. Now it is not even being offered to the AAY pilots. AAY Pilots are severely understaffed also. Management had been advised for the last year to hire for attrition and 117, but they haven't until lately. AAY pilots paid for this by not being allowed to take PTO, receiving horrible schedules and TDY assignments. It did however give some control to the pilots to dictate additional pay for pop up assignments, open time and junior assignments. Then the contract pilots offered to fly time that has traditionally been open time and it undercut the argument of the AAy pilots, AFTER they had already paid the negative price for the lack of hiring. The AAY pilots paid for it, and the contract pilots swooped in and took the flying as their spoils. While still understaffed they level out the schedules and remove days off, but then still put flying out there for contract pilots so there is not much open time. Does that illustrate how they are using all of you contract pilots as a whipsaw against other pilots?

AAY pilots doing their own flying and other pilots subcontracting it have nothing in common. I don't even see where you are going with that by comparing one to the other.

I know you have justified it and that's your deal. I know I couldn't morally move another pilot group's planes around in a situation like what is occurring right now at AAY. I'm trying to imagine running over to Alaska while they were negotiating their first contract, and helping to take the teeth out of what tools the pilots' actually had. Nope, couldn't do it.

I also heard that some JetBlue pilots were moving an AAY Bus around on the sly, and they pushed back onto an active taxiway without clearance. WHOOPS! Now their CP and the FAA are investigating. I'm not sure I would want these kinds of pilots moving my planes around, just saying.

 

I'm more concerned about the pilots performing flights OUT of our OKC MRO facility. With our own pilots doing it, they will at least write up discrepancies to allow these things to be fixed before the plane hits the line. They have a vested interest in the continued safety and reliability of the aircraft. These contract characters just want the sling the metal back and forth and collect their pay.

 

You guys get over $800 a day to fly from LAS to OKC? WOW! What's that? $400 an hour? Why did you ever let the Teamsters in the door?

 

Looks like we found one of the guys that do it.