maxjet

So you are writing that 1) AAWW profit down from 54 million to a loss of almost 900k was just bad management? 2) K4 airplanes and crews sitting for days at a time is desirable? Reduction in per Kilo payment from a high of $5.00 a few years ago to under $2.00 today is normal? This is all posturing for negotiations? I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that we haven’t made a profit this year. It takes money to expand.

Regarding the hiring. We hire pilots because we have committed to CMI aircraft that will be on the positive side of the balance sheet. Why do you think the company is looking at lifting the seat lock. If we can move pilots from the 400 over, that saves us money. Hours are down and DHL wants a 400 reduction in the coming year.

What does all of this mean to a new hire pilot? A downturn in the Freight world is going to be the best example of why it was such a good idea for you to work here instead of some of the other carriers. Connie’s business plan is built to weather down times. Biggest change I see for those hired in the past 3 years will be that you will see more 64 hour pay months. That shouldn’t be difficult for most as there have been many, many pilots on here advising you to run your spending on Min pay.

Unfortunately for Atlas/Southern/ABX this will not make their negotiations as fruitful as they could have been. For us? I don’t have a clue. Too many variables on which way our Negotiation Committee could go on this. Trust the Negotiations Committee. They know what they are doing and have excellent resources and good relations with the company to back them up.

Now, if we just had a big natural disaster, pestilence, or a War. Bam! Back in business again😀

MoarAlpha

AAWW is most likely a combination of Company shenanigans and the economy wouldn't you agree? I'm no CPA and can't really understand more than the basics of an SEC quarterly filing to really know what appears to be happening there.

Out if curiosity where do you find freight prices / kg? One of those CargoNews subscription sites?

I haven't ever worked for an airline that was proactive protecting themselves for downturns in the economy. It's one of the many reasons I am more optimistic here than I otherwise would be with the market downturn forecasts.

For all those asking for the survey results to be released, that probably isn't wise. Maybe we can see results later, but that I have to imagine that information available to the Company would not help us in any way. What's the benefit other than to know people want more money in many directions?

Blackhawk

The reason you haven't worked for an airline that was proactive is that it costs money. Lots of money. And I don't mean it requires spending money, but saving money and having cash on hand. Robert Crandall, when he was CEO of American Airlines was once asked by a shareholder during a call in "How much cash on hand is enough??" Shareholders wanted dividends. Of course workers wanted raises. Others wanted more airplanes.
Crandall responded "In the airlines there is no such thing as too much cash. When times are tight, airlines burn through cash quickly.

K4 is probably better positioned than most other airlines. Most of the airplanes are owned outright. But... it's still expensive when a 747 is flying empty or is even sitting on a ramp. While crews like hanging out at the Shangri La, owners don't paying for it. It's a privately held company so there is some wiggle room, but that can also be a detriment. If the company loses money the private shareholders feel it. Their stock doesn't just lose some value, they lose income.

Aeirum

How do you know that K4 has cash on hand?

crapper2

Some good news. ETOPS proving runs to start next week on the 767.

Jluis546

is K4 hiring? what's considered competitive?

maxjet

Nobody that would post on here knows anything about the money on hand. My personal barometer is the race teams. The day you see a reduction in funding for the race teams is the day you know money is tight. Connie lives to race and I think it is a high priority for him. As of now, I have not read about, (not that the magazines know much), a funding problem for the race teams.

The recent letter is about looking for ways to save money. I am flying one of those examples right now. We are operating as a basic crew ANC-NRT. round trip over 2 days. We have another crew here that could back us up. Really no reason not to operate as a basic crew. It saves a few bucks, but I do miss my nap! I hope that we all do what we can to save money if we are in a position to do so. Light weight, long taxi? As inconvenient as it is for the Co-pilot, I like to 2 engine taxi. Situation doesn’t happen often but take advantage of it when it does. Get new winds every hour or so and fly at the recommended altitudes on the 74 when possible. I think little things do help

MCRN

So considering ya'lls current line of discussion any of you K4 guys have any idea what all this might mean for those of us who had our interviews cancelled in October?

In other words do you guys think regular hiring will actually resume in January or will the Boeing experience only thing continue well into next year?

Locke

We are still acquiring planes, and will need people to fill them. I would assume regular hiring will continue in January.

The Dominican

From somebody that sits on a 76 for 8 or 9 hours at a time, that’s hardly good news