In all honesty, (fingers crossed hoping for the best). This could be indicative that the company and the union are getting serious about this "Global Solution" and the manning issue.

It is very difficult to negotiate costs when there is a difference in perception about what the true costs are. Harvesting the "Bid" data when it was supposed to be "final" allows the negotiators to sit down and talk turkey. This is the only way any kind of joint costing model can be agreed upon.

It sure would be nice to see a practice training letter to see about when we would go except "anytime in the next 18 months". It would also be nice to figure out what this "global solution" entails before we bid......If HKG gets good enough, I'll bid it.....If the 777 pays enough, I'll bid it. If I can get a ULR override flying the MD-11 I'll bid it.

Whatever we need to do to support our Negotiating Committee.....I am for. If this delay was part of it, then I am for it. If we (pilots) and them (management) both need this for negotiations, then they ought to just say it. I'd be ok with it.

 

Let's see - this is the 6th Bid/Posting in jeopardy. The Company has elected to utilize CBA 4.A.2.b. The Company has opted to disregard 26.K. The Company is using 'OPERATIONAL' to justify violating 5.B.2.a-e. The Company has opted to disregard 25.D.1.a-e and 25.D.2.a-e. The Company can't get HKG manned. The Company couldn't get ANC manned, so they hired Purple Nuggets. Now the Company is concerned the [furloughed] employees they may have 'snaked' from another airline (AA, DL, NWA, UAL) may be returning to their previous employer? The Company is having problems with cost, training, real estate expectations, and a total realignment of the seniority list.

Now - let me toss a note the other way. I haven't seen ANY of the MEM LECs publish data, information, or gouge on the ANC commute. I haven't seen any MEM LEC publish information about no-harm/no-foul with regards to ANC. I haven't seen any MEM LEC publish information about jump seating on ANY carrier - particularly through SEA - with regards to the ANC domicile. Yet - we have about 100 new crew members bidding to ANC, and probably 70 or so that have NEVER commuted to ANC.

This delay might be another of the many snafu's we've seen - but I'd suggest it might be a very good time for the crew force to do their due-diligence and make certain what they're doing.

A little more gouge? 25% of the ANC crew force has a sick event monthly (determined from calendar research)! Company average is about 4% - or so I'm told. Trip modifications in ANC cost the Company between $1.5 and $2.0 million per year in ANC (determined from initial trip value and trip post-flown value). If those sick events cover even the smallest ANC-OAK-ANC trip - reserve utilization is skewed, and manning models are grossly inaccurate! When you see a MEM deadhead or double-deadhead to ANC - it's because ANC wasn't manned to cover the trip - so those hours were moved. ANC is the most efficient domicile in the system - so . . . lets downsize it?

This bid shouldn't be cancelled because the software is AFU. It should be cancelled because Crew Resource Planning and Analysis is making a three dimensional decision from a one dimensional screen.

 

Nice summary neatly tied together with a big red bow

Pilot management has been about as accurate as a meteorologist!

 

I got to tell you bro, the last couple of posts you've made on this sound 100% accurate to me.

 

would you please run for some of the union vacancies that are avail? great postings.

 

I beat you to it buddy. Already asked him! He is thinking about it, has to find out where he is sitting when the music stops.

 

Forget that. As long as you promise not to drink any Kool-Aid. How about VP of Flight Operations?

 

I am being sarcastic here: He has to have a union position first before he can hold VP of Flight Operations or most other management positions.