Is there still talk of the F word?

 

the problem back then was that the most junior pilots on the property were....

1) the newest volunteers for FO slots in HKG

and

2) 70 +/- FO's in ANC ("Nuggets")

the company couldn't just start furloughing (in reverse seniority order) because they would've had to close HKG before it opened and also couldn't have operated ANC if they instantly chopped those 70 +/- FO's

Having the "Nuggets" in ANC in such large numbers (and the junior HKG FOs) was the reason it was impossible for the company to furlough (they might have wanted to, but couldn't) & forced them to create their 4A2b justification

 

Although 300 in one shot would be impossible in just about any case, in my opinion, 100 would've been doable.

1) Today there are still only 9 HKG FO's in the bottom 100. I think the company could've SIBAed those positions just like the other unfilled positions until filled.

2) Posting 09-02 was eliminating 56 ANC FO positions. You can also take into account that ANC carries more FOs for the additional RFO lines. They could easily have shifted that work to MEM.

All I am say is that "positioning the people for a furlough" really wouldn't have been all that necessary.

 

They'd still have to man the back of the Boeing too.

There's actually been less SOs in the Boeing than Capts the past 2 years (...remember, the over 60 guys and some senior LCAs got out during the excess bids).

My guess is they could have fuloughed 25 somewhat comfortably...and 50 max.

Beyond that, they'd have to train more guys in the seat first (i.e. get the junior ANC nuggets in the back of the Boeing)

Those guys are started to hit the line about a month ago.

If they all train in the back, the company might be able to furlough 100-125 in the back, but I think there will be a 757 FO bid soon that redirects many of those ANC FOs to the 757 and they'll never fatten up the back seat to the levels shown on the current training letter.

....and thus, never be in a position to furlough the 300~700 they mentioned when all of this started in Jan 2009.

 

How often are airlines in a position to furlough all the pilots they intend to in "one shot"? It's just not how it's done.

 

I'm assuming you're once again talking about the 727 BLGs?

I just looked at the last 5 months bidpack's avg. BLG's and here's what I found:

..........A300/CAP - F/O.......757CAP -- F/O........727CAP - F/O

MAR.........65-------68 ...........72------72.............60-----63
FEB..........63-------67 ...........72------72.............60-----62
JAN..........62-------66 ...........72------72.............60-----60
DEC.........77-------84 ............92------92............72-----75
NOV.........59-------64 ...........73------73.............58-----58

You will note that the A300CAP seat has not had more than a 2hr difference from the 727F/O seat for the last 5 months bidpacks(incl MAR10). That's within the historical(non 4A2b) average, I would think.

The 757 F/O seat has had from 7hrs to 14hrs more per month than the A300CAP seat.

The A300 F/O seat has had a higher BLG average than the A300 CAP seat, in every month.

So, explain to me how 4A2b is designed "to keep FedExs longest serving pilots happiest"? Surely, you know that A300 Capts at FDX are senior to 757 pilots and A300 F/Os?

You really need to rethink your theory about the longest serving pilots hosing you.

 

On this thread...sure.

 

Busboy,

The A300 average was low and the big wigs were unhappy with it. But, as you can see in your numbers, that has almost been resolved by 4a2b excess training. Correction- 757 crewmembers are not very senior.

ALPA dues generated in 4a2b has not changed. What does that tell YOU?

 

It is possible, however they are trying to avoid it if at all possible without it costing them dearly.

 

Last year more than 100 retired. Should be similar this year.

In order to furlough they would have to return to normal BLGs in the A300 and MD11 to avoid the coming vacancy bid. Surely you've seen the recent bid packs with their averages within 5% of normal even with reserves at record lows and vigorous open time pickup.

Or...

They could go to normal BLGs in the 727 and flush out a few at the bottom. But the 4a2b provision dictates they not do that in order to prevent or delay.


Someone is going to have to explain how a furlough makes sense instead of just saying it's still on the table for me to believe it. IMHO, it's not smart to put guys on the street in 2010, with a couple months furlough pay, just to call them back in 2011. Not only that, I think there is too much uncertainty about how this pilot group would react to a nuisance furlough to do it.