The problem is until then EV will need to downsize, and that will cost more money than C5 hiring as needed to upsize. And even if EV downsizes, their labor costs will still be leaps and bounds higher than ours because they're clearly top heavy.

We are definitely better positioned than EV for what UAL needs right now (we are low cost, small and adaptable), but since when does logic and reason govern this industry?

 

Why does everyone keep saying this? It's BS.

The total block hours combined between EV and C5 is less than what C5 was executing with its existing fleet pre-covid. We also over-hired on the FO side a year leading up to covid so we are overstaffed for that level of flying. The only thing we'll have to do is take the airplanes out of mothballs and go back to 4 leg days, but even if we do wind up needing more people there there won't be a labor shortage, that much is sure. And transferring aircraft to our cert is trivial at this point, since we've been doing that for the last few years.

C5 is more than capable of meeting any demand we might see in the next year.

 

We are all speculating here. My personal opinion is that UA wants cheap and C5 is cheap! The only saving grace for EV are all the bases, IAH in particular. UA asking "StayWest" to operate out of EWR is not good news for either EV our C5.

 

The first paragraph is exactly the reason why XJT concessions are not required.

 

i think the cost of the other EV groups besides pilots, is a disadvantage for EV... Some serious MX cost vs other airlines over there...

 

The industry needs to downsize, that much is obvious. But this is not the way.
This entire situation is standard anti-labor divide and concur, a Scott Kirby specialty (not that he is the only practitioner). It is an absolute travesty for everyone involved and most certainly not in keeping with Core 4. This is not how you treat professionals. No matter who 'wins,' everyone loses. As was mentioned earlier or in another thread this provides more proof that one should never consider a CPA / contract carrier as a career destination.
I will breathe a sigh of relief (I've been sending our resumes continuously to no avail) if I am saved by these developments or I will continue to plan to be furloughed on Oct 1 like I have since April. Either way, I am disgusted to be associated with any of this.
Like the last two downturns I've suffered though the career expectation damage is not evenly distributed. No pilots are 'winners' but some are far better off than others and it all seems to boil down to the random chance of which airline called first during the job hunt.
There has to be a better way.

 

No decision will be instantaneous, and I think 50% thinks EV has the edge and 50% think C5 has it. We will find out shortly. We aren't however talking about capability to fly the full schedules both had. We are talking about the capability to fly the reduced flying we have gotten. Different animals. Plus it doesn't mean the winner won't also get taken out back eventually anyway. I think it sucks it's a zero sum game. While I have a vested interest in C5-regardless of the decision, yay or nay, both sets of pilots get firm handshakes from me and no ill will, there are some good folks in both camps. It's not like this was either group asking for the fight.

 

Keep in mind that pilot contracts can be "re-negotiated" in times of crisis a la force majeure. I wonder if UAL transferring AX's 145's to EV is any indicator of which way UAL is leaning.

 

I agree, but EV pilot group will very unlikely "bent forward"!

 

Rinse, wash, repeat. Gotta take the long-term view.

Only way to avoid this kind of churn is to get out of the "kill zone" of the regionals as fast as possible, and hope there's no big downturn during your first 2-5 years at a major. Most of the not-so-junior major pilots are looking at somewhat reduced income for a year or three. Many are getting a year+ of mostly-paid vacation, some are pizzed that they weren't quite senior enough to hold it. Guys are still talking about buying boats, just maybe used boats now

If you do a 40-year career, the last 30 can be reasonably secure, if you hustle to move up the ladder early. I know easier said than done, but push hard and don't let any career opportunities pass.

Regional lifer? Better keep that side business or other job skill warm on the burner. If you plan or expect to be a lifer, do it at a big regional (they might get sold or change their names, but their seniority lists seem to stay mostly intact).