The renegotiated CPA with Pinnacle, although in effect until 2022, reportedly inserted a clause that allows for its early cancellation if the leases on those airplanes are terminated. That would seem to indicate Pinnacle's CRJ operation will be gone if Bombardier agrees to eat those leases in exchange for CRJ9 orders (Embraer could just as easily assume CRJ leases for a E175 order, I suppose).

So yeah, that takes you down to 199 50-seaters. Subtract Comair's 16 remaining CRJ2s and the 24 Chautauqua E145s (short term contract) and you're at 159 airframes. They'll easily convince Jerry Atkin to give up 34 CRJ2s in exchange for maybe 20 CRJ9s, and that leaves 50 jumbo RJs to pimp out to the cheapest bidder - perhaps even a newly lean Pinnacle Airlines fresh out of BK.

The really interesting thing of all this is that most of it could easily be done, if the company were so inclined, without scope relief. Comair and Chautauqua airplanes can be parked without breaking CPAs or eating leases. Bombardier would gladly eat the Pinnacle CRJ leases in exchange for a C-series order, to be flown at mainline. That takes your 50-seaters down to 159. The company could solve its 50 seat problem without needing the pilots' help. In my opinion, needing the extra 76 seaters to be able to park 50 seaters is a red herring. Wanting to outsource more 76 seaters was the real impetus for the TA. The fact that these talks suddenly kicked into high gear as Pinnacle went into bankruptcy is not a coincidence, in my opinion.

In an alternate universe where Delta actually prefers to have its own pilots fly its passengers, here's how this goes down. Delta parks Comair and Chautauqua's birds, and gets Bombardier to take back Pinnacle's 144 CRJ2s in exchange for a 70-airframe C-series order to be flown at mainline. This reduces DCIs fleet count to 159+102+153= 414...with far fewer ASMs than present, and significantly less than under the TA. Mainline grows by 70 C-series plus 88 717s, offset by the remaining DC9s and some older 88s/757s. Mainline-DCI block hour ratios would be well over 2:1.

The possibilities are fascinating, if management wasn't hopelessly addicted to the outsourcing crackpipe (or if others would quit enabling them).

"You can't handle the Lifter!"

Oops, sorry. Wrong movie.:D

Jerry,

I guess you'll have to be mad at me too. I'm a no voter. There are too many holes (if I, as a non-lawyer, can find them then a lawyer can really poke some holes in some of this language. I have had to write and sign some contracts with/without lawyers and there are some amazing lessons to learn). If this passes, I won't be bitter and I will be praying for the upside (lots of retirements, positive AEs, lots of mainline growth, etc). Right now, if this is the best we can do given the economic state of DAL and their desire for a new contract then our business is in pretty sad shape (or our NC and MEC did a pretty poor job - my personal opinion).

Uh, yeah. We're the selfish ones. :rolleyes: Please.

Somehow I don't think a person like you needs a reason to look down at his fellow pilots.

Jerry, are you for real? You're going to take your ball and go home? How mature. I don't disagree with your perspective on the TA. I do, however, have a problem with your approach with your fellow pilots.

Not cool.

Quote:
Originally Posted by SailorJerry
Or guys realize they can take a three year "extension" now and be back at the table for nothing in 3 years with an extra $60,000 in their pocket and a DCI fleet that's hundreds of aircraft smaller. Do you think that the economic environment in 2015-2016 will be so much better that you can get 35/5/5/5? I'm gonna be if this thing doesn't pass because I'll look at every no voter like he selfishly stole my $60,000. And I want my $60,000. I just hope that when it does pass you all see the error in your ways and work on some unity rather than your current disingenuous behavior.


Jerry,

That may be a bit much. I'm a YES voter and I hope many see the light too, but I won't give them the "evil eye" if they vote it down. I will tell them I have bad "dry eyes" when they ask my why I am always crying, though.

Hopefully, unlike Jerry, we'll all be big boys and girls with whatever way this thing goes.

If this thing passes, I'm not going to whine or complain... just count the extra money and hope to God that the new scope section and work rules don't royally hose us in the coming years.

I kind of hope it doesn't pass just so I can watch Jerry hold his breath and stomp his feet. :D

You are going to be the best darn 717 FO based at LGA! (TIC) ;)

At least those sports team painted planes are finally going to be flying for the airline that actually flies the teams around!