Originally Posted by NuGuy (Post 1366653)

Exactly. As someone pointed out, GA "user fees" are already included in the form of fuel taxes. The more you fly, the more you pay. Simple. Elegant.

Do you really want to create another government agency to collect the new fees?

Nu

Originally Posted by NERD (Post 1366342)

Why are churches tax emempt, the priests/pastors income, property taxes? Are they not a business?

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 1366666)

No, they're not. Same reason that the ACLU, Media Matters, Ford Foundation, any number of other "community" service organizations are tax exempt also. Churches are "not for profit." Ergo, they are tax exempt.

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 1366666)

No, they're not. Same reason that the ACLU, Media Matters, Ford Foundation, any number of other "community" service organizations are tax exempt also. Churches are "not for profit." Ergo, they are tax exempt.

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 1366666)

No, they're not. Same reason that the ACLU, Media Matters, Ford Foundation, any number of other "community" service organizations are tax exempt also. Churches are "not for profit." Ergo, they are tax exempt.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1366478)

Another issue in this bid is the DC-9. The pilots displaced off the nine can't really be used to fund the 717 flying since they start flying in Sep and the nines will be around at least through Feb of next year unless something changes. That is one of the reasons that flight ops wanted to hire 100 to 150 pilots this winter. They were not approved for funding the additional bodies. Adding those pilots would have really smoothed out the training flow. Now they face pilots displacing into the 717 and then bidding right out as we finally start to see significant upward movement with the block hour shift to the mainline. Carry the FO surplus a bit longer in existing aircraft while putting new hires into the 717 would really have simplified the training pipeline.
I think its a long shot at the moment but I understand that depending on the number of training events generate by this bid they might still consider a small summer hiring option to as I mentioned reduce training if they can sell it on a cost basis.

Originally Posted by TANSTAAFL (Post 1366688)

Most of those DTW DC9A's are still too junior to hold 320 let alone 73N. Smart money would be for them to open a 717 base in DTW on this bid as well, and train and bench them just like they will in ATL until aircraft show up. With 53 DC9 crews leaving and only 20 73N arriving many of those DC9 A's who want to remain in base could bid WB F/O, with resultant waterfall MD's. I keep hearing that because it's a 365 day bid that many will get DTW 717 on the subsequent bid and never train on the first MD, but that assumes they will delay training on all those aircraft they'll MD into as well as the resultant surpluses that trickle down. If that's the case why even bother and just not open the DTW 717 now? Seems like there is a more direct path to their desired end state, especially as pilots have not historically bid as predicted. A real monkey wrench in the 717 staffing would be if a bunch of DTW DC9 A's decided to MD to ATL and then take the move back when DTW opens.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1366677)

Churches not for profit! Now that is funny!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1366708)

If they train and bench the DC9 guys now who flies the nines until they leave?