+1 I agree 100%

 

Let me clarify. I am not talking furloughs at all. We are in a growth phase.

We WILL be over staffed if they drop all of the planned LGA flying. Probably not going to happen. They want to be the leader in NYC and even with the slot swap as the DOT is suggesting leaves us as the leader by a long shot.

What it means for staffing is:
1) Do none of it, we are over staffed by a few hundred pilots, but that allows them to staff the international uptick. Still good for us.

2) Do what is suggested and we still are slightly over staffed, but no where near the level to suggest furloughs.

In the end the plan will have to change again. Like I stated, the deal took the cards too a few aces, and wants us to play it a little differently. How DAL responds will be played out in the next few weeks.

They are talking about the 2010 Flight Plan this week and it appears fairly robust. Here to hoping things go as planned this year.

As for JAL. It would have been great long term, but would have been a drain financially for the next few years. Short term I bet we see a lot of growth.

This talk of WARN letters makes sense if DAL wanted to get ugly and destroy all of the goodwill it has created over the last few years. Dumb IMO but anything is possible I guess.

 

If they have to give up slots, it may mean some upgauging. Either way there will be some shifting of what our needs are.

 

My question is that even if dal wanted to go ahead would usair want to give up lga and 33% of their new slots?

And is the DOT the real hang up here or is it strictly the FAA? Just read a long article on the TAG charter lynching the FAA pulled off a year or so ago. Probably the best charter/aircraft management firm in terms of quality product and they treated pilots real well and everything they did was approved by their fsdo and shown even by the FAA as to how to operate. But the FAA on DC shut them down cold while Not getting to the heart of their real issues with the lack of control over part 135 commercial (charter) flights. The government isn't there to help you, it's there to level the playing field as their short timers see fit.

 

I'd be curious to get Bar to weigh in on this but maybe the best way to shift flying back to mainline and significantly change course would be to make mainline just as liable as the outsourced regional. After watching Bethune get flustered last night on that documentary the more I began to wonder if that should be the strategy to shift flying back. Analogy time? We all like analogies, but think about how personally liable you are when your clueless 16 year old goes out and drives your car? Now get that kid to go do your errands in downtown rush hour, would you still allow them to go or would you rather do that driving yourself?

Its a thought.

You're very right Satch, between the UAV push in the USAF and the helicopter push in the Navy it seems like there will only be a trickle of guys coming out prior to hitting 20 years. Just listening to guys whose kids are or just recently completed training in both branches. Thats too bad.

 

Another example of the Government picking winners in a supposedly free market. Years ago they picked US Air, now they are picking GM over Toyota, Goldmann Sachs over Lehman Brothers, and Jet Blue over us. This is a result of government not believing in Capitalism and free markets. They pick winners based on their own self interests. Free Firest World Governments is supposed to provide a level fair playing field. What we have is a Third World Banana Republic.

 

What department is in charge of cow tipping? That's what you guys are really good at!

 

That and there are very few of us who are in this industry that are encouraging people to follow in our footsteps. I have four kids and I certainly will not encourage them to get involved in this profession. It will be interesting to see where guys are coming from in the next 10 years.

 

I agree Tuscaloser.

It makes you wonder, are we not lobbying enough? Has Delta not paid off enough people? Ever notice the best companies at lobbying are in the best shape? Microsoft was anti-lobbying until they got nailed as an abusive monopoly, now they lobby big from what I understand.

To me that is 100% bribery and extortion the likes of which are not allowed anywhere else in government. Reminds me of trying to get private jets in and out of Mexican customs. Add the DOT to the mix and you've got cronyism and I'm sure nepotism is in there somewhere.

Buzz? Care to add your expertise?

 

Dear Sir,
There is no such thing as cow tipping. Cows sleep lying down. They may nap standing up but if you think you can sneak up on one and push it over you've got another thing coming. They're herbi, herbavo, they eat grass and their own barf. We know this at Auburn. They're a bunch of them near campus... or on campus. But fwiw, they're not for petting nor is the eagle- she ain't tame.

Sir, sadly you have such a wrong impression of your rival. You probably think cow pattie frisbee toss is taught in class!? NO! How would we have Friday Night Cow Frisbee Games if we don't go to class on Friday??!! Think about it.

I will say this, worst thing I learned at Auburn came from a rancher that told me he gets his bull's semen tested there. So I had to ask a vet student how thats done. Glad I asked because it was a lot more civil then I initially thought.

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