Originally Posted by johnso29 (Post 916300)

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 916505)

Bucking, are 757's only see about 1000 cycles a year. Based on 50,000 cycles they have a lot of life left in them. I am leaving for vacation but some of your numbers are off. The cost to operate a 737-800 as a example was 30 percent less then a 757 for Delta just 2 years ago on a per flight basis with only 23 fewer seats.
I think your trying to make a point that there will be a giant scope battle on the next contract. I think scope will turn out to be a non event on the next contract. Management will not even push for increases. The big battle in scope will be can we take backthe 76 seat flying and will it make sense for total jobs at the mainline to do that. Management may open for 100 seats on scope but they will throw it out early.

Originally Posted by scambo1 (Post 916514)

One comment, since we are really just heavy equipment operators: The standard cost scale for a piece of heavy equipment like a backhoe or track loader is 1/1000 of the purchase price plus the cost of the operator - per hour, typically with a 4 hour minimum. for a $100,000 trackhoe, that's ($100+$35)x4 (minimum). Airline managements wettest dream would be to have a ROI like that.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar (Post 916464)

Not to engage in thread creep, but I'm curious if UAL's take on a NSL has changed with the better chances of success as a result of their merger?

IMHO, a NSL it's a terrible idea, but parts of the platform are useful. Particularly if focused within the brand, or system. One hole in our scope is that we allow one part of "Delta" to hire while another part furloughs. A bridge that preserves seniority and longevity would be best built on the foundation of a common list.

I would also like to see ALPA require that outsourcing agreements be flown by ALPA members. Phase them in with contract expiration, so Republic and SkyWest have a couple years to organize. Then our MEC Chair, I mean, National's President has ratification authority on their contract. Start building the economic foundation under us.

Those are the kinds of ideas that I mean when I state "play defensively." That way, during a downturn pilots keep their Delta jobs and the company has less opportunity to restructure to the trendy flavor of the day.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 916505)

Bucking, are 757's only see about 1000 cycles a year. Based on 50,000 cycles they have a lot of life left in them. I am leaving for vacation but some of your numbers are off. The cost to operate a 737-800 as a example was 30 percent less then a 757 for Delta just 2 years ago on a per flight basis with only 23 fewer seats.
I think your trying to make a point that there will be a giant scope battle on the next contract. I think scope will turn out to be a non event on the next contract. Management will not even push for increases. The big battle in scope will be can we take backthe 76 seat flying and will it make sense for total jobs at the mainline to do that. Management may open for 100 seats on scope but they will throw it out early.

Originally Posted by CVG767A (Post 916515)

A mistake by a backhoe operator rarely becomes the lead story on CNN, and rarely results in loss of life. Rarely does an error in judgment by a backhoe operator cause a monetary loss big enough to bankrupt a company. The only thing we have in common with heavy equipment operators is, well, the weight of our equipment.