New Envoy Information
07-20-2016, 07:42 AM
#4062
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2016
Position: E175
Posts: 686
July 17, 2016 MEC NewsBlast
07-17-2016, 01:09 PM
MEC Update
Commentary on August Schedules
It’s no secret that the schedules system wide for August are atrocious. In my 9-year career spanning two airlines, eight domiciles, and four aircraft types, I have never seen the schedules actually get worse in the middle of the summer. To say this is unprecedented in the history of this airline is an understatement. Many pilots have been reaching out to the MEC and various volunteers with the same question that has been persistently echoed for the last 2 years.
“When will it get better?”
The truth is, we simply do not know. I will not lie to any one of you and say that next month will hopefully be an improvement. Normally, with the summer schedule coming to an end on August 21st, one would expect changes (for better or worse) as the slower fall schedule sets in, but with AAG requesting Envoy cover for other carriers and operate at full throttle continuously, I can only assume that the schedules will continue in present fashion into the foreseeable future.
So what now?
The MEC and its Scheduling Committee are leaving no stone unturned in an effort to improve the quality of life for the pilots. As Scheduling Committee Chairman Jeff Cortez is forced to highlight every month, the flight files given to us from AAG are not conducive to success. AA is scheduling and running their regional operation like it is 2006, and not 2016. It is long past time for AA to wake up and realize that if this continues, Envoy and the other wholly owned carriers will continue falling short.
Worse,
Pilots talk to each other. Our prospective First Officers are better connected today than any pilots in the history of the airline industry. Many of these fledgling professional pilots know each other via social media, college, networking, or previous employment. These applicants share stories and swap information in a collective effort to find the best possible place to work. “How is Envoy? What’s the upgrade time like? How long until you hold a line? What’s life on reserve like?” are just some of the common discussion points amongst new hires. How well does AA and Envoy management think our airline stacks up when these questions are asked by pilots also interviewing at SkyWest, Endeavor, Republic, or any carrier with more favorable answers? It’s no secret we are industry lagging in almost every one of these metrics.
The remainder of 2016 will be critical for Envoy. There are 15,000 employees whose livelihoods depend on savvy management from Centreport and Regent Boulevard. Moving forward, the new reality for the fee for departure carriers will take a level of forward thinking not often seen in our industry. Some airlines are beginning to move forward with what they believe to be a successful strategy for navigating this turmoil. Others are perpetuating the managerial missteps that have brought nearly all fee for departure carriers to the brink of an unstoppable staffing nightmare.
At this point, all your MEC can do is continue to offer ideas and contractual improvements that we believe will position our carrier for success. Our Negotiating Committee has brought forward proposals and ideas to management in an effort to bring compensation to industry average, fix reserve, stop attrition, increase hiring, and set Envoy on a path towards success. Our negotiators have more proposals ready for discussion with the Company should they chose to engage.
We will continue to keep the Envoy pilots as informed as possible.
07-17-2016, 01:09 PM
MEC Update
Commentary on August Schedules
It’s no secret that the schedules system wide for August are atrocious. In my 9-year career spanning two airlines, eight domiciles, and four aircraft types, I have never seen the schedules actually get worse in the middle of the summer. To say this is unprecedented in the history of this airline is an understatement. Many pilots have been reaching out to the MEC and various volunteers with the same question that has been persistently echoed for the last 2 years.
“When will it get better?”
The truth is, we simply do not know. I will not lie to any one of you and say that next month will hopefully be an improvement. Normally, with the summer schedule coming to an end on August 21st, one would expect changes (for better or worse) as the slower fall schedule sets in, but with AAG requesting Envoy cover for other carriers and operate at full throttle continuously, I can only assume that the schedules will continue in present fashion into the foreseeable future.
So what now?
The MEC and its Scheduling Committee are leaving no stone unturned in an effort to improve the quality of life for the pilots. As Scheduling Committee Chairman Jeff Cortez is forced to highlight every month, the flight files given to us from AAG are not conducive to success. AA is scheduling and running their regional operation like it is 2006, and not 2016. It is long past time for AA to wake up and realize that if this continues, Envoy and the other wholly owned carriers will continue falling short.
Worse,
Pilots talk to each other. Our prospective First Officers are better connected today than any pilots in the history of the airline industry. Many of these fledgling professional pilots know each other via social media, college, networking, or previous employment. These applicants share stories and swap information in a collective effort to find the best possible place to work. “How is Envoy? What’s the upgrade time like? How long until you hold a line? What’s life on reserve like?” are just some of the common discussion points amongst new hires. How well does AA and Envoy management think our airline stacks up when these questions are asked by pilots also interviewing at SkyWest, Endeavor, Republic, or any carrier with more favorable answers? It’s no secret we are industry lagging in almost every one of these metrics.
The remainder of 2016 will be critical for Envoy. There are 15,000 employees whose livelihoods depend on savvy management from Centreport and Regent Boulevard. Moving forward, the new reality for the fee for departure carriers will take a level of forward thinking not often seen in our industry. Some airlines are beginning to move forward with what they believe to be a successful strategy for navigating this turmoil. Others are perpetuating the managerial missteps that have brought nearly all fee for departure carriers to the brink of an unstoppable staffing nightmare.
At this point, all your MEC can do is continue to offer ideas and contractual improvements that we believe will position our carrier for success. Our Negotiating Committee has brought forward proposals and ideas to management in an effort to bring compensation to industry average, fix reserve, stop attrition, increase hiring, and set Envoy on a path towards success. Our negotiators have more proposals ready for discussion with the Company should they chose to engage.
We will continue to keep the Envoy pilots as informed as possible.
07-20-2016, 07:48 AM
#4063
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 501
Originally Posted by cr700
Yes, a model student. Because of his attitude. It's readily apparent that he views Envoy as a place that has a few problems. However, the benefits far outweigh any negatives here. He will be sitting in an AA cockpit soon while people like ag386 on the outside are desperately trying to get hired at any legacy. I find your posts nothing more than the bitter musings of an old man. One who slipped through to AA when you know you never would have been hired off the street. Why don't you take your negativity elsewhere and let this thread be productive for Envoy pilots and those looking for a career at Envoy/AA.
Only a person who doesn't actually fly the line and live it day after day would agree with his upbeat attitude. Let me guess, we should all be so happy? Please.
Why don't you have your fellow cohorts to stop shorting pilots on pay. Why don't you have them start honoring the contract we bargained in good faith. Why don't you tell them to stop criticizing pilots for doing what's safe instead of what's convenient to the corporation? Why don't you have them actually improve this operation instead of "just getting us through". Why don't you have them start treating their pilots like an asset and not a 100% liability. I am a captain here and I have seen so much negative impacts on my morale in the last year than my 10 year existence. Your post is my exact point and thank you for proving it. RAH, RAH, RAH! Go Envoy Go!
07-20-2016, 08:35 AM
#4064
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 569
Another ray of sunshine from our Union on the state of our schedules.
We wish we had better news, but it looks like August is going to be another tough month. Envoy has stopped taking additional flying because of our current staffing situation. The airline simply cannot retain or hire a large enough quantity of pilots. In our discussions with Company officials, the current outlook is for this staffing crunch to continue through the end of 2016.
The flight file we got for August is bad, to say the least. We have 98% staged overnights. So the midday turns are being flown by the crews that are going into or coming out of an overnight. This leaves very few midday turns left over to build anything other than four day trips. This is especially hurtful to pilots with overnights that leave the outstation very late in the day. Below is an explanation of what solutions have been run in an effort to improve this.
August’s flight file allows for 4 different possibilities when running solutions:
1. Limiting the number of 2/3 days
2. Restricting 4 days and asking for 2 and 3 days
3. No restriction on pairing length
4. No CDOs
Of the 4 possibilities, the best option is #3. It gave us the highest block per day, highest pairing average, and the least number of lines with the highest line value. This solution is largely 4 day trips (mainly in DFW), but should allow for most lines to have 3 days off in between sequences. Option number 3 allows for a higher line average which should result in more days off than the other options.
The Scheduling Committee is simply unable to improve upon the Company’s results due to the incredibly poor flight schedule provided to Envoy by AAG.
There is some good news, as at the very least we were able to get commutability up a little higher than in July.
Jeff Cortez
Envoy Scheduling Committee Chairman
We wish we had better news, but it looks like August is going to be another tough month. Envoy has stopped taking additional flying because of our current staffing situation. The airline simply cannot retain or hire a large enough quantity of pilots. In our discussions with Company officials, the current outlook is for this staffing crunch to continue through the end of 2016.
The flight file we got for August is bad, to say the least. We have 98% staged overnights. So the midday turns are being flown by the crews that are going into or coming out of an overnight. This leaves very few midday turns left over to build anything other than four day trips. This is especially hurtful to pilots with overnights that leave the outstation very late in the day. Below is an explanation of what solutions have been run in an effort to improve this.
August’s flight file allows for 4 different possibilities when running solutions:
1. Limiting the number of 2/3 days
2. Restricting 4 days and asking for 2 and 3 days
3. No restriction on pairing length
4. No CDOs
Of the 4 possibilities, the best option is #3. It gave us the highest block per day, highest pairing average, and the least number of lines with the highest line value. This solution is largely 4 day trips (mainly in DFW), but should allow for most lines to have 3 days off in between sequences. Option number 3 allows for a higher line average which should result in more days off than the other options.
The Scheduling Committee is simply unable to improve upon the Company’s results due to the incredibly poor flight schedule provided to Envoy by AAG.
There is some good news, as at the very least we were able to get commutability up a little higher than in July.
Jeff Cortez
Envoy Scheduling Committee Chairman
07-20-2016, 08:40 AM
#4065
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2014
Posts: 569
Originally Posted by E175 Driver
Will be holding a line in september and only been with the company 3 months!
To all the future new hires, make sure you select the E175 if possible!
To all the future new hires, make sure you select the E175 if possible!
07-20-2016, 09:42 AM
#4066
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2015
Posts: 540
Originally Posted by cr700
Yes, a model student. Because of his attitude. It's readily apparent that he views Envoy as a place that has a few problems. However, the benefits far outweigh any negatives here. He will be sitting in an AA cockpit soon while people like ag386 on the outside are desperately trying to get hired at any legacy. I find your posts nothing more than the bitter musings of an old man. One who slipped through to AA when you know you never would have been hired off the street. Why don't you take your negativity elsewhere and let this thread be productive for Envoy pilots and those looking for a career at Envoy/AA.
07-20-2016, 10:40 AM
#4069
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Position: Feito no Brasil, CA
Posts: 833
New Envoy Information
Originally Posted by eaglefly
So you're assuming. I see.
...
I realize this angers some there though as of course by the admission of many of you, the goal of working at Envoy is to hopefully NOT work there ASAP. If that weren't the goal, the flow wouldn't be the carrot and IMO, Envoy would stand on its OWN career merits like its predecessor Eagle used to as a career-oriented company.
...
I realize this angers some there though as of course by the admission of many of you, the goal of working at Envoy is to hopefully NOT work there ASAP. If that weren't the goal, the flow wouldn't be the carrot and IMO, Envoy would stand on its OWN career merits like its predecessor Eagle used to as a career-oriented company.
And you're assuming your version of everything is authoritative.
That's the difference. I assume everyone has the capability to do their own due diligence and ask the hard questions. They can make their own career decisions. Negative information has its place. However, you seem to assume they're idiots and need to be belittled for thinking differently than you. They also apparently need to be actively dissuaded from applying here.
I also see no denial from 386 regarding his current employer, again silence tells a lot. Regardless, my opinion on his actions here remain unchanged.
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