Thats the gist of it right there. In fact, the way I hear it, CHQ was NOT cheaper than XJT because of all the startup costs. But it accomplishes CAL's goal of diversifying their regional feed, just like with Colgan and the Q400s and the Q200s at Commutair. If you're the conspiracy-theory type, you might also wonder if CAL went with RAH in order to have someone with their foot in the door to fly 170s with a globe on the tail. I know, I know, scope. But CAL is in contract negotiations right now and its possible management is hoping to get rid of scope and get 70 seat jet flying at a regional carrier.

CAL diversified BECAUSE RAH was cheaper. Do you think CAL is paying more now that RAH is doing their flying?

Do you have any proof for that accusation, or are you simply considering crew costs?

Look I know what happened you are shooting off the hip here big guy. Relax a bit would ya. It sucks I know but in the end if you want to be bent at someone get bent on momma CAL, they are the ones that peed in the XJT cheerios. If you diddnt know already CHQ is pulling planes out of CAL service this year and next does that mean they werent cheap enough?

I'll start over since this is getting blown way out of proportion.

I do not hold ill-will to the pilots at RAH. I am just trying to point out how a very good pilot group at XJT is getting swindled out their jobs because CAL found a cheaper way to do it. This is not the pilots fault at RAH, this is mostly CAL and RAH management taking advantage of a cheaper contract at RAH to get rid of a more expensive contract at XJT.

You guys are acting like I don't know this industry, because I am new. I turned down a couple regionals to go to XJT.

If we don't recognize this, it will just get worse. I feel bad for the guys at Eagle because American is going to try and do the same thing to the Eagle guys that CAL did to the XJT guys. Get rid of your expensive regional and slowly suck away their flying to cheaper operations to save another buck or two.

Stop telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. I'm very informed on the economics of this, it seems like some people just want to ignore what is happening here.

As for my job I'm not worried. I think attrition will run its course, and if I some how get furloughed, I have other jobs lined up I can make more money at, so I am fine. I worry about my friends here that have kids and no degree, they will be the ones hurt, at least show sympathy to them.

It probably had something to do with cost but it had more to do with diversifying. Either way good luck

So you think CAL owes XJET jobs?

How are you informed on the economics of this? If you were "informed" of the economics, you wouldn't be so defensive...It's business. It's a capitalist economy. XJET (and Eagle) are not owed anything.

The by-product of a successful pilot contract is that if you have industry leading pay - someone else is working for less.

Now, think about that in the context of pay for departure agreements. Regional labor getting whipsawed and you attack each other? Amazing.

Pattern collective bargaining only works when the bottom labor groups leapfrog each other to set a new high mark that raises the average pay. As the industry enters another down cycle, forums like this one can (for the first time) provide transparency of issues in near real time across company boundaries.

The industry is primed to real ugly, real fast. The question is to we fight each other over marketing agreements which line pilots have little or no control. Or, do we collectively support each other in the pattern bargaining process?

For those pilots about to endure your first economic down cycle, get ready, it's eye-watering. It's doubly so when your fighting fellow line pilots (regardless of the uniform).

And people ask why we don't have political or religion forums here :D

Who lost their job? I don't know of anyone here at XJT who lost their job because of CAL's contract with RAH. I mean, I don't spend a lot of time lurking around the crew room or toking on the crackpipe so maybe I'm out of the loop but I don't know of anyone who's lost their job here.

If having turned down a "couple regionals to go to XJT" are your credentials I would stop while you're...not so far behind. As a fellow Jetstinker, I would ask you to tone it down a little bit, especially with the half-cocked attacks on other pilot groups and other forum members. You're basing your arguments on a lot of incorrect facts and partial truths. Remember, unless the airplane you're flying has the Colgate green on it the flying you are doing is not OURS. It is DAL's or CAL's. No reason to go flying off the handle. It is just business and I for one, will continue to do my job in the best way I know how and treat my brothers and sisters at other airlines with respect (unless I smell a GoJet). I would recommend you do the same. The sky is NOT falling...just hold on and hope for the best.

I guess that have come off a little different than I intended. In a weird and round about way, when XJT is shrinking because of RAH or anyone else growing, than in a sense "someone" loses a job at XJT. I guess you could think it as the guys we currently have in the hiring pool that have passed on RAH for months now, will more than likely have to wait at least 4-6 more months before they "may" be given a chance to start training.

My buddy wanted XJT badly, moved to IAH and worked his butt off to get in. He got interviews at RAH and XJT. Unfortunately the company he really wanted to work for is bleeding, because of lost flying, and he had to make the decision to go to RAH. I don't blame him, it's out of his control.

I find it funny that people think I am whining about losing flying here at XJT. I'm fine, I don't think my job is in jeopardy, I'm just worried with the way a really good company such as XJT is getting sacked for treating us decently. While there is nothing us pilots can do about it, the least you can do is to not bash me for pointing this out.

I can only pray RAH goes through contract negotiations and gets at least 10% higher pay than us at XJT, so we can do the same for our next round. Otherwise XJT will continue to bleed and we will have to give up concessions which will just reverse this trend in a negative way for everyone else.

By the way, I vote Republican, proud to have voted twice for Bush, and will continue to do so and no it has absolutely nothing to do with his views on faith or abortion (none of which drove me to vote for him). Just want to make that clear so no one thinks I am a bleeding heart liberal who thinks only for myself and complains about why life isn't fair. I will accept hardships and just find another way to fight for a way to make a living on my own. Its the only way I can live every day knowing I didn't have to take the easy way.