All of APC can only hope.

 

I don’t hold my breath for any of these big news announcements. Never have, never will.

 

At this point, I don't think we are speculating. I believe we are talking about and looking at the inevitable. GJ is on life support, the grim reaper is standing next to it and is getting impatient. United is paying money for a few more days of life support. United is trying to work out a deal for someone to take and keep the 550s going, we all seem to like riding on them but are they really economical to fly with the restrictions? If not, then they might be off to SW or Horizon to fly for Alaska who could up the certification weights. Maybe even AW. My advise to United is or GJ would be to up the certification weights to a point where they are economical even if the union won't budge. File in court for a declaratory judgment that nothing between United and ALPA is really changing but this change is needed to effectuate the agreement they previously agreed to. Hulas is out and maybe a 90 day transition for SW, Horizon, or AW to take the 550 and the pilots.

 

I can promise you Horizon will not be taking those jets. They can’t staff the flying they have and are actively retiring the dash 8’s while taking deliveries of new 175s. The only plausible taker for those 550’s would be SkyWest, Air Wisconsin or Mesa — who also can’t staff it’s current flying.

 

Does someone at GJ know how many 550’s are currently being flown and how many are parked. Also how many 700’s are waiting to be converted that are not being worked on. I live in STL so I could take a drive but just wondering.

 

Good luck with that 😂

 

Approximately 12 parked/being worked on. 7 in STL. 4 in Kingman. 1 in Newark. Rough numbers.

 

SkyWest already owns a third of the 550’s and are leasing them back to GoJet. They still don’t have the pilots to fly them.

Alaska doesn’t have any scope clause so if the planes flew for Alaska, they could be fitted up to max certification for the plane.

 

Alaska will have scope shortly.

 

I believe the scenario assumes that the current Gojet pilots will transfer with the planes and keep flying them. The acquiring airline will then add more pilots.
The pilot shortage is not going to last for long.