250 or point 65

Unless you live under a rock. Ever pilot that goes to GJ has to rationalize their decision to go there. Most everything argument for going to GJ is a rationalization...which may or may not be rational.

Blueskies21

LOL, that's awesome. I've said it before too, if it was WRONG in 2005 it's still WRONG in 2009 the time frame doesn't really matter. And for the record, until we start doing things because they're RIGHT and not because if we don't someone else will.... we're all screwed and we probably should be.

NeedAJob

In 2005 there were still employment options available for pilots out of work. In 2005 TSA and ALPA were still waiting on a ruling from the NMB concerning their single carrier grievance against GoJet. In 2005 GoJet wasn't represented by a union. In 2005 United pilots, ATA pilots, Airborne Express pilots, Astar pilots, Midwest pilots, AirTran pilots, and others weren't going to GoJet. In 2005 GoJet consisted of primarily TSA pilots not loyal to ALPA (aka TSA's MEC), furloughed American pilots, and long term Eagle FOs looking for PIC time. In 2005 those pilots made a questionable decision and took a big risk.

In 2009 GoJet is nearly the only domestic show in town for pilots out of work. In 2009 TSA and ALPA have lost their single carrier grievance against GoJet. In 2009 there are no legal actions being taken against GoJet by anyone. In 2009 GoJet is represented by the Teamsters local 618. In 2009 furloughed United pilots, furloughed ATA pilots, furloughed Airborne Express pilots, furloughed Astar pilots, furloughed Midwest pilots, furloughed AirTran pilots, and many others are finding temporary (hopefully) employment at GoJet until the industry turns around. In 2009 most of those pilots that started GoJet and took the gamble won. They moved on to a variety of places bigger and better than GoJet.

I just thought those things should be pointed out. The world we live in today is very different than the world we lived in back in 2005, or 1995, or 1985 for that matter. We grow smarter daily and learn to adapt, or we end up like the dinosaurs...extinct. That's what makes us different.

250 or point 65

An entire post worth of rationalization.

NeedAJob

Thank you. I do consider myself a rational person.

You asked Why do I think GoJet is the only domestic show in town. Then you attempt to educate me by letting me know that there are thousands on the street. Well...I'm one of them, but I was truly unaware that the industry was having problems thanks for pointing that out.

"Garbage men and the like, not a pilot union", you say. Is collecting trash not honorable work? I suppose that labor is not worthy of union representation; certainly it's beneath me...right? You're too good for those garbage men, you're a big shot elite regional pilot. I don't give two hoots who the Teamsters 618 represents collectively. Airborne Express was a part of the Teamsters 1224, who also represented others aside from pilots. The 1224 earned us at ABEX the finest contract in the industry, hands down.

I can't help but say that there IS A LARGE difference in being furloughed from a major over a regional having experienced both. Years ago when I was furloughed from the regionals I made 30 something an hour. When I was recently furloughed from the majors I was making 107 an hour. I suppose a 72% percent pay difference is only slight by your arithmetic.

What a hopeless crowd. Over and out.

laserman2431

According to your definition, every regional pilot who flies a route formerly flown by a major airline pilot is a scab because he/she is working for less than union wages or on nonunion terms. In fact, you are saying that YOU are a scab.

CaptKrunch

I can't believe people haven't figured out that anything that goes against what 250 or point 65 says is a rationalization so just stop talking at him.

RJSAviator76

This is like arguing with a brick wall - doesn't get anywhere, especially considering that you don't even take into account or are willing to acknowledge differences between 2005 and 2009, first GoJet guys (TSA guys jumping ship) and 2009 hires.

GoJet is bad, but Republic is good. GoJet is bad, but Mesaba is good. Got it!

Mainline furloughs a thousand pilots, it's their fault, not yours, right? Rationalization? Pot meet kettle....

NightIP

Don't worry about it. Here's what all of these GoJet threads end up looking like in the end: YouTube - family guy - NO!! NO!! EEHH!! EEHH!

RJSAviator76

The difference is huge. Yet, you cannot seem to grasp it. I think GoJet is CURRENTLY about as union busting to you as Mesa Airlines was to me. It was Mesa's stated goal to put Aloha under. Here's a small sample of the flurry of news about this:

Google Finance: Mesa Air Group, Inc.

Now... this was enabled by my fellow ALPA brothers and sisters... yet, somehow I fail to blame them directly, but place the blame where it belongs - unethical management. But that's beside the point...

I can also accuse you and every other regional jet pilot of being WORSE than scabs because you're flying multimillion dollar jets for literally what I made collecting unemployment. But then again, that'd be a pure BS emotional rant just like yours is about GoJet.

Now, as for you educating me on "union jumpseats", please don't make me laugh. You're only showing your own maturity, or rather lack thereof. You're also making your fellow Trans States Airlines pilots look like a bunch of emotional whiny drama queens, and I know for a fact that's not the case - all of my friends at Trans States who are either senior captains there right now or alumni, are all upstanding individuals with whom I discussed GoJet probably before you even got into this industry. So please, do yourself a favor, stop making your fellow TSA pilots look bad. But since you brought up "union jumpseats", may I ask you what you've done for ALPA (sorry, this immature ranting of yours on all aviation message boards doesn't count)? How much have you paid in dues over the span of your career to ALPA? Have you volunteered for any ALPA work?

Now, on the other hand, I was involved and volunteered on five different committees including jumpseat committee right after 9/11 and two ALPA projects with my last 2 ALPA carriers. Now...who are you to tell me about "union jumpseat"? Easy now, don't hurt yourself...