Sts Base!!
 

I wish STS was a base. . .

Maybe someone should start that rumor.

"the word is that QX will trade in ALL of the RJ's to Bombardier. Each RJ will get us another TWO Megawhackers. Yeah growth! /rumor"

As much as I enjoy flying the RJ. I would trade the jet for the growth. Some will bash me but I think would love to see us branch out. Knowing the conserativeness of AAG that won't happen. But I would really like to see that. Also, we would need 2 Megawhackers to make up for the ones that will break. If that would happen some of the senior captains would jump ship. I know of a few I have flown with recently that said they are not going to go through training again. Time will tell.

STS would be great...

But just think, once we get rid of the RJ's and start making huge profits, we might get TWO pizza's and TWO DVD's as next years christmas bonus!!! Sorry, the captains keep putting salt in my kool-aid.

For what it's worth, when I was at QX the same van driver told me that contractors were hard at work on the hangar door modifying it to admit a E190 tail. Turned out they were repairing storm damage.

Here's a rumor I've heard over here at Compass: AS has quietly put out an RFP for EMB flying and we've submitted a bid. I'm not gloating or flaming, I still have a lot of friends at QX and don't want to see their flying outsourced. Actually, given that they have the best contract remaining among the regionals, it's in none of our interests to see them underbid.

Yet you went to Compass (who does not have an industry leading contract.....), continuing the downward spiral.

I heard something similar from an Alaska capt. Figured it was just the rumor mill hard at work. A regional outsourcing flying is a ludicrous proposition.

Not necessarily.

I see this scenario happening. QX gets rid of the RJs. They go all Q400s. The jet pay scale disappears because there are no jets.

They find someone who is willing to fly Ejets for them.

Then, they sell Alaska Airlines out of the Air Group (SWA, CAL, AA or someone will buy it). Bill and the Boys get big bonuses that are specified in the annual report. They then buy some Ejets for QX, cancel the outsource and get a new jet rate set by an arbitrator.

They then rebuild the system using QX Q400s and Ejets.

Jeeez...isn't it a whole lot easier to just play business honestly, taking the moral high-road?? I guess some of us just aren't crooked enough for management :mad:

Um Dude....That's not salt..:eek:

I remember that one too....but I also remember him talkin bout Frontier before that happened. Like I said, just rumor.

This plan would be plausible if you were talking about some other airline, but this is the AAG. They have never in their history, as I know it, ever been this smart or aggressive.

So... hold the phone. You just said that the 51 props they have don't make money? :rolleyes:

It's all about the routes they fly...

;)

Where did he say that?

Pretty sure he was referring to the jets.

They certainly did not put out an RFP quietly!! They have repeated to us over and over they are studying the possibility of outsourcing to a third party. They even stated this in the 2007 Annual Report for shareholders. I know you wouldn't "gloat or flame," but please understand the 3rd party flying is NO SECRET. I'm guessing Compass is up against any company with a 90 seat jet.

They will study a third party deal, Horizon, and Alaska flying a 90 seat jet and make a decision, simple as that.

Maybe your rumor is just enough to soothe the Compass pilot's minds after realizing the red tail may no longer exist, even though I have no doubt a bid was submitted. After all, hasn't the shock of a quick upgrade into a "mainline looking jet" worn off for you guys?

..........disregard.
post 25, but I understand now


my bad

I would've chalked the rumor up to CPS management koolaid except it jives with what I know has been going on around QX the last few years. Also, I'm fully aware that QX management has been rather vocal in threatening EMB outsourcing, but the existence of an actual RFP, and other airlines already bidding on it, certainly isn't public knowledge.

I'll ignore your somewhat snide tone, I have no desire to make enemies among my former colleagues at QX.

There has not been a RFP put out yet just threats! Air Group do not want EMB jets reference Bill Ayer in his conference call in March, they want CRJ 900 aircraft as they have the lowest gallon consumption per passenger! Why would they contract with Compass anyway when your aircraft only seat a few more passengers than our CRJs, they want more passenger seats 90+.
I really don't think it is appropriate to be spreading rumors that will only add to the stress of an already stressed out and concerned pilot group. Should horizon loose the RJ flying and suffer a fleet reduction morale will go further down the tubes and there will almost certainly be a furlough there are a lot of good people here who have given 20+ years of service to this company and made many personal and professional sacrifices’. The rest of the regional airline industry should be supporting us at this time.

Fair enough. The jist of my post was not "Compass is gonna take your flying!" as I kinda doubt CPS would win any bid (brand new company still establishing flying for NW, doesn't fly E190s, Republic is much more experienced with contract flying)... rather, I was saying there may be an RFP actually out there so watch out. Trust me, I'd rather it not be true, hopefully it's simply a rumor and nothing more.

As far as it not being appropriate to spread rumors that will stress the pilot group...ok, in a way you're right, I'm essentially doing Gene's work for him. I'll shut up. Even if there is an RFP out there, the company isn't bound to choose a winning bid and it could be merely another scare tactic to try to get QX pilots into a concessionary mood.

Tomorrow will tell. Then everyone will take a breath relax and get a nice message. Or vomit will fly everwhere and the sky wil fall.

Just imagine the RJ captains back in the Q400, talk about grumpy. I was getting a line check with a checkairman in the jump yesterday and he is convinced that the RJs are gone. Simple as that.

Or better yet - RJ check airmen displaced into the 400. A few of those guys would need to get DHC-8 type ratings (since their QX careers went F-27 - F-28 - CRJ) Talk about grumpy!

If we're losing aircraft or furloughing, why are we hiring? Probably in anticipation of the mass exodus that should occur after the announcement of aircraft loss or furlough...
Then again, QX (and AAG) is totally reactionary in everything it does. We'll offer voluntary leave right up until there's a shortage and start hiring like crazy (which, for us is a class of 15), then repeat.

For those of us at the low end (less than 6 years in the right seat), the loss of the jets could be a good thing. The older guys will finally leave, the mid level guys will go elsewhere, and the lazy ones like me will move up faster (which, for us means upgrade in 5 years instead of 8).

We are still hiring because upper managment keeps even the lower guys in the dark about things to come. Its easy to cancel classes just ask every Major in the US.:rolleyes:

The exodus of senior guys might hold true, however, for the more junior captains who have just hit the 1000TPIC mark who were looking at going somewhere only a month ago, they might be stuck for just a few more years. In reality there really is not many places hiring.

My concern is going through a furlough but maybe people are just building this announcement up for no reason. For all we know it could have to do with the new Jones Soda of the month flavor!

I just spoke with the CP at Horizon 45 min ago. He said they have not told him what the announcement is. He said they havn't even told the VP of Ops. I asked him his opinion and it was not good at all. He said he thinks Horizon is looking at "substantial airframe reduction". (his words not, my interpretation) I put more stock in what he thinks than the Van Driver, or anyone else mentioned in this thread. Furloughs may be soon to come.

As to why Horizon is hiring? Well, a pilot in class can get furloughed just as easily as anyone else, so it means nothing.

Two 400's for every CRJ returned sounds like a pipedream at this point. But the CP's opinion is just that. So keep smokin' the pipe and maybe your pipedreams will come true. Meanwhile I'll be digging my pipe out of my sock drawer in preparation for my year leave.

...probably not good...
 

...i think it's gonna be bad...we shall see in the morning...

Check it in the am y'al
 

For the real answer in the morning. 830 pacific:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....ventID=1809379

Sounds like the hiring at QX might come to a screeching halt. From the AAG's quarterly earnings announcement:

"The company announced cost cuts and revenue enhancements that it hopes will boost full-year pretax income by about $150 million.

First, it said it would further reduce the size of the fleet at its regional Horizon Air subsidiary, which will result in "some job losses." It hopes to address those losses through attrition.

Also, within two years, Horizon Air will go from a fleet of 65 aircraft and three aircraft types to a fleet comprised of only larger, 76-seat Bombardier Inc Q400s, the company said."

As a former QX'er, hate to see that news. Anyone with more info know what the plan for eliminating the CRJ700 is?

How is Horizon for commuting out of San Diego area, if any one can tell me.

Calling for an all Q400 fleet within 18-24 months......

Thats smart cause those are the planes everyone should be flyin these days

Vomit......

^ At least you can be Seattle based......