Hit it exactly. Looks like I'll have a bunch of free time on my hands before the end of the year. If there are no voluntary furloughs ahead of me I will be the second most senior in this furlough group (second to last to go). Started class early August '06.

I am kind of hoping for a furlough as I don't want to be hanging around at the bottom of what's left. Would make my planned career transition easier too; or it would at least give me a kick in the pants.

 

Wow! An outsourced carrier worried about...outsourcing.
This is classic.

Hold the line.

Hog

 

Tell me how Horizon is an outsourced carrier? Or maybe just define what an outsourced carrier is.

 

I don't think Alaska flew anything as small as a 70 seater (or 76 for that matter) at the time Alaska merged/aquired with Horizon or even for several years before that, other than maybe a 737 frieght / pax combi? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, so I can't see how anyone could say Horizon is outsourced flying? Besides the fact they are under the same company. I could see how you could get that if Air Group was sending 2-3 RJ's or Q400s on a 737 leg and growing QX in size and scope at the expense of AS for cheaper labor, but I don't see that happening either.

 

It seems to be quite the opposite. No new investment in QX just selling airplanes and shrinking while AS is expanding to new cities like STL and all over Hawaii.

 

Horizon is like the oil spill. Becoming a deadzone.

 

At least the assistant chief pilot staffing is staying intact.

 

I'm thinking it's really too bad I am bad at kissing ass and that I can't overlook the vomit flavor of the company kool aid. They have one hell of a scam going in that office.

Wish I could upgrade early, fly when I want, go home when I want and get paid to play games on my computer. Meanwhile being completely immune to the 'down- oops I mean right-sizing'.

 

You also have to get off on telling someone "NO, you can't have your days off...We don't have enough reserve coverage and I'm sure as hell not going to fly for you."

G.S is the only one that I respect.

 

Not worth the time or effort; however I will say that the comment about AS never flying anything as small as a 70 seater is disingenuous at best. Here' a better question: Did Horizon have the 700's when Alaska bought them?
The CRJ700 has been used to cripple the careers of mainline pilots. At my airline, you can fly across the continent from LAX to SAT to IAD, however, chances are it won't be on a mainline aircraft. I don't believe that that was the original intent of "feeder" or "regional" partners. The industry has changed, without a doubt. Regional gigs that were previously considered stepping stones are now careers. That's great. More power to you. But please don't try to sell the notion that an increase in CRJ700 flying by a feeder/regional does not have an effect on the flying done by the mainline partner. I'm living that reality.

If a Horizon CRJ700 has never flown a city pair, or a segment length that was previously flown by AS, then I stand corrected.

Sorry for the thread drift. Here's hoping the the Horizon pilots and their furloughees get what they deserve. And I say that sincerely.

Hog

I was also sincere when I wrote "hold the line." We don't need another Freedom Airlines event.