Phteven

I was referring to the Deadhorse runs where I understand it's regularly a problem to land with it below -36 (below the APU crank temp).

Not sure, maybe just separating pax and cargo more and just running freighters?

alaskadrifter

In SCC Ravn puts space heater hoses in the cabin and uses a GPU for starting at all out stations for the Dash. I don't believe they have APUs though.

Just seems like there is no good replacement for the combi.

cactusflyer

Alaska is converting three of their -700's to freighters to replace the combis in 2017, and I think the idea is that the freighters will fly only as needed, while the passenger 737's (and maybe some Q400's) will run regularly scheduled service.

alaskadrifter

So will Alaska's 737 ANC base be sharply reduced?

Wilson03

Have there been any news updates? It is sounding like nothing really until early 2016, correct?

snackysmores

"Early 2016" was mentioned by CEO. Union was about to release negotiation details but the company begged them not to and went back to the table. Haven't heard anything since.

Phteven

Nothing new in the past ten days. Just the same zero-sum game with both sides hoping the other will flinch before the inevitable point when an announcement must be made. At this point, things will get pretty interesting if we don't vote in the first thing that is offered.

snackysmores

Can't wait until a TA is put in front of us with PBS on it. Won't be able to mash the 'NO' button hard enough.

Phteven

The last union email said the three main topics being negotiated are "scope, scheduling, and duration." I'm trying to think how they might concoct something with any chance of passing that sweetens the deal enough to be able to include PBS. The company must know that not enough people here are fearful of shrinking to give the "concessions or die" argument enough weight. Could they spring SSP on us or something to get the junior folks on board with PBS?

snackysmores

The company knows if we don't get these 8 jets it's all over. We will lose 17 planes at the end of 2017, all the junior FO's will quit because they know they're getting furloughed anyway. Junior CAs will quit before they get displaced back to FO, might as well go build seniority somewhere else.

Our on time performance will drop down to 5-10%, the ship will burn and it will burn well, taking Alaska's stock price with it as 40% of their feed is destroyed with no one to replace the flying. Skywest can't take it because their pilots are already maxed out with 95 hour lines.

Alaska will lose its brand loyalty as all the ****ed off residents in the outstations are forced to make the 2-3 hours drive to Seattle, why stay with Alaska when Delta is cheaper.

The company knows all of this, they aren't stupid. They will still play their cat and mouse bullsh*t with us just to spite us though. Man, Brad Tilden must hate our guts.