What's happening at Horizon and Jets?
#1491
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 203
Right now we use line bid, so your days off are determined your line. Expect 2, rarely 3 days off in a row. Min days off for reserve is 11, or 12 in a 31 day bid. They schedule you for min days off, and sometimes schedule you into your days off.
When we switch to PBS next month, it is whatever PBS scheduler logic will let you get away with. They'll still try to schedule you into your days off.
#1494
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 82
I doubt it has to do with lack of pilots with how much money was invested in the Alaska operation I think it's just the Q400 reliability up there. I could be wrong though.
#1495
The q400 flying is being reduced by about 50% due to reliability. I'm not sure what you expect when your closest maintenance base is 1000 miles away but someone upstairs thought it would be a great idea. Not due to lack of pilots although I'm sure it didn't help.
#1496
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 79
Bagwan was his name by the pilots in 1984. Named after https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_R...oterror_attack
#1497
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Posts: 203
Flying up in AL was fine, but coverage down in the lower 48 was needed, so we all ended up with this turd sandwich. It's better than displacement... I guess?
Classes for E175 have been delayed due to a cockup with the sim. I'm sure that excuse is convenient since we still are having issues with staffing Q flying and Alaska air group doesn't want to wind down Q flying until next year (if that happens at all).
Seniority list has grown to approx. 635 warm bodies. We're still short since this time last year. Reserves are still abused relentlessly. Junior manning still happens, and cold-calls on days off are still in effect.
#1498
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Posts: 61
Rumor is that the reliability, public reception of flying on a turboprop and not having QX maintenance were some of the biggest factors.
The contract only allows the company to do temporary duty assignments for pilots up to four months so the clock is ticking on what will happen to the base.
September is the month that three things could happen: They will either close the base entirely and not operate QX in AK anymore, reduce the base and only operate two Q400s until they make it an E175 base, or close the Q400 base in September then reopen the base in 2018 as a Jet base.
QX has no control of what will happen. AS marketing decides, then QX management reacts. From what Ive heard they want 10 jets in ANC by the end of 2018. AS needs a smaller jet operating in the state of AK soon to supplement the flying that the 737-4's and Combis do when they retire very soon. A 737-8 could do the flying but most of those routes would go half full and they needs those jets flying down south to keep up with their aggressive expansion.
The first Captain E175 class was just announced it has been delayed a week due to simulator challenges... The new E175 sim arrived at the Sea flight safety weeks ago and is currently being built. Most likely it is taking Flight safety longer than anticipated to build and they dont want to send people to St Louis. Not a surprise. Much cheaper to wait til the Sea sim is operational. Could also be staffing and they need those Captains flying a little longer.
#1499
Per urgent union communication: The company has officially threatened to give Skywest all future E175s if we do not give in to their every demand by the end of this week (this is in regard to negotiating an LOA to our contract to change new hire pay/retention).
#1500
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 216
For anyone still thinking about coming to QX, keep in mind that this "staffing problem" is 100% the fault of Air Group and Horizon management being unable to see further than the next quarter into the future.
The 8 year contract that created this entire problem was something that Air Group was adamant they had to have in order to "commit to compete" during Shiny Jet negotiations, and that's exactly what they ended up getting.
Less than a month after that contract was signed, the industry standard for FO compensation had jumped to around $20-30k more than QX pays (although the trend was clear before the deal was signed), and management absolutely refuses to admit that this situation is anything but the fault of those darn greedy pilots.
The 8 year contract that created this entire problem was something that Air Group was adamant they had to have in order to "commit to compete" during Shiny Jet negotiations, and that's exactly what they ended up getting.
Less than a month after that contract was signed, the industry standard for FO compensation had jumped to around $20-30k more than QX pays (although the trend was clear before the deal was signed), and management absolutely refuses to admit that this situation is anything but the fault of those darn greedy pilots.
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