snackysmores

"Dave’s Check-in
Sept. 27, 2017

Horizon Air story in Sunday’s Seattle Times


Horizon Team:

As early as tomorrow morning, we expect to see a story online that will appear on the front page of Sunday’s Seattle Times. The story will be a feature on the pilot shortage and its effect on Horizon’s operations.

Both Captain John Hornibrook and I were interviewed for the story as were some of our pilots. Overall, we expect the story to tell readers why there is a shortage of pilots and what’s ahead for Horizon.

I’ll be honest, I think it’s going to be difficult to read, but participating in this story was the right thing to do as we confront the facts of our current situation – which we’ve not done a good job communicating to our guests and to you.

I will also tell you that while the pilot shortage is real, I own the fact that we’ve been unable to fly the schedule. We did not anticipate or prepare for the pilot attrition we’re now facing, and I apologize for the impacts this has had on our guests and you.

The good news is that over the past few weeks, the new leaders who have joined us have made tremendous strides to fundamentally fix how we run our airline – from making changes to the schedule so we can have some breathing room, to implementing new analytical tools for predicting resources needed, to doubling down on pilot recruiting, and especially training, so we can get pilots into the flight deck faster.

Looking ahead, you will be seeing a lot more of me and my leadership team, and hearing from us more often. Tomorrow morning, there will be communications on OYH outlining our recovery plan. And in the following days and weeks, we will have even more specifics on what we’re doing to recover and re-build the airline.

Also, on Friday afternoon, there will be a Town Hall that we will webcast out to everyone in the system at both Horizon and Alaska. In addition to me and my leadership team, we will have Brad Tilden join us, as well as a few other leaders from Alaska.

In the meantime, and very importantly, we can’t lose sight of our number one job and most important goal – safety. With so much going on, we risk being distracted, so I am asking that we all be even more vigilant about ensuring the safety of our guests and each other. Ready. SAFE. Go. is our ever-present reminder that nothing is more important, and we are all empowered to stop the operation if we see something that might not be safe.

Thank you for your patience as we recover and rebuild Horizon. I know it’s been a challenging time, and there’s still more to go, but I feel more confident than ever that this effort will help us become a stronger airline that can be poised for growth in the future.

I hope to see you out in the operation soon"



Also: Chief Pilot being replaced as of Oct 13.

SIUav8er

More bloviating from DC and management. As if torpedoing the chief pilots office will solve anything! Instead of more managment inbreeding and analyzing, how about they put a stop to contract violations? Why hasnt the company worked with the IBT to come up with more solutions?

People are leaving because this airline has become a terrible place to work. I have 12 pilots below me at a small outstation base and I am yet again sitting reserve while the company guts the flight schedule. It seems the solution managment has devised is to reduce the schedule so that half the pilots are on reserve. Being on reserve at QX is quite possibly the worst position one can be in at any 121 carrier in the US.

SIUav8er

I am going to say no to this. While Alaska does keep an eye on people at QX, if you cancel your class date here, I highly doubt that will have any impact of being hired at AS if thats where you want to be. They are having thier own recruiting problems and the only reason so many QX pilots end up there is because they make up a huge amount of qualified applicants to AS

CurseURedBaron

Is that right? The new hires (at least this new hire) has been led to believe that Alaska is still harder to get into than NASA...

SIUav8er

maybe they like to think so. but AS is near the bottom as far as pay. Of course that could change depending on how their arbitration turns out... but as of today, Alaska pilots are the lowest paid legacy airline pilots. By a large margin.

And besides, whether it is competitive or not, being at QX does little to improve your chances of being hired there.

Rangi

Yes. This. I am starting my 2nd year of reserve and completely agree.

SIUav8er

QX on blast by the Seattle Times:

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/pilot-crisis-has-horizon-air-grappling-with-industrys-new-reality/

Some of the comments by our Dear Leaders are laughable.

CmonMan

I find it very unlikely that AAG handed Mr Campbell the keys to buy over 2 billion $ worth of jets without a comprehensive staffing plan. If you believe they did, I have a golden gate bridge for sale. I believe Mr Campbell was hired to theatrically act out the "perfect storm" script. Starring Brad Lambert as the villan and fall guy. A story line that would deceptlively execute AAG's business plan of leasing Sky West a fleet of e175's purchased by Horizon that AAG is in control of.
Now the next part of the script is "count on qx". A sedative to ease the pain by diverting employees attention from reality. The reality the airline being gutted right in front of employees faces. And most importantly to AAG, prevent QX employees from going rogue in retaliation for their imminent fate.
It is surprising to me to see how badly AAG insults the intelligence of such a senior pilot group. The whole "commit to compete" campaign was the AAG using the new CBA to whipsaw Sky West. QX actually indirectly committed to help AAG get a lower rate from Sky West.
One closing thought..Why is Sky West surviving the "perfect storm"? Even with "unexpected" e175s sent their way? Because AAG planned it that way.

snackysmores

Today's news was a big nothing burger

ASpilot2be

Hahahaha. Mmmmm. Burger.