vagabond

The tenor of this thread reminds me of the ones about plane crashes where everyone has an opinion about how the pilot deserved it or wasn't a very good one to begin with or how he ought to have done this or that to avert the disaster, etc etc. As far as I can tell, no Aloha pilot has posted regarding the reasons for that pilot group to continue flying without pay. They must have their reasons, to which we are not privy. And so, until we have walked in their shoes, we cannot say for sure.

On the other hand, there have been quite a number of threads about GO pilots and the proverbial "slippery slope." I myself have read all the reasons why a newbie would essentially prostitute himself by taking a job at GO or Mesa. There is no point in rehashing this. But if the mods think there is a point to it after all, I hope everyone will avoid inflammatory statements, and just stick with the thread.

cactusmike

I have to get ready to fly to HNL in a couple of hours so I will be brief.

Aloha pilots are not working for free, they just haven't been paid yet. There is a big difference. Remember all the CH 11s earlier this decade? All airline pilots could have worked for free and that would not have made up for the losses the airlines suffered in those years.

The Aloha guys will eventually get paid, the court has not released the money for that o happen, also Saltchuck, the company that has purchased Aloha Cargo is in negotiations with the pilots. There is not a normal process right now for the pilots to get paid. No payroll department, no paycheck. The emphasis was on getting the flights back in the air to restart deliveries, not worry about making payroll.

The Aloha pilots still have a struggle ahead of them. They have to get their contract back and the seniority issue has to be decided because from what I understand the pilots flying the cargo schedule would have been junior to the guys flying the 700s to the mainland. The court threw out all labor contracts so those have to be negotiated. I still think it is admirable for those guys to get back to flying and work out the details later.

ghilis101

in the meantime are Aloha pilots collecting unemployment? At the very least they can get that right?

ce650

It's called pride in your airline , not support those pilots? thats the dumbest thing I have ever heard and you are an idiot for saying that. typical union attitude. it's all about me me me

vagabond

If they were laid off from their jobs, they are certainly eligible for unemployment benefits. I don't know the law in Hawaii, but I assume it is similar to that in Washington, which has provisions regarding the claimant's "ability to work, availability for work, and active searching of work." These conditions must be present during each week for which a claimant files a claim. It may not sound onerous, but it trips up more people than I care to remember. So, if the pilots are indeed flying, they might be deemed not available to work elsewhere and also would not have time to actively seek other work. If only one of these conditions is not met, they are not eligible for benefits that week and could be made to repay whatever money they got.

Any Aloha pilot with a question about unemployment benefits is welcome to PM me and I'll try to answer your question or find an answer if I don't know it myself.

Jughead

I don't live in Hawaii, but you know that. I didn't realize that was a requirement to post my opinion on this thread.

I won't be "encouraging them towards success" if it means flying airplanes for free. I don't understand the rest of your disjointed rant, but I think you feel strongly about the issue. If working for free is your bag, knock yourself out.

Some people - I can't believe they like paychecks - fools!

Rotorhead

Working for free doesn't help anyone, including an airline in liquidation.

CE750

explain...

denvrpilot

Typical Union Rant....I lose more and more respect for Pilot Unions when they have to hammer on guys that have agreed to accept a delay on their pay for a month or two until the details can be worked out.

They will get every penny they earned but I guess they should go take a job on the mainland and not get paid for two months until they pass their checkride......thats perfectly ok.

Gchamp3

I think it is truly transcendent. Pride in where you work is important, and these guys are rising above the banter.

Aloha is (was) a company that obviously cared about its pilots, and so its more than logical that the pilots would go out of their way to help their employer.

Way to go Aloha pilots.