Trust me, there hasn't been much (if any) shifting of flying BACK to mainline. The numbers don't lie. At the peak in late 2001, there were nearly 14,150 pilots at AA. The number has dropped to a total of 8,643 with around 7,841 active line pilots. I don't have the eagle numbers in front of me, but suffice it to say that Eagle has increased in size dramatically since 2001. Eagle is recalling and rumored to be hiring next year while there are NO recalls on the horizon at AA. In fact, the latest rumor is 200 additional furloughs. Eagle is also taking delivery of an additional 22 CRSs beginning next year. Do you really think there will be ANY shifting of flying back to mainline?

That sounds more like something ALPA would negoiate it:rolleyes:

Not a true rumor at all... source?

The numbers from 2001 include TWA, not a reasonable comparison. Find me a legacy airline that HAS grown since 2001 (not from mergers). Want to work for UAL and have Tilton cramming it up your a**? How about USAir, selling their fleet to Republic? Or DAL.. they have over 8 different regional carriers doing their flying in everything from props to E-jets.

Your legacy business model is hurting bad. You can complain and cry about it or lead the industry to some change. The OLD way of doing business wont fly anymore.

This thread has been really constructive and informative. Lets get it back on track with minimal bashing of either AA or AE.

I don't understand why you're blaming us. Why don't you go to one of those Plan To Win meetings and vent your frustration there. All the folks in those meetings make the decisions.

But be honest, if AMR can't fill up a 76 on a certain route, will they keep using that 76? Nope, down grade it to a 75, 73, or 80. If they can't fill up those, then we're next. If they can't make money with us, then they will drop the route.

Come on dude...you know how this business is ran. Or maybe not.

Yes, I do know how it's run. It's actually pretty simple; work is outsourced to cheaper labor. In this case, it's Eagle, but in due time YOUR job will be outsourced as well. You can then attend one of those plan to win meetings - whatever that is.

WE ARE OWNED BY THE SAME STOCK HOLDERS...my pay stub says AMR like yours. How is this outsourcing? And as much as AMR talks about "Plan To Win", you don't know what that is? You do work for AA don't you?

If APA doesn't hold scope, the complaints by AA pilots about regionals stealing flying should cease, if you've got integrity. You can't leave a 20 dollar bill out on a curb and say that it's someone else's fault when it disappears.

Stand up, take responsibility for your own actions. If majors take the flying back and I'm out of a job, so be it.

I am not trying to make it sound all warm and fuzzy. But for me, and i would say hundreds of Eagle pilots, we want AA to be around as strong as ever when you retire and we are qualified to apply. I dont enjoy seeing Eagle taking over AA flying (i.e. ORD-SLC, ORD-DEN) honestly I really dont.

Would I like to fly a new leather smelling new E-190? Yes. But I am so happy to have a job right now. I commuted on a Mesa DH-8 and the CA, FO, and FA were all getting laid off in March. That hit a nerve with me.

After AMR announced the 2010 plan, I started getting sour looks in the terminal and jumpseating. We as Eagle pilots didnt do this. We want AA around with all the routes they had 10 years ago. Stop letting your union give up scope. Give your union the sour looks not us, big brother.

At one point we were restricted to JetStreams. Then got scope lifted for Saab 340s. Then got scope lifted for ATRs. Then got scope lifted for E-135s. Then 140s. Then 145s. Then 25 CRJ-700s. Now additional 22 CRJs. Whats next guys? Its your scope and union. Please dont give sour looks at Eagle pilots. We just work here.

Regional Pay = Lower Labor Cost
 

Okay, maybe not outsourcing, since AMR owns AA and Eagle. But, it most certainly is shifting flights from MD80/B737-size mainline jets with AA pilots flying them to ERJ145/135/CRJ700 flights with AMR Eagle pilots flying them.