20sx

That sounds like a great billboard sign! Do you mind if we use it?

airflight999

No new airplanes, no contract, no future.

LostMedic

Being a LAMA I feel for you guys. All of the LAMAs I know are standing behind you in the hope that something will give one way or the other. Keep you chin up and resumes ready. Wishing you all the best. The best thing I could do to help was to leave, it was not easy, but it was the only real vote I had to show my support.

MrWizard

The phone call started about one hour before I needed to leave the hotel for an airport show time. I recorded the call on my digital voice recorder and I will make it available to anyone after I pull it off the recorder.

Our fearless leader is delusional, or just lying. There is money to provide a decent living wage to everyone here.

He cries that their engine overhaul expense is a problem, yet doesn't acknowledge that is a capital reserve cost that should have been built into the budget when the engine(s) were acquired. The $200M for the engine overhauls would have been baked into the hourly cost computed when the FFD contracts were negotiated with the carriers. In a race to be the cheapest and beat your competitors to the contract, you end up in a race to the (financial) bottom. Turbine hot-section and full overhauls have always been wildly expensive, JO makes it sound like this was unplanned costs.

After the 'fast food' analogy made by one caller, I was tempted to call in because I relish getting into a battle of wits with unarmed people. JO responded saying there is essentially no money for pay raises because 'we operate only on a 4% gross profit margin'. Problem is, that 4% figure means squat when you don't know the revenues and expenses on both sides of the gross profit equation. After the fast food and pizza analogy, I was ready to offer this up to JO for thought: he complains there is no money available because of the 4% profit margin. How is it the grocery (supermarket) industry operates on a historic razor-thin 1% margin, yet they have ample room to pay everyone a living wage, AND provide decent comprehensive health care packages...all the while in a unionized environment, too?

One difference the fast food, pizza, and supermarket industries have over us is professional management teams. Here, what we have are castoffs who hide behind the veils of a privately-held company, who cannot deal with the realities of a fast moving marketplace.

FWIW.

Also, IMO, there were at least two company trolls masquerading as rank-and-file employees. Good grief, one caller even said "this is the greatest company on earth.."

xjtgrunt

Go for it.

xjtgrunt

This is true.

Skyler02

That's an interesting perspective. And it's interesting how much knowledge you have of the pilot supply pipeline. I'm sure a lot of analysis has gone into your theory.

Your talents are being wasted. Perhaps you should joint the pilot recruiting team and show them just how easy it is to find competent, qualified, ATP Rated pilots that are willing to work for poverty wages. I am sure they would really appreciate your input.

Skyler02

Agreed 100%.

It is astonishing to see how willing he is to admit how inept he is at running an airline.

Insufficient, careless budgeting and inadequate contract negotiations on the financial manager's part, is not something that should not be put on the employees as a burden. If you made a mistake that enormous, you fix it.

As far as dislusional or untruthful, I'm going with both.

Skyler02

Agreed 100%.

It is astonishing to see how willing he is to admit how inept he is at running an airline.

Insufficient, careless budgeting and inadequate contract negotiations on the financial manager's part, is not something that should not be put on the employees as a burden. If you made a mistake that enormous, you fix it.

Would someone within close proximity to his office, please walk in there and tell him how ridiculous it sounds for him still to be whining about the 1500 hour rule. That ship has sailed. Get over it! Adjust to the new reality or just stop operating.

As far as dislusional or untruthful, I'm going with both.

This should leave no doubt, in anyone's mind, that it's time to implement the exit plan.

Duct Mon

Attention possible recruits and new hires.
The fast upgrade is gone. No new planes and no new contracts. After your new hire bonuses you'll have to live off of food stamps and La Quinta breakfast.
There are currently 300-400 FO's on the seniority list who think they'll upgrade but unfortunately Mesa is only upgrading 2-8 Captains per month to only cover for attrition.
Educate yourself and fact check my statement.