The FDP pay and the contract it was a part of are a bigger pay increase than the 2015 contract was over the 2007 contract. It also provided pilots a good reason to care enough to get proper rest and not bang in fatigued whenever they would rather watch a good game or whatever than go to sleep at the proper time. Money is a good incentive to keep yourself rested. The average overnight is also up to about 12 hours in the small cabin fleets. This is an hour longer than my average was under the last contract before I went to the Global.

The current PIC/ SIC ratio is 72/28 and going up. They really can't turn off the upgrades unless a recession truly has big effects- they know the SICs will start leaving fast again if they don't offer hope.

This winter busy season will be the big test for the crewing ratios of pilots to airplanes. I think management is unrealistic with their assumption that 5.2 pilots per aircraft will be enough. Pilots are getting better rest, flying more and earning more, but you can only squeeze so much before pilots stop extending and the overnights shorten again. Pilots will make lots of FDP pay AND start calling in fatigued a lot again and will realize they are working too hard for the money and start leaving in higher numbers again if they get squeezed too hard.

I have no idea how many airframes will really come. They claim 500, but they have so much flexibility to slow deliveries and get rid of airframes fast or slow that it all just depends on the economy. The pilot group will barely grow at all even with 500. I really can't imagine having to live somewhere that is such a horrible commute that it isn't overall better to choose the airlines over this. Upgrade times will go down, but even with over half the seniority list retiring over the next decade or so (and now they can afford to do it and not work forever with vastly improved earnings allowing saving and somewhat improved retirement contributions from the company) it will still be a loooong time to upgrade here. You will earn so much less over a career that I really can't imagine starting here from scratch.

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LMAO
Its like a cat running onto the field of a football game. A distraction.

Back to the argument.

 

There was over 2800 on the list when I was hired in 2015.

 

When you were hired, approximately 170 of those people on the seniority list were still on furlough. Obviously, not all (or even many) of those bypassing recall ended up coming back. Then add in people on medical leave or in non-flying management positions, and your 2800 number is pretty meaningless.

 

Amid an already protracted merger between NJI/NJA and upon rationalizing what was 19 fleet types, NetJets was already in the midst of reducing the number pilots required. This is a byproduct of eliminating such a large training float required by having so many fleet types.

Once again... it wasn’t vindictive. It wasn’t directed towards you being a victim of anything but yourself as this major fleet rationalization was announced as early as 2011 and began actually happening in 2013.

You were hired in 2015 and we know... it’s not your fault. You’re a victim. You just didn’t study.

You showed up and simply expected what you wanted to happen. You expected what you heard to be factual.

We get it.

We’re down the road now by 6 years since the process of fleet rationalization began. 60-70% of the existing fleet is being replaced... and faster than ever since Textron is pumping out Latitudes (and likely Longitudes this next year) at a record pace.

Again, in review... fewer pilots have been needed becomes of three things chiefly:

1) Fleet modernization and types of aircraft

2) CBA 2015 schedules like CC72/76

3) IBI 2018 and FDP

We will soon hit the limits of staff reductions to maximize earnings this busy season is my guess.

Retirements will be picking up.

Hiring will increase.

And no, you aren’t a victim of anything but yourself.

 

What universe are you living in? Airbus and 737 captains are down around the 12500 seniority number. We have 15000 pilots. E190 captains are getting that slot right out of probation, 1 year.

Certain bases, like PHX, are super senior and a bottom bus captain will be at 20 years. LGA, LAX, MIA are super junior and can be held within a few years. We are retiring something like 7000 pilots in the next 8 years. It could actually be more, I don’t really care that much since I’m gone in 3. We lose 250 Group 4 captains next year, the 777/787/330 captains that are all over 400k per year.

We are in contract negotiations right now. It’s only going to get better here at AA.

Working hard for your paycheck is fine, but getting paid more for working less is mo betta.

 

Reality speaks. Please listen.

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It’s not meaningless when the company knew what staffing levels it needed In 2015, until the CC schedules came out which reduced that need. Further reducing that need is the new “pay to fly tired” FDP. It’s silly to look at airplanes and staffing levels and ignoring the direct correlation of fleet increases, and staffing level reduction and not believe that CBA2015 and the latest extension isn’t directly to blame.

 

That's all fine and well, as long as you understand we didn't really have 2800 pilots on property when you were hired.

 

We had way more than 2800 pilots when I was hired on. 2006...yet after all these years it’s not back to where it was before. Hmmmmm