The question is
 

Will it work? It’s a bit late to be offering bonuses AND to fly turboprops. That new regional with Dash 8s isn’t getting hardly any people AND their bonuses are really high.
Also, it’s non commutable which will severely restrict finding people in this current market. There are also A LOT of restrictions tied to those bonuses. I’m all for it and Silver seems like a nice operation but so do a lot of others. Just saying.

Having read the LOA (you can read it in my post above), there are some fine print that was left out of the media announcement.

1) The new pay rate is based on DOS +2 (date of signing, October 1, 2020), so unless I'm missing something, it doesn't occur until November 1 based on the note below the payrate table:
** DOS+2 rates are effective the first of the month following ratification of the 2022 Pay and Retention LOA. NOTE – DOS+3, DOS+4 and DOS+5 rates continue to be effective on the October 1 anniversary date of the CBA effective date.


2)“Incentive Trial” Provisions

The following provisions of this LOA will be run on a “trial basis” and,
except as otherwise mutually agreed in writing by the Parties, shall expire
at midnight on December 31, 2023:
• 2.c – Monthly AFW Base Stipend
• 2.d – AFW Cargo Flying Override
• 3.a – Standard Flying Override
• 4.b – Quarterly Captain Retention Bonus
• 4.c – Captain Upgrade Incentive
• 4.d – Career Captain Retention Bonus (see below)
• 4.e – Personal Day and Sick Day Buy Back Program


The Parties shall meet at least ninety (90) days before December 31, 2023
to attempt to reach mutual agreement on which, if any of the above
provisions shall be continued and on what terms. Absent mutual
agreement in writing, a provision shall expire at midnight on December
31, 2023.

So all of the bonus incentives could end at the end of 2023. Not when the CBA expires on October 1, 2025.

75 is still the minimum monthly guarantee, they just used 85 credit hours as an example. But honestly they are hurting for pilots and it's very easy to credit much more than that per month.

E175’s
 

When is Silver going to upgrade to 2022 technology and replace the ATR fleet with E175’s

As soon as they ink the FFD deal with Alaska.

All regionals are hurting, no doubt, but yeah, everyone has shiny jet syndrome. Can't blame 'em. I'd say the only attractions for SIL are easy day trips, Florida living (or San Juan if you want the Caribbean experience), and now a pretty decent payscale.


With the current route structure, it would never happen. E175s wouldn't make a dime on these short routes. Turboprops sip on fuel and have always made more economical sense on these short hops. Only way SIL is getting shiny jets is if management can ink a deal with a major and have them finance it. Even then, majors aren't looking to sign more regionals. Quite the opposite. In the meantime, I'm sure SIL management and investors wouldn't mind a larger regional buy out and merger.

The ATRs are brand new, so probably newer than most 175s :D

I know what you're getting at but the routes are short and I'm sure they looked at all their options when they dumped the Saabs.

No overnight trips
 

Thanks for that good info and congrats on the announced pay & financial incentives! So how does it work with no overnight trips on the PAX side as far as days off are concerned . . . like do you get back to base late at night and are expected to fly the next morning after the min. required rest period? Or is it a one day on one day off type of deal?

COL
 

Not 100% sure about the new pay scale being decent enough to fully compensate for the cost of living in AFW, FLL, or TPA nowadays though . . . if their ops are not commuter-friendly then they may need to offer some sort of housing incentive as well.

Well, trips vary from 1 to 5 days. Some days you might have a short out and back flight on one day where you have. Other days you might start your flight at 7am and have 5 legs and end later in the day. So it really varies. Just like any other airline, you bid for the line you want and based on seniority, then at the end you can make adjustments/trades. In my honest opinion, Silver isn't a great idea for commuters, but for people that live near their domicile (like myself, with a wife and kids) it's great because I get to come home and sleep in my own bed at the end of the night (in most cases).