Good luck with CVG. You are using the same contractor we fired. It seems like every MEL they clear comes right back the next day. Easily the worst MX base we had - glad they are gone.

 

CVG may very well be a new pilot base as well, should know soon.

 

That's why PSA announced they're opening their own hangar in CVG staffed with PSA mechanics. Maintenance at PSA is actually really good in my opinion. Most planes you'll accept have zero MELs.

 

The most I've seen here is three. At my previous employer, there was one day we picked up an airplane with eight MELs (including the APU). Then we got to ORD and a UAL air conditioning cart attacked and put a 12-18 inch gash in the right side of the fuselage.

 

The word I'm getting from well-connected people is that CVG will be the newest PSA crew base. It's a done deal, just waiting to be formally announced, (although I don't know why it has to be such a big secret).

Also from those same well-connected people, Ipads have been purchased and will be delivered before the end of 2015 and (on a disappointing note), the SSP will only increase by 1. That'll result in a "take it and shove it" vote from me.

 

I've heard the same. And honestly, I'm not sure why anyone expected any meaningful increase in our SSP... The company simply can't afford to lose pilots at an increasing rate right now. But your right. I wouldn't give up a SINGLE thing for any increase in the SSP.

 

Does cvg as a base have any ties to targeting old comair pilots that live there? Making a base there seems easy to attract more from out of the woods...

 

Maybe. I'm former Comair but prefer DAY to CVG. There are lots of former Comair pilots and F/As who went to PSA immediately and are well positioned relative to DAY or CVG. Some of the DECs are former Comair as well.

I think it has more to do with what AAG wants to do. There is available hangar space, office and crew room space on Concourse A and CVG is well positioned relative to ORD, DFW, PHL, CLT and the NYC area. Like STL and BNA, staging airplanes from there will be an easy thing to do. The cost of living is something to be considered as well. These costs are higher in ORD, NYC, PHL and roughly equal to DFW. I don't know about the CLT area.

With DL continuing to shrink itself in CVG, the airport authority is actively looking for other airlines to come in and replace DL where they are abandoning markets. Allegiant is increasing its CVG presence as is Frontier.

 

I think that the reality is that they're going to loose pilots anyway. If there's no change in the SSP you've reduced the incentive for people to stay and the attrition happens anyway.

 

I agree... Quite a few from my class have upgraded/are in upgrade right now, and several have left for greener pastures already. Lots of attrition from the FO side right now it would seem. There is some CA attrition, but many that I talk to seem content to wait for the SSP to reach them in a year or two's time. I've heard that the number of DECs applying is dwindling and that our FOs on property are mostly choosing to bypass upgrade. Therefore, the company doesn't want to lose any more CAs at this time than it has to. And even if the company increased the SSP two-fold, it still isn't that attractive impo. This industry is going to change so much by the time a person getting hired on now would even be eligible for it I think it is a moot point. Come to PSA for a quick upgrade for the next couple years. Come to PSA if one of our bases is an easy commute for you. Don't come here for the SSP. If you want to flow to American, go to Piedmont. If you want to upgrade quickly, and move on to something better more quickly, come to PSA. Simple as that.