Double post

 

I have yet to be furloughed but Compass is something I have been thinking about. It would be a gamble but from where I sit right now Compass seems to have a brighter future. If I go now I can start building senority now instead of waiting until I am furloughed this summer. I think this is part of the reason why management waits to tell us their plans. They know people would be leaving left and right and they would have staffing issues (even more issues than they have now). I honestly don't think Compass is any better than Mesaba but I do think it is safer right now and I think that the flow agreement is better.

 

The flow agreement is not much better unless you like the fact if Delta furloughs they can pretty much flush the entire Compass seniority list. With that being said, it can't hurt to apply........

 

JayRay - explain to me how the Compass flow is so much better? There's way more to sizing up the flow than the actual flow up numbers. Their flowback provisions are a death sentence to anyone on property. Also, flowing 25 to DL on a monthly basis is unsustainable. That would put major pressures on the company in the form of hiring and upgrading, likely leading to reduced QOL for the line pilots who aren't flowing yet. Furthermore, your 36 months is well underway at XJ, where as you will have to restart that clock if you were to leave for Compass. If I didn't have a furlough notice in hand or saw my name on a list, I wouldn't touch CP with a 10 foot pole. Just some thoughts...

As for XJ mgmt... it's pretty obvious why they haven't come out and committed to a furlough schedule. beyond Jan 2010. As JR said in his memo, block hours flown dictate staffing (which is exactly why CP is hiring.) Even with saabs going away 2/month, our 200 and 900 flying hours could get increased a lot. Until XJ knows the flying given to us by DL, it's impossible for XJ to have firm staffing numbers. They're not afraid of a mass exodus... because they know very well there is NOWHERE to go.

 

For everyone talking about the Flow Agreement that Mesaba and Compass has with Delta:

I had a Delta "North" in the jumpseat recently. He said there are rumblings at the Delta "South" campus that the flow agreements might be thrown out the window by the Delta MEC. Reason: they just don't like it. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the Compass and Delta separating their MECs?

Take it for what its worth, but I for one would NOT base my decisions of jumping ship because someone has a "better" flow agreement than another company. It may never happen.

 

I have heard this as well but it is a rumor. A lot of the DAL guys believe every new hire should be subject to the DAL interview process. I can't say I disagree with that position.

 

I don't believe anything that management says. I say there is a good chance they have a pretty good idea of the furlough schedule for this next year. They don't care about their employees so why bother telling us? There are plenty of jobs out there that pay $24,000. I would not have a hard time finding a better job than I have now, it might just not be a flying job.

 

I personally don't care so much about the interview as I do about the requirements. The specific one I am referring to is the requirement of a Bachelor's degree. I don't think Compass should be a back-door way into Delta without meeting the requirements.

 

In my opinion the Compass flow is better than Mesaba's in respect to a newhire because you only have 320-360 people in front of you at Compass whereas you have over 1000(shrinking) at Mesaba.

In regards to the Delta MEC rumouring to get rid of the flow, I find this hard to believe. It makes it very expensive for Delta to furlough due to the flowback protection with Compass. It also gives junior Delta pilot's a job while on forced leave.

It seems extremely illogical for the majority of Delta pilot's voting to banish the flow just because they feel their management should interview everybody coming in.

 

Bingo, Yahtze, DING DING DING, we have a winner. For anyone who can't understand why compass' flow might be better, it's because they're so very much smaller. How many have flowed or even gotten the chance to flow from Mesaba? And mesaba can flow 10 a month? so... that takes... hmmm... roughly forever for a new hire to flow, assuming delta hires forever.... I would be scared to be at compass because I still think Delta will furlough and flush their list... I'm not terrifically interested in a third furlough.

For the guys who can't understand those that would leave the career... keep in mind the guys at the bottom of Mesaba's list now are all second time furloughee's... how many times do you have to get kicked before you think... hmmm.. maybe I should do something else...

We'll see how it all pans out.. then we can look back in 20/20