I'm just saying that all this media coverage of an improving economy is premature. Their coverage of the economy is the same as their coverage of aviation. Do you trust the media on anything related to aviation? The economy is probably a few years away from really recovering. The true unemployment rate right now is really around 17% and is still getting worse. Getting worse at a slower rate than last year but still getting worse. Do you really think the airline industry is going to improve this coming year? Do you think any pilots at Mesaba are going to move to bigger and better things anytime soon? And how many retirements are slated for the next few years here? I'm just saying, looking at it realistically things don't look bright for the immediate future. We could luck out and get some flying from someone else but that would just mitigate the furloughs from the losing of the Saabs. Unless something changes we will be down to 900 pilots in a year and then down to something like 700 the year after? This is not the sky is falling talk, it is just the way things are right now as I understand it.

 

Even looking at it from the best case scenario, Saab replacements, if any, will not be one for one. It will be replaced with larger RJs so at best 2 for 1. So, even if XJ gets replacement aircraft, pilot roster will go down considerably. 48 Saabs equals 480 pilots. Even if XJ gets 24 replacement aircraft in exchange for Saabs, that's 240 pilots versus 480 pilots. Cut in half. Replacement does not mean new orders. It means most likely reallocation from other DCIs when DAL reduces the number of DCIs flying for them. Without replacement aircraft, XJ will be down to 41 CRJ9s and 17 CRJ2s operating with around 600 pilots.

 

Good thing the world is ending in 2012........

 

I have to say offering a 33 voluntary furloughs the day before Thanksgiving is a new low for me. I have lost all respect for our management. Nothing like saying Happy Thanksgiving...be happy you have a job, because we'll be taking it away soon!

 

Just curious. Does anyone still have any respect for their managment/leadership? (I use the term leadership loosely).

 

I will say, I think there are more politics involved with this junk than we understand. With that said yeah it probably could be dealt with differently and I do think some information is always withheld.

 

Supervisors are appointed; managers are trained; leaders emerge. Sometimes leaders (who you are willing to follow) are put in the supervisory role (handing out bad news) by decisions and directives from those above them. It is right to criticize the policy and timing but be careful where you assign the blame.

 

I find it fascinating that we are prepared logistically to be a pilot mill at the flip of a switch. Yet we are told that once again we are being cut in half. My personal belief is everything hinges on the mainline SOC. Our biggest hope is the flow through. There are grumblings on the line that Delta Mec wants to axe it. I haven't seen any official proposal from their MEC. Until then I hope it stays. Maybe someone with contract knowledge can verify this but I believe that it can't be taken away at will. It is a contractual agreement.
I hope our furloughed guys/gals get back soon. I've flown with some top notch folks who are now on the street.
Ftroop how's the sailing?

 

Flowthru is not our biggest hope. At any case, DAL has not made any announcement whether they would be hiring or furloughing in 2010.

My understanding is that Flowthru with Mesaba can be terminated much more easily than CZ's. At any case flowthru will only benefit the top 235 on the seniority list who can flow up in less than 10 months. The DO has told us the top 125 people who have turned down the option to flow up are bound by their decision and they cannot change their mind once the flowthru resumes. So that leaves people whose seniority list are between 125 thru 235.

 

next reduction notice just released..