iceman21

Joe is right on the EAS front, I do agree, but I do not agree that there's not a staffing issue. There is a staffing issue and I do not believe that paying more at the regional level would solve the issue. It would help it, but not solve the staffing issue. OO has lost more than 400 pilots in the recent months. ZW and a whole host of other regionals have had a great many of their captains poached by other carriers.

Raising pay would help the bleed but it wouldn't have stopped the hemorrhaging. Pay is only PART of the solution.

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DoSomePilotStuf

I suspect ALPA may be concerned that SkyWest is trying to drop EAS to go after contracts that other regionals are falling short on due to the widespread staffing issues at the regional airlines. And while yes, pay would help, the real problem in the here and now is getting pilots trained at a rate sufficient to cover attrition.

JoeMerchant

There should have never been FFD regionals. All flying should have been done from one single seniority list. ASA and CMR pilots said this. However ALPA ignored this problem too long and helped management with this. Now everyone is in a panic over problems they created.

PossibleDeviation

That's exactly what was happening. They were trying to drop EAS to pick up additional contract flying.

KirillTheThrill

Agreed. That’s EXACTLY what this is all about.

The whole ALPA defending the 1,500 rule speculation is BS.

jacburn

I think most of you are missing this one section of Joe's letter:

I think the above statements are correct that they just want to move the planes to something that might be more profitable. I hope the DOT holds them to the contracts that they signed.

AANG

Of course. With higher rates, more would stay than do currently. Not everyone at the regionals is a 25 year old with no responsibilities, for whom moving to the majors offers a very clear betterment of their career/life. Even at the current rates, there are plenty of pilots who have determined that it's better for them and their families if they stay at their regional job. The higher the pay rates, the more of those pilots there are.

Further, the higher the pay rates, the more it makes sense for people to come to the regionals in the first place. Right now there are corporate gigs offering 1500 hr FOs more pay than some regional captains make. The LCCs and cargo are going to be hiring pilots at ATP mins with no jet time. If the regionals don't raise pay and quality of life, the regionals will have nothing to offer pilots other than a flow and quick upgrade. And in this hiring environment, the flow and a quick upgrade is worth far less than it used to be.

So yes, regional staffing issues are of their own doing. It's very simple. If they offered competitive compensation, benefits, and quality of life, they would have more pilots.

amcnd

They want to “protect” partner flying… Loose that its 12 year contract airplanes on loan payments. EAS flying needs rebid every 2-3 years, aircraft have zero loan payments… SkyWest has hired a ton of 21-30 year old’s that will leave no mater how much money you throw at them. Coupled with the senior guys leaving.. It’s turned into a bad combo.. In the SkyWest made a decision to protect the AA/DL/UA/AS contracts.. or at-least try to…

Round Luggage

I disagree as there is no ability to “go after” ALPA flying. They have lost the ability to staff 10 airplanes last month alone and block hours have already been pulled down from previous commitments. If anything this opens the door for ALPA flying expansion if they want it.

amcnd

So is ALPA going to draft another letter about Horizon ditching all the Q400’s…???… and some “fake” pilot shortage….