US Airways recalling jet-for-jobs at RAH
 

I think someone posted about this before, but I can't find it. What does "jet-for-jobs" mean?

Also, what does this mean for the company? More upgrades? More jobs than than the 1000 pilots they originally anticipated for?

The J4J program was started as US Airways began furloughing pilots after 9/11. Furloughed pilots were given the opportunity to start flying for a US Air subsidiary (I think the name was Mid Atlantic Airways or something) that was basically a regional airline. Mid Atlantic was bought by Republic and the J4J guys went with the airplanes in the buy. PSA also got some J4J guys, from what I understand. The agreement was, when US Airways needed the pilots again, they could return to US Air, I presume without losing their seniority, etc. I think it will mean more upgrades, since I'm pretty sure a lot of the J4J guys went over as captains. And it will definitely mean more job openings at Republic and PSA.

I'm not 100% on that, but I think it's the basic idea. Anyone with any other specifics, it'd be great if you chimed in. I'm interested in learning the full story too, or if I have any of it screwed up.

Very true. We should lose 400 by March which will open th flood gates for CAs. It also means that we need to hire people to take their place along with getting delivery of 2 planes a month and trying to hold up to attrition of about 30-40 a month. All in all it means we need 1000 pilots MORE by next Dec.

Ummmm....I think it is more like 80. 400 would be 25% of the pilot group, or 1/2 of the captains.

Im guessing we'll lose another 100 to attrition by then.

They did just announce 100 upgrades effective Jan 1.

75 J4J guys plus attrition would make it around 400. If things keep going as planned then it looks like our upgrades will continue to drop. We talked about this in another thread awhile back. There weren't many supporting my math but so far looks like it's accurate.

Folks I know going into upgrade class now have been with the company 28-29 months...

there were 3 guys in my upgrade class who had been there for just under two years and they waited a bit before they went. where did you see the 100 captain upgrades by jan 1. And there are about 100 J4J guys so it wont be a massive flood gate but should still be significant.

I wouldn't get too excited. A majority of J for J captains I have flown with have no desire to return to US Airways. They make more money and bid at the top of the list where they are now. There's not going to be as much opening up as you think since ost of these guys are not going back.

If they don't return to Airways they have to bid where their company DOH seniority would hold and get paid what their company longevity would make.

No slotted bidding, no higher payrates...just another number on a list.

Of course I can't speak for PSA...

the most JUNIOR Captain is 145 hired 05/2005....this is NOT below 2 years. I don't know where people are getting their info.

I didn't know that. I was under the assumption that they were a permanent employee unless they accepted recall. I wonder if they will be forced to leave if they don't accept recall. Guess I better find out.

I understand it that they can stay but they could possible loose a stripe adn not hold the domicile they are in. They fall back to longevity at that point.

I don't think any would lose a stripe, I believe they all have been at RAH long enough to hold the left seat. Why would you stay though, much better wages, even though you are going back to the right seat. And your possible pay rate when you do upgrade in 10 or so years is much larger. unless you are on the 190

Most of the J4J guys/gals are late 40's mid fifties. Some have relocated to base. Money is not everything and the word at Airways is that its a bunch of bitter grumps. Besides a check airman will most likely make more money here. If age 65 goes through they may be in better shape to gp back. We'll see.

BTW, RAH just announced 100 more upgrades effective for March 1, that brings the total from the previous announcement to around 220 in the next 6 months.

Where do you see that? I still only see the announcement for 104 CA's with effective dates between Jan 1-Mar 2.

Old memos, you cant see them on the main page anymore, might be an archieve somewhere.