irrelevant

Thanks for sharing. Well written...particularly in light of what passes for writing on internet message boards by people who claim to be pilots.

I personally would have left out the part about passengers getting off Comair, Mesa, etc. aircraft thinking they just flew on Delta. That's the whole point of the smokescreen brand that is DCI...and it doesn't help our case any that passengers can't easily identify what airline they're actually flying on.

Mr. Anderson's response was also very well written, and seemed candid. I do not agree with the line about opportunities for growth being missed due to Comair management and the union not agreeing. There were two concessionary packages during that time...one of which "guaranteed" the pilots growth...which Delta then dishonored. Had Delta honored the agreement they made at their Comair division, Comair would have had well over 170 airframes on property. Instead, they took the easy way out and declared bankruptcy to nullify their obligation to grow Comair.

I believe RA's response pretty much sums up the future for Comair. It's pretty much a no-win situation as far as a positive future for the company.

I'm curious what we're charging Chautauqua, Mesa, Pinnacle etc. for ground handling services? Of course our expenses are higher, since none of those carriers are capable of turning their own airplanes.

I find it perpetually amusing that the focus in any message from management is always about cost...and never about increasing revenue generation. There is more to operating a business than controlling costs.

We're saving a lot of money on fuel by not operating thirty airplanes that are sitting on the ground at CVG any given day. Way to cut costs guys!

Lowlevel

Really, my favorite part of his reply was this:

"In-house costs are still costs, and if outside costs, (including mark-up), are cheaper, then a prudent decision would be to contract the work. This applies not only to the airline industry, but to all industries. Not only to flying, but to maintenance, technology services, etc."

So, if I need my airplane fixed and "Joe Schmo Fix-All" is cheaper than "Super Reliable Aviation", I will go to the cheap guy?

If I need my computer fixed and "Jimmy's Car Wash and Computer Repair" is cheaper than "IBM/MAC Repair Specialist, Inc" , I will go get my car washed and have my computer fixed by Jimmy?

If I have a choice between a regional airline that is a little more expensive, but had a record amount of 100% completion days, provides excellent service to my customers, and is actually a subsidiary of my business or a regional airline that is continuously late or cancels flights on a regular basis, etc. I should go with the cheaper, not so reliable airline to service my customers??

(feel free to add Comair and Freedom into that last example)

It just does not make sense in a service industry to always take the cheaper route.

cyrcadian

To an accountant it does.

I would imagine it is very difficult to quantify an increase in revenue based on an modest increase in quality. So why expend the resources.

andy171773

Good points, but the airlines stopped being a "service industry" in 1978. It simply doesn't matter anymore to these people brother.

Thank the above for the letter to RA, very well written and it sheds some light on our situation.

Spoilers

Does anyone know what 'R' means under the 'Lbl' column in eMaestro? I know COA mean company add, but what does R mean. I have this trip tomorrow and have a feeling this CA picked it up from open time. He is definitely not on reserve, but I'm not sure if he picked it up from OT or if he is displaced?

Pilotguy143

R means reserve. I know because I checked my month to month schedule and the R months I'm on reserve and the L months, I've got a line. Also, if you want to be completely sure, check out the line awards for this month on epic. They should help clarify.

If he is picking up open time, please punch him in the face for all of us FO's

Spoilers

Looks like he is displaced.

On Autopilot

Family Guy, LOL. I like the episode when he took over Peters' life.
Hilarious!!

H46Bubba

Only had two times where it got sketchy and I only had to go swimming on the first one!

Paok

E-a-g-l-e-s.........eagles