Comair updates?
12-22-2007 | 08:24 AM
#951
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: EMB 175 FO
It’s no surprise Comair is top heavy when it comes to captains. That is essentially due to the history of Comair. Back in the early 1990’s this was the airline to be at and to stay at. It was the first regional to get jets and it soon became the first all jet fleet. The huge growth and success of this company almost became its demise in 2001 when the pilots went on strike. The pilots were out for 89 days and during that time 2000 Comair employees were laid off. In the end, the pilots emerged with a contract that was so forward thinking for a regional it gave guys even more reason to stay. Then Sept. 11th took place and changed everything. So when upgrade time is slow, we as FO’s have to look back and search for reasons. People are quick to point the finger at our current situation as a reason for slow upgrades, but the underlying reasons stretch back 15+ years. However, attrition is still high and retirements are still occurring at an accelerated rate. The new passage of the age 65 rule will only slightly mitigate the need to fill captain slots quicker. The recent cancellation of the upgrade class and vacancy bid are temporary. Once the 2008 schedule and fleet plans are hammered out, I guarantee you’ll see upgrade classes resume.
With all that said, we as FO’s sit in an interesting spot with regard to career advancement. With all the talk of a pilot shortage, it’s somewhat hard to grasp when we hear of parking airplanes and slow upgrades, but it’s a reality; this country and the entire world is running out of qualified pilots. If it is your plan to move on to a legacy carrier or a foreign carrier, we’re going to see the need for jet PIC time eliminated and the overall minimums reduced. Delta and Continental have already lowered their minimums to require no PIC turbine and that trend will continue. The crazy lowing of requirements for the regional carriers that is going on right now will migrate to the majors, although not in the same severity (ie. 600/50), but we will see it. I think it’s safe to say the majority of us have some PIC time from flight instructing and other operations and that is all it will take. Currently the minimum’s at both Delta and Continental are 1500TT 500PIC 500Turbine SIC. That’s it. So cycradian, I predict you’ll be flying a 777, 787, 767, 747, 757, 737(god forbid) over to Europe, Asia, South America a few times per month making $98 per hour second year by the time you’ll be needing an EKG.
I appreciate the kind words from the last few posters. I truly believe that a positive attitude and an understanding of how this industry works is key to making it in this business. I don’t claim to know everything about the airline biz but it can frustrate me how facts get buried under salacious rumors and speculation. I didn’t want to be an airline pilot when I was a little kid. I didn’t decide to peruse this career until I was in college. After being here for a while and seeing my close friends that are working M-F, 40+hrs a week, wallow in misery, I know I made the right decision. I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. (maybe a few million dollars and more days off)
So after another long winded post (I’ll make them shorter, I promise) I want to encourage all my fellow pilots to hang in there, stay positive, have some patients and fly safe!
With all that said, we as FO’s sit in an interesting spot with regard to career advancement. With all the talk of a pilot shortage, it’s somewhat hard to grasp when we hear of parking airplanes and slow upgrades, but it’s a reality; this country and the entire world is running out of qualified pilots. If it is your plan to move on to a legacy carrier or a foreign carrier, we’re going to see the need for jet PIC time eliminated and the overall minimums reduced. Delta and Continental have already lowered their minimums to require no PIC turbine and that trend will continue. The crazy lowing of requirements for the regional carriers that is going on right now will migrate to the majors, although not in the same severity (ie. 600/50), but we will see it. I think it’s safe to say the majority of us have some PIC time from flight instructing and other operations and that is all it will take. Currently the minimum’s at both Delta and Continental are 1500TT 500PIC 500Turbine SIC. That’s it. So cycradian, I predict you’ll be flying a 777, 787, 767, 747, 757, 737(god forbid) over to Europe, Asia, South America a few times per month making $98 per hour second year by the time you’ll be needing an EKG.
I appreciate the kind words from the last few posters. I truly believe that a positive attitude and an understanding of how this industry works is key to making it in this business. I don’t claim to know everything about the airline biz but it can frustrate me how facts get buried under salacious rumors and speculation. I didn’t want to be an airline pilot when I was a little kid. I didn’t decide to peruse this career until I was in college. After being here for a while and seeing my close friends that are working M-F, 40+hrs a week, wallow in misery, I know I made the right decision. I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. (maybe a few million dollars and more days off)
So after another long winded post (I’ll make them shorter, I promise) I want to encourage all my fellow pilots to hang in there, stay positive, have some patients and fly safe!
12-22-2007 | 03:33 PM
#953
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 0
From: Heavies
I’ve been reading this thread for quite some time now. (940+ entries) Some people like to be positive, some negative and others just try and start rumors that set off panic and speculation. Even though this is my first post on this forum, I have been a Comair long enough to know that best course of action for any of us to take is to just hang in there, take one day at a time and understand that Comair is a HUGE operation and plays a HUGE role in the overall function of the Delta domestic system. Also, people seem to of lost sight of the fact two recent major events took place that can only improve Comair as a company and improve our relationship with Delta. (the departure of JC and the promotion of Don to DCI) Our union now has a leadership that is more in tune with the industry and has lost the leaders (JC, Bill, Corey) who had a ‘with us, or against us’ mentality. I think we can all take notes from two other airlines, Sky West and Express Jet, that have much more amicable relationships between the pilot group and management. (Sky West pilot group is not represented by a union and ExpJet is APLA) Don’t get me wrong, unions are good but the power of labor has diminished over the last 20 years in all unionized workforces. Now the focus needs to turn to how the two can work together and I think we are on the right track to have new leadership in the union that can work with management. With regards to Don, he is Comair through and through. He grew up in Erlanger, he worked his way up the chain to become president of a company he loves. We could not ask for a better person to be at bat for us at DCI. I have a strong feeling that he’ll take care of us with regard to Delta. With that said, us being sold has great potential to be the best thing that has happened to us in a long time. Either way, Comair has a rich history and a long standing relationship with the company that owns us. Out of all the DCI carriers, Comair repeatedly receives accolades from passengers and Delta for the type of product we put to the sky each and every day. Comair has a great group of people that know how to get the job done. You guys don’t think Delta knows this? The performance numbers that are flashed up all day long often reflect poor operational performance, but that more often than not is a reflection of the operational environment we are faced with each day. Delta understands that. What they don’t understand is why Mesa will, in a effort to get those numbers up, will take off without any bags just to get an on time departure. That type of decision making gets noticed by the higher-ups and trust me, it will make decisions much easier on who stays and who goes.
So before I step off my soap box, I just want to say that Comair is a great airline with great people that provide a great product. I’ve been flying the 900 around quite a bit recently and the passengers are EXTREAMLY impressed. That type of exposure for us is really great. The trade of one 50 for one 90 may seem to some as bad, but if that trend continues and Delta listens to its customers (trust me, they do) Comair could stand to be an entire 70/90 fleet in the very near future. We have one of the best training departments in the industry right now that have the ability to move people through differences at a faster rate than any other carrier operating CRJ’s. One of the contributing factors to us initially getting the 900 was our ability to get them on line quickly with qualified crews.
The landscape is changing. We are all aware of that. DCI will soon become 4 to 5 carriers. (more like 4, and we already lost 1, big sky; we picked up some of their flying and now we’re looking to get VPS flying from LGA and DCA) Comair has the reputation and now the leadership and people to make us one of the remaining 4. All of you new guys, hang in there. When there is time for panic, you will know it. The downsizing that is going on now is unavoidable with $96 a barrel crude. DCI will eliminate 35 jets from the system. Not all will be Comair aircraft. (Delta has said that the ERJ135 will be removed and CHQ has 17). So let’s all just take a deep breath and relax a bit; let this story play its self out and be glad that we work for an airline that has been here for the long haul and plans on staying.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
So before I step off my soap box, I just want to say that Comair is a great airline with great people that provide a great product. I’ve been flying the 900 around quite a bit recently and the passengers are EXTREAMLY impressed. That type of exposure for us is really great. The trade of one 50 for one 90 may seem to some as bad, but if that trend continues and Delta listens to its customers (trust me, they do) Comair could stand to be an entire 70/90 fleet in the very near future. We have one of the best training departments in the industry right now that have the ability to move people through differences at a faster rate than any other carrier operating CRJ’s. One of the contributing factors to us initially getting the 900 was our ability to get them on line quickly with qualified crews.
The landscape is changing. We are all aware of that. DCI will soon become 4 to 5 carriers. (more like 4, and we already lost 1, big sky; we picked up some of their flying and now we’re looking to get VPS flying from LGA and DCA) Comair has the reputation and now the leadership and people to make us one of the remaining 4. All of you new guys, hang in there. When there is time for panic, you will know it. The downsizing that is going on now is unavoidable with $96 a barrel crude. DCI will eliminate 35 jets from the system. Not all will be Comair aircraft. (Delta has said that the ERJ135 will be removed and CHQ has 17). So let’s all just take a deep breath and relax a bit; let this story play its self out and be glad that we work for an airline that has been here for the long haul and plans on staying.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I like Comair and I want to continue to work here, I am new, and the doom and gloom I hear everyday scares me.....
12-22-2007 | 08:31 PM
#956
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Like everyone else said, I really appreciate the light you shed on Comair! I'm not with 'em yet but in Jan. I hope to be getting the offer. Your first/last 2 posts have helped build my attitude about working for them. Recently, i have been questioning that option (of course its not an option yet, but anyway) so good on ya for showing the other side!
12-23-2007 | 08:55 AM
#959
Moderator
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 0
From: Tiki bar
In the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel Jackson: "MMMM MMMMM B1tch!!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXIB7y8_rbU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXIB7y8_rbU
Last edited by Diver Driver; 12-23-2007 at 09:02 AM.
12-23-2007 | 12:05 PM
#960
On Reserve
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Dappem, I think you make some very valid points in your post. When I first got hired at Comair, I thought it could possibly be a career airline. But after weathering a strike and several years of broken promises and concessions I realized that Comair would never be a career airline. Comair is a great place to start your career and build time and experience. But believe me you will pay your dues. I upgraded at the first opportunity and after 3.5 years on reserve in CVG I had to get out. Comair is still one of the best regionals, but that is all it is or will ever be.
Last edited by CBeer; 12-23-2007 at 12:06 PM. Reason: misspelling
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