Okay, I can see the sentiment against it, but maybe I'm missing the point here.

Can somebody explain to me why exactly this is a bad thing? It would only make sense to get a seniority number if your a flight instructor and employee affiliated with the airline. My buddy is a dispatcher for another airline and he has a seniority number, so if he ever becomes a pilot he retains it.

So I can see why this would be a good thing for DCA instructors. Seniority is apparently a big thing in the industry, so why exactly would it be bad for a instructor to obtain a slot if he becomes an airline employee?

If anything, it would probably help DCA retain instructors so there won't be this mad rush to "hurry up and put your name in the hat" that everybody has right now.

 

I also confirm this, as an ex DCA CFI..i didn't take advantage, because you're allowed the opportunity to interview when you reach approximately 400 hours of dual given as a delta CFI. If comair likes you, you're given a seniorty number, and return to DCA to teach for an additional 6 months while accruing 400 MORE dual given hours.. The memo makes it seem like they expect you to get "around 400 hours more dual given" but I would take that with a grain of salt, and prepare to be there for the 800 they look for. From what I recall, they pay you the 240 as said, and 1/2 your instructor pay..then when you finish Comair's training, you get the other 1/2 of your instructor pay.

There was no point for me, as I could start with comair now, instead of teach for another 6 months or so. It is a pretty good opportunity though, but just beware, there's always a catch.

 

Well lets see... that would open the can of worms of somebody having a seniority number while that guy isnt putting up with the daily BS of the job. In this case conceivabley a guy could get a seniority number then just continue CFI'ing until he seniority was good enough for either premium aircraft and base assignments or .... but I wouldnt be in favor of such an agreement at a company I worked for.

 

I'm willing to bet what little money i have that he's been misled. Unless it's a really really weird TA that his airline has with the pilots, he would keep his COMPANY seniority number..but go to the bottom of the list when it comes to pilots.

 

I wouldn't know, since he's the one who signed the paperwork and read over everything.

I think it's a moot point at this time however, his original plan was to pay off some debt, build up some cash and then get back into flight training, but then he got caught up with stuff like any other young/mid single guy with a first corporate gig and built up some debt and started chasing girls.

I highly doubt he'll be back in the picture.

 

I agree that this opens a can of worms amongst the new hires. How would you like to be a six month F/O, hired off the street, and have a guy who's been CFIing at DCA, come over in front of you.

Plus, you know DCA is gonna market this is a way that makes it look like there is now a "direct track" from zero time to jet airline pilot, all you gotta do is sign on the dotted line for your 100K and you, too, can be a jet airline pilot. It's that sort of marketing, and commoditization of the entering of this great career, that bothers me.

Also, what happens if you sign up for this deal, and Comair gets sold?

 

Well, the original question wasn't answered, which is why is this a bad thing?

Aside from undercutting a new hire, wouldn't it make sense for a Comair pilot to accrue seniority while working for Comair as a... pilot?

 

It's a great thing for the aspiring CFI and for the company...it's crap for a line holding low seniority Comair FO....a current comair FO will be JUST BARELY hold a line..and then have a 1000 hour DCA CFI NEW HIRE..bump him out of a "life"

not fair..and it bothers me that ALPA signed off on it..

yet another thing ALPA shafted Comair pilots on

 

****ED doesnt even begin to relate how I would feel if I was flying the line and some CFI who hadnt even been on property came in and reduced my effective seniority while he had effectivly had what ever schedule he wanted while instructing. Now... if they simply want to guarantee them a class date... fine.. but to give them a senority number that would eclipse guys who had been on the line for say 6 months.. thats BS.

 

exactly..it's like biting your tongue..it's maddening