Because Lakes codeshares with United, they 'purposefully' oversell all flights out of ISN, and now DIK. Every oversold seat for United(cancelations or limitations) goes on Lakes.......needless to say those that find out their ticket doesn't get them on a shiny jet get rather upset. Especially if they had to pay more than a normal Lakes ticket.


As far as rumors, I can give you some facts instead. There are new classes 'scheduled', if pilots show up to these I will be shocked.

There is ALWAYS one Bro parked, rotated for heavy M/X. Lakes only operates 5 at any given time. To see how flying is affected from this 'mass exodus' ask someone to compare flight hours each month per base and review the open time.

 

When UAL oversells, the pax don't pay for a ticket on us...UAL pays us to put them on, and that's at the FIM (Flight Interruption Manifest) price (uber-expensiveola, or so I have been told), but we pay the same vice-versa.

As far as EMB's parked, 2 were parked, but not due to lack of pilots. I believe they reduced the pilot lines in anticipation for possible pilot departures, but the main reason for the parked EMB's is due to engine overhauls. 1 is close to a heavy check, thus 'donated' its engines to the last aircraft that was in for its heavy. The 2nd had an engine due to overhaul as well. We currently have 5 running, and 1 waiting for engines.

Porcupine: The complaints are that they miss your Fire Detection expertise, and routine greasers!

 

It has to do with the united or delta agents. They are not really united or delta agents ( some outsourced ground handling), and when there is a delay or cancelation, for whatever reason, the agents dont reaccommodate their passengers. They just give them the 1800#. Our agents would at least bust them selves and try to accommodate as best as possible.

 

Where are new hires going? 1900 or 120? How hard is to get Denver right away or Farmington and hold a line? Are upgrades still under a year? What do lines look like in regards to trips and days on the road?

 

Upgrades are slowing right now. We upgraded a number of people prior to the FO ATP requirement, so we are pretty good for now. Honestly, it would still be in the area of 12-18 months depending on timing, domicile bid, hiring, etc, etc, etc. As far as trips, an average trip has 10-12 days off, anywhere between 75-90 hours (depends on the month, and number of lines made for that domicile), and average of 2-3 days off in a row. The lines are never guaranteed 4 on, 3 off, etc. It's hit or miss.

 

You beat me to it. Great minds think alike!

 

What are the + & - of each aircraft both flying and qol?

 

Steak can answer this one but I can give a few details:

EMB: Current bases are ISN (Williston, ND) and DEN. Not sure how long we'll keep crews up there but I'm thinking probably not after Feb '14, but that's just my opinion. Commute up to ISN has gotten much easier with Expressjet and Skywest also operating up there. We are fairly full out of DEN and weight restricted too, so having additional seats is helpful.
Schedules are hit or miss each month. They send the EMB where they can fill it, so we only go to a certain number of cities. Sometimes they increase or decrease capacity depending on the time of the year. Average days off for a line holder are 11-13 days off, but I've seen more. Average flight time is 75-80 with a little more or a little less. With the FO's leaving, I'd say holding a line immediately is very possible.

I enjoy the EMB, but I'm biased. I've been on it 9 out of 10 years.

 

So no domiciles in Phoenix or lax? The route map shows those as hubs. I am in El Paso and would have to commute so the west is best for me.

 

I wish. Current domiciles...

BE–1900
DEN Denver, CO
CYS Cheyenne, WY
FMN Farmington, NM
MSP Minneapolis, MN
PRC Prescott, AZ
PIR Pierre, SD
FOD Fort Dodge, IA

EMB-120
ISN Williston, ND
DEN Denver, CO