AWAC Sells All US Airways Shares
 

This was posted on our Forum a few days ago.....apparently our owners (East Shore Aviation) have sold off the remaining 13.5 % of our Airways shares...and we have given up our seat on the board of directors. Guys have already "informed" opinions as to what it means....either they are looking to sell us...or its got something to do with the alleged merger with Airways and Yo-nited.

Any thoughts from pilots outside of AWAC???

I did hear talk of talks between AWAC and UAL. Not sure it is worth listening to this banter, but I am sure the UAL is planning for a possible post-Mesa future.

I mean is this such a good thing? Why wouldn't we want to keep our guaranteed flying? I don't get it, are we that strapped for cash? any thoughts?

Something's gotta be going on behind the scenes with this deal. Not sure if it's good or bad, but I don't think they would sell the remaining shares AND give up the seat on the BOD just for the heck of it. I guess time will tell.

My concern is that the owner's are looking to get out of the contract. Why wouldn't Airways throw a bone at AWAC to park some planes. Parker has said for the past two years they would love to get rid of the excess 50 seat flying. Considering this company has not taken a new airplane in 4 yrs, I beleive anything is possible.

I would like to get excited about a possible UAL contract again but that got stolen from us in 2005 from this same ownership. We have not been able to secure any flying when the mega RFP's were out in 05 and 06.

Our owners are in this to make money and the profit margin is not what they got back in 2001 from UAL. Who knows what they are making from Airways... They did not show us that in our concession arbitration. All of that information was not provided to ALPA as the arbitrator was a pro company guy.

Oil at $123... I would place my money on the owners are getting out and the contract is on shakey ground. AWAC does not pay for the gas but Airways does so getting rid of expensive 50 seaters is a matter of time. I would think if this were a cost neutral for the owners they would sell or park jets.

I guess that is my half empty look at AWAC but there has not been any good news here since 2004.

The contract should not be on shaky ground. I have no idea of the details. But I think they are just cashing out. Their shares and the seat on the BOD should not have an impact on the contract.

Keep in mind that my recollection is that the contract states something to the effect that "AWAC may place up to seventy 50-seat aircraft into service" with US Airways. That doesn't mean the owners have to place that many.

I hope our contract is secure, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if there are some changes in the offing, especially if a merger goes ahead and/or if Mesa is truly in dire straits.

Brace yourselves for a big turn. This is leading up to something big.

Question is good or bad? What does everyone feel?

Giving up your shares and your BOD seat means AWAC is just like every other regional now. They are subject to the open bidding process when their contract expires. I hope they find a home for their planes if Airways decides to reduce 50 seat flying through AWAC.

I used to work for ZW on the ramp at ORD, I would love to see some of their planes and crews back in Chicago picking up the pieces for Mesa. That is of course, after my own company gets our share first!

Is it official that AWAC did in fact give up the seat, I haven't checked the company boards yet, but can anyone confirm this?

767 Airways Capt jumpseated with us today, said the announcment with United is gonna be released in 8 days. He has no idea who the controlling airline will be....supposedly alot of guys feel the same way.

Who knows....we MIGHT actually be doing United flying again

I used to be based in ORD. I know the feeling. It's frustrating to go in and out of there now seeing that that used to be our largest base. Hopefully we can get back in someday. Going there occasionally for US Airways doesn't feel the same.

You guys need a kleenex?:D

As a first time 121 poolie at AWAC should I be concerned over this news? It doesn't give me a warm fuzzy.

No. But I would like to not be undercut by scabs at GoJet and by a company that is totally unreliable in the form of Mesa.

Getting displaced to the east coast has not been cool. But that's not what this is about.

Anyway, I am willing to think that all is not entirely quiet with AWAC's owners. I bet they have a finger in any deal that is going on.

Don't worry. Be happy.

Yeah, won't worry yet. I'm holding off resigning the current job until I'm on my way to Appleton.

thats the smart thing to do....just give it time...youll be up in Laquinta Appleton before u know it

Not that the Laquinta Appleton is a great place to be, but it'd be awesome to see this pilot group get back to ord or den, that'd make this place a much, much happier pilot group. It'd hurt me (being from Boston) but if it made my coworkers happier, hell, I'm game then.

Sara thought early June as a target. Can anyone in the know give any insight as to class dates? She said I was number 5 or 6 in the pool. Waiting to hear back from her on a date.

Some info on the subject.

http://washington.bizjournals.com/tr...8/daily35.html

Maybe the needed some cash to pay us our 2.5 million! LOL

Hey Guys I am in the same pool as E and I have the same question. Any body have a guess about if they might have class in June?

Hey E
GT

It depends on our Attrition...right there...there isnt much of it given the shape of this industry.....just sit tight...you guys will get there before u know it

AWAC poolie here as well, supposedly theres about 15 of us. I wonder if we will all be in the next class, whenever it may be? But this news kinda makes me scratch me head. I can't wait to get the call and get training started, but its tough not to get a lil worried hearin news like this.

This could be promising for us at PSA. Doug Parker has always wanted PSA to do a majority of the flying for Airways. With AWAC not having a say on the board now, and Mesa continuing to crumble, this could be bright times for PSA. Hopefully more airplanes will be on the way along with some flying out west. Everyone keep your fingers crossed.

What regional is a good bet?

Hey if one of you AWAC guys dont mind what if anything should we be studying while we are floating in the pool. (lol)

Caddyshack, right?:D

Or it could be a nightmare if the United merger ends up happening. Be careful about wishing to prosper at the expense of other pilot groups. :rolleyes:

Study the 121 Regs and Exemption 3585 and Exemption 5549...just google them youll find it.

And hey Texas Pilot.....if your gonna try and Hi-Jack the thread, atleast have the common decency to not trash OUR Airline first. This discussion is about the future of Air Wisconsin....NOT PSA

Thanks flyboy. I was thinking about buying a CRJ study guide I saw what do you think.

Its good to have one....but dont get wrapped up in it....the indoc stuff is important...if you concentrate too much on systems knowledge you wont have enough memory for Indoc...so i say buy it....glace through it...but wait till systems and your oral to really know it

I never trashed AWAC. I am merely commenting on the possible effects of AWAC selling their interest in Airways, which is the whole subject of this thread. Never once did I make a derogatory comment about your airline.

Thanks for the insight Flyboy

I'd think that most of the IL/WI Air Wisc pilots that have been having to commute out east would love to go back to ORD.

United has no wholly owned regional carriers. If the merger does happen, I see PSA and Piedmont prospering. PSA and Piedmont operate at far less expense than other companies like Republic or AWAC. That's why Parker wants us to fly more. It makes more sense from a financial standpoint. If the merger occurs, why would the new company want to get rid of it's biggest money makers and pay a different company more to do the same job?

But, back to the original thread. I have heard talk this week of US Airways being the name of the new company if the merger occurs. This would mean that Parker would remain the CEO. Since Parker believes so much in his wholly owneds, then that might have scared AWAC into selling their shares. Maybe not the case, but a plausible scenario.

Of course they would. I was referring to the comment about PSA.

well you may not have meant it but your post came off quite caddy....talking about us selling our shares and mesa falling apart could potentially benefit PSA..... and talking about how Doug Parker always wanted PSA to do the majority of the flying.....theres other ways you could have posted that

Well then you and I have different views on what a possible merger might bring. Either way, I don't think anyone really knows what's going on behind the scenes with this yet. I just didn't really appreciate the "Hey maybe this means we can take all of AWAC's flying from them" attitude that your post conveyed.

But hey I mean Texaspilot is always right about everything, hooray for PSA! Please be a bite more respectful when your posting something. Ohh by the way, maybe this could be hurt PSA also, never thought of it that way huh? With AWAC selling its shares that could possibly leverage them into a new corner. We have shaken up the top management a bit (LaWare leaving) that who knows what going to happen. Ohh, by the way, why do you think PSA operates at a much lower price then AWAC? Look at the pay scales, work rules.....ohh well.