pprada1

So we, at RAH got a copy of some message an x-jet pilot said against RAH pilots, and I have a few words I want to share about that.

First of all, management makes those decisions; you don't penalize pilots trying to get to work/home for management decisions.

Second, for the person who wrote that, what are you in, kindergarten, I feel like this situation has become so immature and elementary, someone attempting to convince everyone to refuse jump seat to all RAH pilots because apparently we are lower then go-jets, we, the pilots have taken the Midwest jobs, because that was our choice (that's sarcasm, by the way), even though we found out about the deal after it went on the media.

I am sure everyone knows the deal already and has their opinions, but for those shallow minded pilots, let me explain reality to you and how business operates in a capitalist country, if you don't like this, and then I suggest you move to a communist country and work for air cubana or something.
Companies work for their shareholders, so they have to do what they can to please their shareholders, not their employees (I'm not saying I agree with it, but that is reality, sorry).
Midwest is predicted to go out of business anyways, and if they would go out of business, then all the pilots and employees will lose their jobs for good. This deal at least is going to keep the company running for some more time, and possibly allow the company to survive, thus eventually a recall of the pilots in the long run. (Our deal is until 2010, by the way.)

RAH has 17 planes sitting in PIT (for those who haven’t seen the petting zoo there) costing us $2.5 million PER MONTH. We have been unsuccessful in putting them to work. We also have taken furloughs because of this. So we have 12 efficient airplanes sitting doing nothing, they have inefficient airplanes (and by that I mean with our current fuel prices and market airfares) that are not making money. Yes it is drastic, yes, it is sad, and I do not want to see jobs being lost, but, reality sucks sometimes, and this is one of them. Both companies did take drastic measures, and it is a dog-eat-dog world, so it came to either that or Midwest out and all jobs lost, I would prefer to have fewer jobs lot, and hey, it puts RAH pilots flying again too. What I am saying is that in the long run, this is a BETTER option, not great, but better.

Also in case you have haven’t noticed, the whole industry sucks now in the US, a lot of companies are on the verge of failure, and everyone is doing what they can to survive, which does create drastic measures. The best way to deal with this is to stop all the immature bickering and this jump seat refusal bull crap, come to terms with reality and look out for each other. JOBS WILL BE LOST AND FURLOUGHS WILL CONTINUE lets help each other out. When a friend of yours is being furloughed, and you know someone, get them connected, help them get another job, refusing jump seat is just stupid and ignorant.

I would like all of you to note that I am speaking about the pilots, not for or against the pilots, (although there are many collogues of mine that has had certain feeling about that specific x-jet pilot that I won't discuss here). I am not for management in this decision, nor against them, I personally do not like how that everything was done behind our backs and that there was some dirty business involved in it, but like I said earlier, that's reality, and this is the US airline industry, you don't think there is going to be dirty business.
For those x-jet pilots, I am in no way against you or ever intending on refusing a jump seat for any of you (even though it’s the captain’s call, I know, I know). I think x-jet is a great company and I am very sad to see the state of the company the way it is now and going. I wish you all the best and hope you all keep your jobs.

To Midwest pilots, I really don't want to see job lost for you, I think your company is great, and has a great business plan, one of the few out there. As with x-jet I wish you all the best too, and from my pilot group (I am sure I speak for all on this one) I'm sorry it had to come down to this, we were unaware too.

ghilis101

what did the XJT guy say? I wanna see what he said when refused to let the jumpseaters on...

contrails

Before this thread spirals out of control:

The post by the 'XJT pilot' was in the un-verified section of the XJT forum (which seems to be frequented by lots of people that aren't employees of XJT).

In order for an XJT pilot to be verified on that forum they do not need to give away any personal information due to the verification process being setup to keep anonymity in mind. Because of this, more than a thousand XJT pilots are verified, meaning that most of the pilots who work there and visit that forum have taken the few minutes to get verified so they can post in the XJT Pilots Only section of the website.

Thus, there is a very large chance that this "XJT pilot" is not actually a pilot for ExpressJet.

And even if they are a real XJT pilot, he or she is undoubtedly a "that guy" who does not share the opinion of the rest of the XJT pilot group.

pprada1

He said something in the lines of... every pilot should refuse the jumpseat to all RAH pilots because we are talking away the jobs of Midwest pilots, we are lower then Go-jets, I believe he called us scabs, and just went on from there. Some one posted the letter in the crew room at CLE for chautauqua, that's where I read it, so I'm sure you can find what he said somewhere on here

Vectorfly

does this x-jet guy not realize that his fellow employee's need to get to work on RAH too? Goes both ways and I better not hear about something like this on the line.
We have nothing to do with management decisions...

pprada1

yea, I figured the same. I just got so frustraited reading that, I had to share my views. I figured it is probably just that guy

JoeyMeatballs

First off all, on the XJT Forum website it was a F/A, yes a F/A that posted that. We will NOT engage in Jumpseat wars.................. That thread is ridiculous, and it was RAH managements decision for the Midwest deal, not the pilots.

pprada1

hey, I just saw that in our crew room, I knew it was APC, I just didn't know what forum it was on. And I do agree, no jupseat wars!! I wanted to make that clear, I've got a 2 leg commute, and I wanted to know if it was an x-jet thing or one person, it became kinda a big deal over at RAH. I guess it was just an F/A's opinion then, thanks for the info.

AirWillie

pprada, you're not suggesting that Midwest losing more than half the the pilots which are being replaced by regional guys making half if not less is a good thing right? Not to mention the loss of mainline jets. If the union doesn't stop it then I guess there will be guys who will jump at the opportunity, as you said it, it's capitalism. We'll see how RAH pilots stand if they actually do fly those 170s replacing actual mainline flying and jobs. And no Midwest wouldn't go out of business with out your help, it's just cheaper to get contract work.

Mason32

Exactly, the mentaility at the regionals is just amazing. It's a sense of entitlement... if you keep flying bigger airplanes for crap wages, eventually there will be NO "major" jobs left to hope for in the future.
Even worse is the attitudes from the subcontractor airlines like RAH, TSA etc.... They just don't get the fact that as long as their type of company is around and can get pilots for next to nothing, the profession is doomed.