Latest PDT/PSA rumor
 

Heard rumblings in the crew room today that PDT scheduling department (ugh) will soon be handling all of PSA's crew scheduling needs (sorry psa).

Beginnings of a merger? Only time will tell.

The manager of crew scheduling (I think, not sure what she actually did) quit. Instead of hiring a replacement, they are outsourcing her job to Piedmont. Hope the rest of us arent next ....

Our scheduler is leaving the company that's why. I can't see how our schedules could possibly get worse but we'll see I guess. I'm shocked the KH and TK would give up that much control.

Very good point. They are two of the BEST micro-managers I have ever seen.

With the Airport Hotel in DAY being demolished (and the training center along with it), I wonder if that has anything to do with things? Are they planning on moving the DAY operation to CLT maybe? I know, everything is Top Secret "Eyes Only" and we wont know until the last minute.

Easy way of making simple cutbacks i would think. Schedules already suck...could be for the better...

Any thoughts on tomorrow's meeting?? i know for sure the union reps for the pilots, FAs and maint. have a meeting bout something...

PSA's reps, or PDT's also (or is it the same union?)?

I can just speak for PSA, i talked with one FA and flew with a CA that were going to this...

Several rumors floating around but the one that stands out is it's a meeting about purchasing Horizons 700's. Think its about 15 or 20 of them. Probably gonna ask for pay freezes in order to get the airplanes. I say forget it.

Reserve guys get ready to sit for at least 4 days of a 6 days stretch, then get an out and back that ends at 2330 on your last day. Pretty effective way of taking 10 days off and turning them into 5 if you commute. And don't forget that 0445 report your first day coming back, wouldn't want you to think about commuting in same day. Happens every time.

already that way here as well... I also heard it could be lookin at some planes from MAG... something about them having leases expiring and not renewing or trying to get rid of some 7's/9's for $$$

all rumors of course and til there's a write up in the can...ill believe it

New aircraft would be great, that would bring back all those pilots that are furloughed and hopefully give some of us in the pool class dates.

Uhhhh.... I am going to be extremely selfish and say that I whole heartedly agree.... 10 airframes would dang near guarantee that all of those furloughed would come back and possibly a new hire class or two no?
I am guessing that the demolition of the DAY hotel is also a good thing... pure speculation though... does anyone like the resturant? Wilbur's is it?

Please guys, don't get your hopes up for new aircraft. The problem is (both PDT and PSA) is Airways puts the capital up for our aircraft. Right now, Airways is not the most financially stable and they cannot put forth the money right now. The same rumor was running around PDT about Horizon Q200s and they fell though. I agree it would make so much sense to keep most regional flying in-house and control costs however, Airways doesn't share those thoughts.

As for the schedules, the only thing you can hope for is that contracts get mixed up and the outcome will be in your favor. I know at PDT on reserve we get 4 days in a row free from duty in addition to our 10 days off and I'm not sure if that is the same at PSA. Plus some of our reserve lines do have 11 and 12 days off if your lucky. As for those based in DAY and TYS, expect the same early shows with late returns on the last day. Don't expect comutable lines there. In addition, around CLT expect your last day to be the longest. Just FYI.

Im hope like hell that they do buy those RJ's. I was # 9 in the pool and my new beautifull wife and I are praying for a start in the near future

I think that the meeting is about the 33 down grades. I think to company wants to bring them back out of senority because if they need captians they will need to train some guys that by-passed upgrade and since the training department has been pretty much sent back to the line. The company would need to get the guys back from the line to train the captian.
More captian and new planes would a great subject for a meeting right now.

But that is just my opinion

When does the hotel come down?

true....but why the FA reps as well as the maint ones for the downgrade talks... would new airframes open J4J stuff again??

Keep praying buddy.. While it might be talked about it's as likely to happen as your car getting stolen out of your closed garage.

PDT was looking at Horizon's DHC8-200's and that fell through because Airways would not put up even ahalf way reasonable amount of $ for them. They wanted them at less than firesale prices. The Dash8 any model will blow any of the CRJ models out of the water on cost per seat mile. If there was a new plane on the Airways Express(wholly owned subsidiary) property, those would have been 1st.

Also, PDT and PSA do not have contracts to keep Airways from adding or cutting fligts at will. PSA's CR2s should have everyone working there worried. The days of those airplanes are numbered. And if airways wants to shed capacity without any penalty, it will be from PSA and the 200s. So basically if they manage to acquire 700s, it would propably be to replace 200s as the leases expire

Essentially, don't count on a job any time soon.

It's not. They made a deal with the city and it's staying for another year.

i dont see it happening. think about ALL the rumors PDT has had in the past and how many of them actually turned out to be true.

there is nothing more i want rt now then a class date, but i got to be realistic and i just dont see it happening

You sure that any new planes would go to PDT??? Exactly why so much talk at PSA about 7's and 9's... to get rid of the 200's. Nothing against the dash, great plane, great for your route structure... and i do agree w/ the 200's... and thats exactly why any new airframes would show up at PSA first...

shedding capactiy without penalty... all of the dash's are owned correct?? the 200's are all leased... to park the 200's will cost more money, PSA didnt park any planes for sept, just the 2 backups and one in paint...no change from the summer months.

From what I have been told all of the guys on the street would have to come back before they would be able to let the j4j's come back.

And as bad as this sounds if it means us getting larger planes and the money that comes with them along with all the guys that are on the street back here working then the J4J's are just a side affect from larger planes from main line.

With the company wanting to meet with maintiance, pilots, and FA's that is what is throwing me off. Hopefully we will know soon.

[quote=BankAngle09;455521]You sure that any new planes would go to PDT???

shedding capactiy without penalty... all of the dash's are owned correct?? the 200's are all leased...

Some of the 200's are owned by airways as well. But not many just a handfull. Look on the plate as you enter the cockpit. I have seen one or two say owned by US Airways.

Apparently the dispatch union people are going to be at this meeting also.

PDT does not own any of our 300's, they are all leased. I'm not sure about the 100's. The majority I believe are owned but I am not 100% sure.

Unfortunately, I don't think the company is going to bring anything good to the table. They will try to dangle the "if you agree to this, then we will give you this" carrot. I am facing a furlough on the 10th. They can keep this job if it means the same contract, bigger, newer planes and the same QOL. Even if it means that by agreeing to it will get me my job back.......Someone has to say that enough is enough!!

[quote=cozdabuch;455380]PDT was looking at Horizon's DHC8-200's and that fell through because Airways would not put up even ahalf way reasonable amount of $ for them. They wanted them at less than firesale prices. The Dash8 any model will blow any of the CRJ models out of the water on cost per seat mile. quote]

What is the cost per seat mile for the CRJ 200/700/900 and the Dash series?
It sounds like you know both airplanes quite well. What is the typical burn/hour for the CRJ's and the Dash's.
Only first hour really counts since 99% of our flights are around 1 hour.
Take the burn/6.7=Gallons Used X $4.00 = Cost of fuel/flight Divided by the amound of Pax = Cost of fuel/seat.
So if you can show some examples of CRJ burns and Dash Burns for say an hour of flight that would be a good comparison.

also consider, 20 min from CLT-TYS in the RJ's and its bout 45 in the dash...done it many times!

and yes i understand that the RJ's burn a lot more on takeoff and all that but i bet its close to the saem in the end.

Its not a matter of who burns more will get less, its the markets.. PDT has theirs and PSA has theirs...

some airports that we take the jets to are government routes, some give breaks for the jet service... cant change that. Im hoping for the best for both of the wholly-owned children.

[quote=Flight84;455523 With the company wanting to meet with maintiance, pilots, and FA's that is what is throwing me off. Hopefully we will know soon.[/quote]

I have a feeling this meeting is going to be really good or really bad. Hopefully it's new aircraft and PSA is getting more flying due.

Doesn't sound that way, but we will see what happens.

Can't be more airplanes cause the regionals are operating more than the mainline scope allows.

Merger of PSA and Piedmont?

Or Skywest is buying PSA?

or

Republic is buying PSA?

or

Mesa is done and whipsawing is about to start.

You guys commenting about the possibility of new aircraft for either PDT or PSA need to watch Doug Parker's comments on the crew news videos concerning the financial position of our airline.

Like him or not - he clearly explains the position that USAir is in and why we have to save every last penny right now to avoid liquidation:
https://wings.usairways.com/uswings/news/crewnews

After you've heard the CEO commenting about how the company may or may not be around by the time 2009 rolls around, you will have also learned that our cash position is not one which allows any expenditures of any kind for LCC.

Forget about it guys - they are only saving cash right now just praying that we can squeek by into 2009 where hopefully a more favorable economy will greet us.

I agree with Phuz. Take a look at the webcast and your hope for new airplanes will be smashed into pieces.

Who knows, I hope they purchase those 700's from Horizon. But I wonder why they would call in the Pilot, FA, and Maint. groups if they weren't going to get more aircraft?

From our MEC its a meeting for KH and TK to give a "state of the airline" update.

Whats an MEC? And I heard the same thing today. Dont know if I buy it completely, but it does make sense.

I just want to shed some light on this. I have done CLT-TYS in the dash in under 30. The whole speed comparison between Dash and CRJ for flights under 200nm doesn't mean anything. It drive me crazy to hear other professionals (mainly f/a's but some pilots too) complain about how unsafe, old, drastically slower, and how they hate it when company forces them to fly on those POS aircraft. Like someone stated earlier, we both have different missions but please try to make accurate comparisons.


OK rant over. I'm gonna go clean the patio so Hanna doesn't blow the furniture through my neighbor's windows. PEACE OUT everyone!

"Handling PSA's crew scheduling needs"?? Whoa, you guys are seriously ********ed! With over 5 years at PDT and many friends having gone elsewhere, all I hear about is how terrible our scheduling dept is by comparison. No one has experienced worse -no matter where they went - and I can only concur with them that your life cannot be made more miserable than PDT scheduling makes it. Enjoy.

Don't forget the training department, JK and cronies. Just completing Comair's training and it was way better than PDT. Everyone from training managers to instructors were easier people to get along with, with a very positive learning enviroment.

Hmm.. I didn't know it was possible to get any worse than our scheduling. Maybe they won't pull that same middle Ohio Vandalia redneck bullcrap and hang up on us and scream like ignorant hormonal biotches all the time.