Very contructive, thank you for your contribution to the discussion!

 

First, ToiletDuck doesn't speak for a vast majority of us.

Second, we're working on the pay, just like many other pilot groups. Unfortunately like the other groups, it's an uphill battle. Made even worse by 418 mesa pilots that voted in a horrible contract. This contract isn't great, but it kept us on one certificate (Republic was supposed to be a whipsaw ala GoJet/Freedom A). There are many here (myself included) that will vote no on anything that doesn't have a significant pay raise and a number of QOL improvements.

Third, a vast majority of us see right through Bedford. If he wants this airline to grow, he's going to have to pay us accordingly. He's just as ruthless as JO and others. He just uses religion to make himself look better. If he were a man of his word we wouldn't have 120 still on the street while posting a profit.

Last, will somebody please explain to me why the 170 is so evil compared to the CRJ-700/900? Is it the engines on the wings?

 

No doubt but as I was stating while the business plan might have been solid it's still much more difficult for 50 seat aircraft to absorb fluctuations in expenses. I never said they didn't offer a good product and I've never said it wasn't well run and wouldn't meet it's goals. I simply said that after looking at the paperwork it didn't seem like a good investment for the company, that it wouldn't last. They could have met all the goals they wanted, have had 100% load factors, and the highest customer satisfaction out there but in the end it didn't make it. The revenue was not there. I've never argued that the spike in oil didn't have something to do with it. I said it didn't look like a good business move and in the end it wasn't. This wasn't a long term legacy that has been here for decades and has to roll with the punches. This was a decision by management to start a new airline in an already troubling time. The price of oil had doubled within the previous 3 years and was still showing an upward trend. When XJT went branded oil was sitting around $65 a barrel with signs it was going higher. Legacy's had been around forever and were forced to deal with it. Jim Ream decided to jump into an already flooded market with climbing operating expenses. It ended up not being a good idea and ultimately led to the closing of it's doors. Regardless of who, what, when, where, or why the investment by the airline turned out to be a bad one as many thought would happen. The CASM of a 50 seater is much higher than the larger planes and to keep ticket prices in line meant much smaller profits/if any. Even JO(as much as it chills me to say his name) admits that using RJs for branded flying will never make money. It's away to utilize aircraft, if even a little, to help offset the loss the company would incur if they kept them parked on the ramp.

 

I think you are right, it is the mini 737 look. The plane looks more like a mini mainline plane so there is more hate for it.

If there were as many DC9's around as 737's, people would hate the CRJ 900 as well

 

They say ignorance is bliss.... tell us how it really feels though. You can't be serious thinking there was an actual vote by any pilot group. We found out the same time the Midex guys and you did. By opening up the paper and reading it there.

 

I try to avoid bashing specific companies. Lots of derogatory dialog flows here about how one regional or another is dragging us down. We are all flying routes and numbers of seats the majors used to fly. I believe the market forces are much larger than any one airline. No one pilot group is going to solve our problems.

The reason that I have been talking specifically about the RAH vs. Midwest Airlines situation is that RAHPilot05 referred to the Mesa pilot group as "bottom feeders". He later explained that he is untroubled by the loss of union pilot jobs and the fact that he is performing their work for much less pay. I am damned if someone like that calls me a "bottom feeder" without a fight.

The Dash Whisperer

 

How much should someone make flying 76 seats? Everyone keeps screaming "It should be mainline" but did anyone check and see what mainline paid it's employees to fly it? Would six figures for a 4-5yr CA be good enough? Just curious what you expect.

 

Come on man. Didn't your company just put another company out of business with predatory pricing?

Those in glass houses....

 

You're right, it does none of us any good. However you guys had a great chance to get the ball rolling and set the standard. Unfortunately just over half of your pilot group fell for JO's BS and other groups currently negotiating are getting stalled because management is crying that we can't compete if we're paid more.

 

Especially for a contract that is amendable again in just 2 years. Sure Block or better was a great improvement, but still not much protection otherwise. Hey though lets here it for the 418!