Strictly case-by-case now...know several who have been recently denied. But anywho, make sure to enjoy your time off!!

 

They originally scheduled 15 EMB’s for retirement by the end of the summer. That number has been reduced to 5 with 1 already gone (218SW in May). The remaining 120’s have either been signed by UAL through 2011 or they’ve been retained to cover the additional (new) PR flying.

Currently we are extremely short staffed on EMB FO’s and SKW is denying all EMB (CA & FO) LOA requests. I’ve heard rumors that Mgmnt is considering a voluntary transition class of 15 or so RJ FO’s to EMB FO. There’s already a few that have their bids in and I’m sure that Mgmnt would easily get however many they need.

Just look at the facts:
1. Every reserve RJ FO can hold a sweet line on the EMB.
2. There are many West Coasters stuck in ORD & MKE.
3. An RJ FO not breaking quarantine makes roughly the same as a line holding EMB FO flying upper 80’s to low 90’s (majority of EMB FO’s credit close to 100/mnth).
4. EMB FO’s, way JR to every RJ FO, are average 14 days off per month compared to 10 for RJ reserves
5. Etc.

As for “hiring?” I wouldn’t expect any “hiring” until 2011 or beyond. We have very few “age 65” guys retiring in the next 5 years and I’ve moved up one spot in the last 6 weeks. It was due to an accident. …………..RIP GH, I knew him well and he will be missed………..Blue Skies.

The poolies might see a class or two but only if the rumored UAL Q’s or Mesa’s downfall comes to fruition………………………please don’t hold your breath. JO’s a cockroach and cockroaches can survive a nuclear holocaust.

Furloughs? No, Mgmnt has made it know that they’ve received enough VLOA’s to cover our overstaffing. Also they still have one “ace in the hole” with PTL’s. Yes SAPA says they’re hung up on benefits but when it comes down to it, if Mgmnt needs it………….it will happen. I, at one time, even thought we’d furlough the bottom 150 but Mgmnt’s holding true to their promises. As they should inorder to keep up the Kool-Aid binge drinking.

JMO and Only time will tell, until then good luck to all.

 

And with Midwest flying going away, you guys should be real fat on pilots....

 

Amazing we have furloughed. Mgmnt has made it known that they were preparing for the Midwest shutdown for some time. Yes we are fat on pilots but the Midwest shutdown won’t be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

What’s happened or is going to happen here at SKW pales in comparison to the hell the Midwest pilots and employees are going through. Best of luck to all.

 

Curious, why did you feel it necessary to vote to unionize if it was painful to do so?

 

Long term I hoped it would be best for the industry if more pilot groups belonged to one union.

Painful because alpa at the regional level sucks, period. I don't think they would do anything for SKW, except maybe create an antagonistic relationship with the company. As far as taking care of our pilot group goes, I would vastly prefer an independent union...seems to work for AA, SWA, etc.

 

ALPA is only as good as your local MEC. Doesn't matter if it's at the "regional" or legacy level, or anywhere in between. I've worked at two ALPA carriers. The first, the MEC was strong and put with very little, if any, crap from management.

They ALSO negotiated the highest ever 50 seat rates to date, and many that claim to have "industry leading rates" STILL don't match those. YOUR 50 seat rate it $1 an hour higher. Problem is, it's 2009, this was done back in 2001. Do a COL/inflation adjustment and see what it would be.

The second, well, I have reservations about how strong they really are.

But I wouldn't let the fact that you didn't do your homework, as well as made a crappy choice by going to MESA completely skew your view of ALPA.

 

[
The poolies might see a class or two but only if the rumored UAL Q’s or Mesa’s downfall comes to fruition………………………please don’t hold your breath. JO’s a cockroach and cockroaches can survive a nuclear holocaust.


If that happens the ASA furloughed pilots would be transferred to the Sky West certificate if they choose before any poolies are given class dates.

 

Currently we are extremely short staffed on EMB FO’s and SKW is denying all EMB (CA & FO) LOA requests.

Actually I just heard one of our junior FAT EMB CA's got approved for a year off.

 

We are fat on EMB captains (at least in Fresno). We are very short on EMB FO's (again, in Fresno). I think something like 9 FO reserve lines to 30 or so captain reserve lines. Probably more FO's taking the LOA's, at least that's what it seems. At least 3 of the FO's I used to fly with are on LOA's, only know of a couple captains that took it. Still, I gotta agree that it will probably be close to two years before any classes are run. I've been bidding the same number (actually went down about 5 slots when MRY closed) for well over a year now, where I used to move up at least 5 slots a month back in the day, I miss those days.