No good news
09-18-2009 | 08:31 AM
#32
Looking for a laugh
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Not board members, senior executives. He is in charge of Employee Relations, among other things.
09-18-2009 | 08:43 AM
#33
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: CRJ-200 FO
If Congress does pass legislation requiring an ATP/1500 hours to fly part 121, then we will see the end of regionals hiring pilots with 200 hours. They will be ineligible. Sure, they can work up to 1500 hours (like many of us did), but it takes more time and $$$ and therefore thins the ranks.
This matters because when the retirement wave starts in 2013 the regionals will be drained of pilots and will have no way to replace them since the number of pilots coming up through the flight schools will not be enough. The only way they can keep their pilots on property is to incentivize them in some way, possibly with higher pay or other contract improvements. This is good news and bad news. The bad news is this makes regionals more expensive to operate and will therefore contribute to their shrinking.
So while it's definitely bad right now, and may get worse before it gets better, things will turn. Better days are ahead. And for those who truly believe that single pilot crews or cabotage are coming anytime soon, I just don't see that as a serious political likelihood. For those who can hang on, it will get markedly better. Not like the glory days, but much better than today. It may take 5-10 years, but it should be worth it.
This matters because when the retirement wave starts in 2013 the regionals will be drained of pilots and will have no way to replace them since the number of pilots coming up through the flight schools will not be enough. The only way they can keep their pilots on property is to incentivize them in some way, possibly with higher pay or other contract improvements. This is good news and bad news. The bad news is this makes regionals more expensive to operate and will therefore contribute to their shrinking.
So while it's definitely bad right now, and may get worse before it gets better, things will turn. Better days are ahead. And for those who truly believe that single pilot crews or cabotage are coming anytime soon, I just don't see that as a serious political likelihood. For those who can hang on, it will get markedly better. Not like the glory days, but much better than today. It may take 5-10 years, but it should be worth it.
09-18-2009 | 09:18 AM
#34
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From: Wings Recentely Cut
WARNING: OPTIMISTIC POST; READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
this post is only one real life account and may not reflect your own personal experience[/size]
I feel pretty good right now...even though I'm back on reserve duty, I live in base, am not called every day (in fact, only flew once last week), get paid a better than ave. salery (though underpaid for a pilot/responsibility), and enjoy doing my job when I have to. It's not always like this, but right now it's pretty good. I think 2010 will be ok with hiring at nominal levels but better than now. I also think that 2011 will be better than 2010, and 2012 will be great. but that and $1.25 will get you a coke in the airport (vending machine, not restaurant). Now, if you are just now trying to get into the field, all bets are off...who really knows... If you are a CA, who's young, at a stable regional (
) then you may be in a good spot. Even a relatively senior FO should be sitting in a good position 2-3yrs from now.
this post is only one real life account and may not reflect your own personal experience[/size]
I feel pretty good right now...even though I'm back on reserve duty, I live in base, am not called every day (in fact, only flew once last week), get paid a better than ave. salery (though underpaid for a pilot/responsibility), and enjoy doing my job when I have to. It's not always like this, but right now it's pretty good. I think 2010 will be ok with hiring at nominal levels but better than now. I also think that 2011 will be better than 2010, and 2012 will be great. but that and $1.25 will get you a coke in the airport (vending machine, not restaurant). Now, if you are just now trying to get into the field, all bets are off...who really knows... If you are a CA, who's young, at a stable regional (
) then you may be in a good spot. Even a relatively senior FO should be sitting in a good position 2-3yrs from now.Few days ago I talked to a cargo guy that was recently furloughed. Before that he always complained about his company (which was bad on QOL and job security).
So I ask him: "do you miss being a freight dawg?"
and his answer was: "well... it beats being a street dawg".
09-18-2009 | 09:19 AM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
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09-18-2009 | 04:13 PM
#37
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From: CRJ-200 FO
How, exactly, is that bad news??? The less flying the regionals do, the more flying goes to mainline... Sounds like GOOD news to me...
09-18-2009 | 06:05 PM
#38
What's A Weekend?
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 803
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From: Big...So Big
If DL goes into BK again, then this industry is over. Every other carrier out there, with the exception of SWA, is closer to BK than Delta.
Are you sure about that? While I can't speak for the DCI carriers, the Senior Executive suite of Delta is comprised of the following:
Anderson - Delta
United Healthcare
NWA
Continental
Bastain - Delta
Acuity Brands
Delta
Gorman - Delta
Greyhound
Krispy Kreme
NWA
Becker - NWA
Dow Chemical
Campbell - Delta
Harrison & Ford
Continental
Hauenstien - Delta
Alitalia
Continental
Halter - Delta
American Airlines
Ernst & Young LLP
Hirst - NWA
Minnesota Twins
Burger King
KB Home
NWA
Newman - NWA
Numerous Law firms and Government positions
Walker - Delta
Continental
Frontier - Horizon (old ones)
TV journalist - KWGN
Wise - NWA
Seems to me that these folks change companies faster then a frat boy on a saturday night. None of them are true "company men." Don't expect them to run Delta just like NW was run.
Are you sure about that? While I can't speak for the DCI carriers, the Senior Executive suite of Delta is comprised of the following:
Anderson - Delta
United Healthcare
NWA
Continental
Bastain - Delta
Acuity Brands
Delta
Gorman - Delta
Greyhound
Krispy Kreme
NWA
Becker - NWA
Dow Chemical
Campbell - Delta
Harrison & Ford
Continental
Hauenstien - Delta
Alitalia
Continental
Halter - Delta
American Airlines
Ernst & Young LLP
Hirst - NWA
Minnesota Twins
Burger King
KB Home
NWA
Newman - NWA
Numerous Law firms and Government positions
Walker - Delta
Continental
Frontier - Horizon (old ones)
TV journalist - KWGN
Wise - NWA
Seems to me that these folks change companies faster then a frat boy on a saturday night. None of them are true "company men." Don't expect them to run Delta just like NW was run.
Comair - Bendyouranus - Former NWA, then Compass, then Comair
Compass-Campbell - Former NWA
Mesaba - Spanjers - Former NWA
All the CEO's are former NWA
09-18-2009 | 06:19 PM
#39
What's A Weekend?
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 803
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From: Big...So Big
Regionals won't he hiring for a while, at least 3 years I'm guessing. There may be some small classes here or there to cover attrition, but the growth that was seen at regionals from 2003-2008 is over. The 50 seater is basically dead, & with limits on larger RJs regionals will continue to shrink.
Plus, I'm not sure I understand your comment about DAL never getting out of their 1970's way of running an airline. How much DAL flying is outsourced? Doesn't DAL fly a Hub & Spoke system? Are we following the rules of de-regulation? Do our CAs make enough to take a months paycheck and buy a car?
The Glory Days have been over for a long time. I'm sorry that Comair is taking such a beating, but I think DAL managements actions have more to do with adapting to survive rather then sticking to a 1970's business plan. JMO
Cheers
Plus, I'm not sure I understand your comment about DAL never getting out of their 1970's way of running an airline. How much DAL flying is outsourced? Doesn't DAL fly a Hub & Spoke system? Are we following the rules of de-regulation? Do our CAs make enough to take a months paycheck and buy a car?
The Glory Days have been over for a long time. I'm sorry that Comair is taking such a beating, but I think DAL managements actions have more to do with adapting to survive rather then sticking to a 1970's business plan. JMO
Cheers
No airline captains make that kind of money anymore. Sad.
JFK terminal 2 and 3 (DAL)- are these not the oldest, most run down terminals in the entire airport? Yes, they are. Just go to Jet Blue, American, or any other terminal and compare.
Gate agents that rude to passengers (yes, it happens at other airlines, but I see it mostly at DAL) Pax are your livelyhood, if you treat them like crap, they won't come back.
Not anything against geriatric people still working, but NOT as a flight attendant please!
The list goes on, but I am too tired to think of them right now.
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