I wish... we need movement!

That's a big negative. Personally I don't see ASA hiring anytime in the near future. Even a single recall before 2011 looks very unlikely. It's all we can do to keep from shrinking right now. DL has been consistantly offering us 2:1 900 for 200's but the company hasn't taken any because that just sets us up to shrink more. Taking the first 2:1 was a huge risk that luckily worked out with the United contract, although we still have 6 homes to find for 200's. Most will agree one of our biggest problems is we have way to many 50 seat airplanes that no one wants. Our goal, as I hear it from management, is to work towards flipping the fleet to mostly 65+ seat aircraft. That process is going to have some pretty painful times unfortunately.

With that said, we could somehow end up with some more airplanes from somewhere and things would be totally different staffing wise. The only thing certain is change.

Do you all think that Skywest will pull the furloughees over there with the block hour increase?

not disagreeing with you, I decided to run some numbers on fleet makeup between ASA and SKW and 65+ seat aircraft. I used the fleet size numbers from APC.
ASA->159 total, 110 crj's- 69.2%, 39 cr7- 24.5%, 10 cr9 – 6.3%
SKW->280 total, 140 crj's- 50%, 65 cr7-23.2%, 19 cr9- 6.8%, Emb120- 20%
Is the planned increase in 2010 for SKW on the United or Delta side? The 65+ seat numbers are similar. I understand this isn't the only factor or the biggest picture, however.

Maybe the staffing picture at ASA would be slightly different going into 2010 if we didn't have a union hell-bent (seemingly) on pushing PBS over on the pilot group, and a pro company furlough coordinator bragging that "he would be picking up open time if he could, but his schedule doesn't permit it," and a company that has completely flip-flopped on what they consider efficient lines and a base for recalls (first 75, now 85). At least not being recalled by ASA will save everyone the trouble of the new sham health benefit program

Yup, PBS getting shoved down the pilot group's throat just in time for the MEC that is doing the shoving to depart office.

All the more reason to vote no. At least this time around.

They've been scheming this up for over a year and a half now. They sure know how to time it. Selling the "growth" myth as well.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

Yep, the ambiguous promise of future growth is enough to keep the furloughees salivating at a hope for recall and off their backs, and the promise of increased pay, QOL and no furloughs to anyone on property is enough to get the "yes" votes they require. Carefully crafted hope and change and timed perfectly so no one without furlough protection could vote on it. It's nice to see other companies recalling and our parent company planning on hiring while ASA continues the same merry go round of mediocrity

And don't forget about the many DOWNGRADES that will come with PBS!!!

Will you guys just stop this, please?
PBS does not mean job losses or downgrades or anything of the sort. You are talking about changing the rules of your contract. If you implement PBS and do not change any other rules, there is no change in productivity. You can still only fly a certain number of hours, you still have to abide by all of the other rules of your contract. PBS does NOT change those things. There is such an irrational fear of PBS, and it is not justified. TWA had PBS and they loved it. Let me repeat - they loved it.

who is this?

Displacements from positions or furlough

o No pilot will be displaced from his position as a result of PBS.

o No pilot will be furloughed as a result of PBS.