ASA pool
 

Any word from current ASA pilots as to upcoming classdates?

maybe sooner that you think if the rumor of 15 new planes is true.

Sitting in the pool since March. Apparently there are quite a few people walking out the door though.... I hope to get a class real soon, but I wish that wasnt the reason why.

Are you serious, I got a call on the last day of my IOE to come for the interview in Atlanta, they were ramping up the old guy told me. Glad I didn't give up a job to sit in a pool.

Same thing happened to me. About a week before I finished ground school I got the call.

It apprears that there may be some movement at the contract table. If this gets resolved there will be a lot of new pilots and planes coming to the property. All of the hiring is dependent upon the contract getting signed.

Whats the word on the "movement" at the table?

Im not really up on whats going on with the contract. Is this thing days/weeks/months away from getting an agreement or what?

We've had movement many times in the past, with no resolve. Until we get something to vote on, I wouldn't hold my breath....

Speaking of movements, my bowel seems to be active...

FWIW, there are whole bunch of ASA FO's in SKW groundschool right now...that has got to be creating some vacancies.

Beware of going to ASA. You know ASA stands for Always Super Arrogant right? That's right they are trying to rob the company blind as we speak.

Rob Blind? Not true. We are not even asking for our cost of living increase for the last FOUR years. It is about half that. The remainder of what is in our proposal is industry standard. We cannot help the fact that others has fallen on their swords. We as a collective pilot group have chosen not to take pay cuts for more aircraft. Plain and simple. When this contract gets compleated the QOL here will be better because of it. We will also grow. There is no hiding that. Delta loves Atlanta and ASA gets 80% of the DCI flying out of here. SKW, INC. (SKW and ASA) get 40% of all DCI growth. Those are hard numbers. There will be growth in other parts of the country, but the majority of it will be in Delta's home town.
A word for you guys and gals in the pool. Sit tight. If someone else calls by all means go. Learn never to put your lives on hold for an airline.

I appreciate the straight talk, it's refreshing with so much "Chicken Little" ranting that goes on. Looking forward to going to ATL when all is worked out. :cool:

Respectfully disagree. ASA is about to eat a hugh sh!t sandwich, compliments of JA and Skywest Airlines. This is a classic union bust, A la Lorenzo, and ASA will be shrinking by at least the 700 fleet. While we fight for industry leading 700 pay, and jump up and down when we "win" it, the last laugh is on us, when JA finishes transfering them, and opens a 700/900 base in ATL with Skywest. Coupled with the loss of the ATR's, and there you have it. If you are in the ASA pool, go to Skywest or CHQ.

First off, ignore D'angelo- he's been banned from other sites, and the moderator of this site has "spoken" to him for his inflamitory remarks....

Truman might be right, but I doubt it. J Atkins is not so much trying to bust our union as he is simply trying to prevent it from coming to Skywest. He did not buy us to break us up (although at times it feels like it) but rather to have two different airlines so he could bid for contract work which Skywest could not.
Example?
1. Skywest could not get the LAX work because of conflict with the United contract.
2. ASA has a 15 year contract with Delta that it will recieve 80% of all DCI flying in ATL
3. Although the boneheads in our GO missed the Continental contract (not once but twice!) they promise they are actively pursuing other flying. Maybe some of the Mesaba (no offense to Mesaba pilots-your managment is screwing you sideways!) flying
4. Finally, most people agree that 70/90 seat flying is the future of the regionals, the idea of a 50 seat only ASA when we have a guarantee of 80% of the DCI flying in ATL just doesn't add up.

Did you ever wonder why they want to "give" us a pay raise on the 50 and paycut on the 70? because if the future is the larger 70/90 and a reduction (eventually) of the 50's it will be more advantageous for the company to give money where they know they won't have to spend it in the future, and save money where the growth segment of the industry is.
Truman, my guess is you are a fairly senior fo if you are on the 700 and you are frustraited (rightfully so) about the lack of movement and long upgrade times. For what it is worth, I'm a senior pilot (#313) and I speak with ALPA guys all the time and tell them that top end pay is great but we should get a contract done as soon as possible. 6 year F.O.s is just unfair.

There is suppose to be a telephone question call coming from the union where you will have your chance to tell the union where you hope their priorities lie.

I feel your pain.... it might get worse before it gets better, but I don't think we are going to be flying 3 bandits with the windows open anytime soon.

IMHO,
St

Anybody else in the pool get a call from pilot recruiting yesterday asking for updated times and availability for a class in the near future???

Nevermind.

What does that have to do with anything?

Everything Jacks... (j/k)

Good reflectoins stickwiggler. There is a dirty rumor going around that we're not losing any of the 700s... hopefully its true!

I got a call from ASA asking for updates on my application/resume. Mainly asking about times and if there were any new types or crimes since my interview.

When I asked if the pool was opening up, he said that was the question of the day, but that he couldn't help but believe that it is good news if the company is asking for all these updates.

marinepilot

I got called 2 days ago, for the same reasons as marine. But this is the second time they called me to "update my information," and to "be encouraged" because they were calling. Still no class dates established. The absolute bottom line ladies and gentlemen... Nobody knows...

I think that pretty much sums up this entire crazy industry of ours...

D'Angelo, you are such a tool. Tell everyone why you got banned at Flightinfo. I hope you get banned here too. Seems you're too cheap to fork out the 10 bucks for a new screen name over there?

I don't understand why y'all want to go to ASA. There are many better regionals out there who pay more, have faster upgrades, and treat their people better. ASA is a sinking ship. Do your homework before coming here!

Already done, and I'm at AWAC. Thanks for the advice though;)

Which ones would you recommend? I feel XJet (despite the 69 planes no longer flying for CAL) is #1, PSA is also a good choice (domiciles).

-LAFF

So I guess the fact that the new contract didn't go over too well doesn't help us poolies get into class any earlier...

I wouldn't think so. In fact, I'll be surprised if management doesn't transfer airplanes and even furlough just to send a message.

Well, from what I hear and read on message boards, CoEx or Replublic/Chautauqua/Shuttle America would all be good choices. I would avoid PSA, and avoid ASA at all costs!

Isn't Skywest slowly taking over ASA anyways? Aren't they taking around 10 airplanes from the SLC base and now flying them under the Skywest certificate with more to come? Why would these guys stay in the ASA pool when you could get on with Skywest, the parent company? Especially since Skywest is apparently extremely short handed right now?

The pilot group as a whole at ASA feels that they will not take a substandard contract for growth. Does that mean a transfer of flying? In my opinion yes. Does that mean that ASA is not the place to be until a contract get voted in? Yes. The pilots as a whole are fed up. It has been a cat and mouse game for the last four years. The last propasal did make some decent movement, but based on what we as a group have told OUR union to say it was not enough. Are there some here that think that we are being gready? Yes, but it is the majority that rules. When we finally get this contract behind us and IF the company is not dismantled to prove a point, it will be one of the best regionals to work for.
The question all of you sitting in the pool have to ask yourselves is, Is coming here worth the risk? Only you can answer that. I myself have over nine years here and have a vested interest in the out come of this contract. My family and their quality of life depends on it. After four years do you think that we are going to blink? Nope. We as a whole are willing to do what ever it takes to stop this race to the bottom. Will this change? That is up to the 1700+ pilots here that have a say to decide.....

Trying very hard.

Just my 2 cents.... To all you ASA pool pilots, I would not wait. Being in a pool is a great, but passing up a similar job to wait for pool date is probably not the best plan. Unless you Love Atlanta, and that's the reason to come to ASA, then get on a seniority list as soon as you can at a good regional.

John P has an overly pesimistic view of ASA (no offense John, you certainly have a right to your opinion) but I agree more with the ACL guy's description of things. It is true that we have had a revolving door of Managers from Delta who couldn't quite make the big show, and IMHO don't give a crap about the airline or the people.
When I started at ASA in 97 I thought it would be a stepping stone... then after 9/11 and an O.K. life, I thought I would make a go out of staying at the Regional (technically a National Carrier), make my 100,000 and have a good schedule. The events of the last year have me job hunting again.
In conclusion, is ASA a great place to work? No. Has it ever been "great"? No. Is it a hell of a lot better than a lot of jobs out there? Yes.

St

Pool E
 

I got the call the other day, I had thought also that that was THE CALL.


Any news on a class @ ASA?:eek:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to anyone else in the pool with me, but from what I understand ASA has cancelled all interviews and all recruitment events. I was told not to expect a class before 07.

Yup, that's what they told me. late fall, early 07', but during the call, it was hinted to me that somethin' might be goin' on sooner perhaps??

Yup, that's what they told me. late fall, early 07', but during the call, it was hinted to me that something might be goin' on a bit sooner than expected perhaps.
After all, why would they call. unless they were ready to do something??

I've got a good feeling about that call

Yeah, but that last day of contract negotiations Wednesday was after they called you.

I received a call today for updated times, etc. for January class date.

They don't have to "try", they own it lock, stock, and barrel. They could transfer all the assets to SKW tomorrow if they wanted to. The right of successship would be a speedbump.

I don't think that's what SKW wants in the long term, there are advantages to operating multiple certificates.

I think you misunderstood. Im Trying to go to Skywest.