If there's any good news, I don't think today's economic enviroment is anything like what we experienced in 2008. I know that's what everyone fears, but two major brokerage houses failed, AIG and the banks were bailed out, and the economy had been losing jobs all year.

Today, US banks are in ok shape, the economy is adding a small number of jobs, and oil prices certainly aren't as high as they were in 2008. It's not great, but short of some wild event, I have a hard time imagining furloughs like we saw then. Whether we want to believe it or not, a whole lot of pilots are about to start turning 65.

Not trying to be an optimist, just not trying to be a pessimist. It still seems just as likely AA may be playing hardball.

 

No. There are 119 DFW ATR pilots flying the line right now. The 20 furloughs were all in the Dec 5 new hire class. It will be 119 displacements IF the ATRs are returned to the leasing company and most likely an equal number of additional furloughs.

Furloughing out of seniority is 100% rumor right now and nothing else. The company would have to either have our CBA terminated under section 1113(c) or petition the judge to allow them to do it because of the massive training bubble it will create and the cost associated with it. Until something comes down from the courts everyone needs take a chill pill.

The best thing for everyone right now is to stay safe, don't stress out, and listen to the facts, not rumors. I know it's difficult to do, I am struggling with it too but everything is out of our hands right now and getting stressed or speculating doesn't help anybody.

 

Well screw it. It is what it is. Sitting reserve in Chicago now. Looks like that's not going to change for the next couple of months at least. Going to spend a lot of time at the Chicago O'Hare Hilton Athletic Club. A great time and way to relieve that stress.

O'Hare has the best gym in the system..... Just renewed membership for the fifth year....

 

Where are you getting these numbers from? The WARN letter has a **** poor list on it since it includes 4 Captains who are TDY to DFW for the month of December (2 from SJU & 2 from MIA). Please stop making stuff up, check your sources because every pilot in DFW has at least 6 months of seniority and can hold any equipment in any base except LAX. There is a rumor floating around that the company will furlough out of seniority, but this is just a rumor. We don't know what the company is going to do. Things aren't rosy but people stop trying to spread fear. We are seeing furloughs, and there is a possibility for more to come. But please people look at the facts! The company says that if they close DFW ATR they will honor the contract, they could ask the judge for something else but AMR has 4 Billion in cash, a move of this magnitude would have huge ramifications. Here is an e-mail that was sent from the company yesterday evening.

16DEC11/1640

ATTENTION: ALL EXECUTIVE AND AMERICAN EAGLE PILOTS

REFERENCE: WARN NOTICE AND CURRENT NEWS ARTICLES

THE COMPANY RECENTLY NOTIFIED THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION,
AND ALPA, THAT DUE TO RESTRUCTURING IT APPEARS LIKELY
THAT THERE WILL BE A REDUCTION IN ATR FLYING IN DFW. WE
ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY EMPLOYEES PRIOR TO ANY POTENTIAL
REDUCTION IN FORCE, IF THAT REDUCTION IS OF A SIGNIFICANT SIZE
IN ANY ONE LOCATION.

WE ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE SCHEDULE CHANGES THAT WILL BE
NEEDED AS A RESULT OF THE ATR REDUCTIONS AND IDENTIFY THOSE
MARKETS WHERE ATR FLYING WILL BE REPLACED BY EAGLE REGIONAL
JETS.

ANY EXECUTIVE AIRLINE PILOTS BASED IN DFW WHO ARE IMPACTED BY
A REDUCTION IN FLYING WILL MAINTAIN ALL OF THEIR CONTRACTUAL
DISPLACEMENT RIGHTS AT AMERICAN EAGLE AND EXECUTIVE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME.

REGARDS, AND FLY SAFE.

 

Really sux guys....I feel for all those new guys that just got screwed. Nothing like giving up a job for a new one only to have the new one lay you off. Went through it personally at Comair in 2008. Hiring like gangbusters right up to the point of furloughs. Doesn't make a bit of damn sense.

 

Dude, please chill. I have friends at Eagle that are relatively new. I'm not trying to spread rumors, because I obviously don't know what's going on over there. That's why I posted the question.

Again, I feel for those who are affected by this, and best of luck to all.

 

As far as downsizing the ATRs due to lease cost re-evaluation, AMR set up this scenario back when they sold the airplanes to the leasing company. Why would a company sell its equipment just to lease it back at an unfavorable cost? Something is telling me the groundwork for this bancruptcy was laid a long time ago.

 

How do you furlough out of seniority? I'm not familiar with that.

 

The company is not furloughing out of seniority. They made it very clear that they will furlough per our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In other words, a displacement bid will come out, the pilots will displace to a status they can hold per their seniority, and the junior pilots left without a chair will be mailed furlough notices.

It's not a good feeling. I've been here 20+ years, but went through that exact scenario in late 92, and ended up with a furlough notice for February 28th of '93.

 

It's my understanding, besides the 5 DEC Eagle new hire class, the only ones in immediate jeopardy are the Executive Airlines crews. It's a shame, really. I hope we can all hold on!