Colgan dumping the Saabs
 

Shouldn't surprise many of you, but it sounds as though the Saabs are as good as gone...

Heard in the schoolhouse this week that you might as well kiss em goodbye from multiple union reps...in negotations to have a slow drawdown over at least a year long to prevent furloughs...it's not official obviously but dont be surprised to hear something by summer

For every 3 guys leaving PinnaColAba they are hiring 1...

It's probably about time.

But all three guys are from the bottom of the seniority list. So what does it matter?

It's actually funny you say that

for every 8 guys they hire they were saying 3 show up to class and 1 ends up making it through, the other 2 find a better gig...

I can confirm the rumor. I was in the school house all last month, and that was the word on the street. I guess we'll just have to wait it out and see what happens. Regardless, good luck to all. BOHICA!

Interesting...

If I had $1 for every rumor I've heard over the last few months I wouldn't have to work here anymore. (this may or may not be an exaggeration)

That's not to say it wouldn't surprise me though. Oh well... Yawn... gotta love that rumor mill

Just found a picture of Phil Trenary on his last day...

http://paoicirco.files.wordpress.com...-hospital1.jpg

Wrong. I know of 2 from the top of the list that left within the last week and another 1 leaving in the next month as well. So right there is 3 from the top 3rd in less than a month. And I'm sure that's just a small sample of who's actually leaving.....I'd say it's safe to imagine people are leaving from all levels within the list.

Let the record show that I did not start this thread. But I agree with it, it's what I've been preaching. Goodbye Saabs. Nice to see others are finally waking up and seeing reality. Interestingly, I'm surprised no one has attacked the poster for this "rumor" and instead respond that yeah we all knew that was gonna happen with the Saabs. Really?

Ya well the difference is his actually makes sense, your story is " OMGZ THE SAABZ WILL BE PARKED IN MARCH AND ALL WILL BE FURLOUGHED"

I'm not a colgan/mesaba guy, but just curious as I commute on a Mesaba Saab fairly often, but is this post about just Colgan getting rid of the Saabs, or the combined Colgan AND Mesaba getting rid of the Saabs?
Thanks

Probably just Colgan since Mesaba already got rid of their SAABs

Colgan, mesAbas are parked

Saabs cost the company too much money to maintain and train for. As soon as a pilot can move off the Saab, they do...revolving door in training.

It will be better in the long run for the company.

My buddy is a captain there(Colgan or formerly Colgan) and said the Saabs are going but they still need pilots. Is that because of everyone that's leaving due to the cluster******* of Pinnaclaba?

I don't see how we can get rid of the SAABs over a year and not furlough. Can anyone who is smarter show some numbers to convince me otherwise?

Well my understanding is we crew them at 5 per plane so 10 total pilots.

We are currently saying we need to hire 120-150 on the Colgan side by June so that theoretically means we could park about 12-15 right now and be ok. That means we have 20 more to phase out. We are losing about 15-20 pilots a month, so 2 planes worth. 2 planes a month could be parked for attrition alone. Very rough math but thats what I am led to believe.

No, the difference between the OP and Shyguy is the OP didn't say OMG, there goes my upgrade, and got really screwed on this SLI.

Wow, I have been so concerned just with my base seniority that I did not even notice how many were leaving throughout the system. That does not mean the attrition will continue though. Also, if the negotiations with Delta or UAL don't go well, we will lose another 50 planes.

why do we need to hire so many? i hear the reserve guys never fly as it is

Saab reserves fly alot

Stop....please just stop.

You stop lol !!!!

Yes, it is true. The Saabs are going away next year. They will be replaced two for one by B1900s which will all be single pilot crewed. Since so few of the present employees have single pilot experience, the company will be looking for direct hire CAs with King Air and 1900 time.

Also, the Qs and 900s will be converted to corporate ships and offered for charter under under the new name "Ultimate Comfort Airways" (which will fail miserably as all self branded regionals have). The 200s will all be converted to cargo ships under a contract with DHL and branded as the new ABEX; unfortunately, as DHL wants nothing to do with domestic operations, the 200s will be retired 90 days after the new contract is signed.

In the end, all but 72 pilots will be furloughed, and those who remain will be forced to toss cans of soda back to the 19 pax since there will no FAs left.

Why a whole can of soda when you can divvy up a single can into at least three little cups, or for that matter why give a drink at all. Some will even refuse the peanuts if they have nothing to drink thus curtailing snack/drink expenses even more! :eek: ;)

USMCFLYR

Brilliant!! You have captured the mindset of those idiots. Well said. Where are all the 9E pilots going??

Spirit and Virgin are the top 2

Good news is always nice. Best of luck to the 9E group.

We'll be properly staffed when pilots sitting reserve never (or at least VERY seldom) go above 75 hrs credit per month unless they pick up open time.

At least it's gotten a little better over the last 5 years. Back then if you asked how long you'd be on reserve the response was "what's reserve??".

I'd venture to say it has to do with the Saab being the lowest paying airframe in the fleet.

The EFIS tubes on the Saabs are no longer supported at the end of 2013. The only way to then operate them is to upgrade to all glass cockpits. The cost per plane is $2 million. This is the reason they are trying to get rid of them. So yes they are on the way out the door.

Im not sure whether to believe that or not, numerous Brasilias and KA's/1900s among others are still operating with similar(if not the same) system, in the US. This is the first I have heard of it. It would be cheaper to just go back to steam guages....:D Old school Baby

Dang, BIGRIG knocked it out the park. Do we get to keep our lives now?

Game. Set. Match. To BIGRIG

Our fleet manager told me the EXACT same thing 2 weeks ago.

Well than we can all agree:

BIGRIG 1, The World 0

Do you ever make a serious post or is always sarcastic annoying bs?

I have heard of something similar about 2yrs ago, wonder if thats why Silver Airways Saabs are being fitted with glass and fms?

Well that should really help the resale value of the Saabs. :rolleyes:

You may keep your life. But the company will require you to surrender 5% of your soul.