Just to remember it in full historical detail, DAL also created the regionals (as we know them today) and moved many jobs from the mainline to the regional level. I'm not saying that justifies abetting putting a brother on the street, but it is something to remember to keep everything in perspective.

It is sickening that any company would be reduced to this, and I sure hope the end isn't as near as everyone thinks. Any pilot group - especially those who have the experience, resolve, and respect that Comair pilots do - doesn't deserve to be treated with less than the utmost respect.

I thank you. But after 19 yrs. at this place, it's like having cancer and lying in a bed waiting to die - or better yet - instead of feeling helpless, and worthless, look at it as a new chapter that life throws at you. There is much more to life than living out of a roller board. In fact, the last 8 yrs at OH have been so bad (employee attitudes) , why even bother?

Actually that would be Air Alpes in 1974, who painted their planes in Air France colors.

In the USA, it would be AA who combined American Eagle Airlines and Executive Airlines 1982.

and that's the problem for senior guys like your self. You have SO MUCH time invested in this company that you can't just get up and leave.

UPS has many pilots who made the choice to give up years of longevity and seniority at Delta, United , NWA and TWA . If you find yourself on dying horse don't ride it until its in the dirt.

exactly! the problem is alot of these guys "plan" their careers based on 5-10 years when they have 20+ years left....:rolleyes:

Hahaha nothing in Eagles history goes that far back... American Eagle was many carriers back in the day and started merging them in 98 with our current 16yr contract. First "American Eagle Flight" was a metro liner in 84. Eagle and Exec are still separate certificates with one seniority list.

Witholding payments...seems a familiar strangle tactic:

"United withheld $1.1 million in payments in June and threatens to withhold portions of its July and August payments, he said. Atlantic Coast has turned to the bankruptcy court to compel United to pay money still due under the code-share contract.
Atlantic Coast ends its relationship with United on Aug. 3 when its flies its last flight of that day. At that time, all 87 Bombardier [BBD] CRJ 200s will be devoted to the Independence fleet and all Jetstream 41 turboprops will be retired. By Sept. 1, Independence will have completed its initial launch with 600 daily departures based at Washington Dulles International Airport to 35 destinations."

Didn't XE try this also? Oh yeah, that's right. They didn't make it on their own either but instead of going into BK they were bought/saved by another airline. ohh missed that bullet.

Re-sourcing jobs to mainline= good news for long term career progression for all involved. Hopefully the DCI fleet will be downsized again in 2015. The additional jobs created at mainline DAL combined with upcoming retirements will provide a place for those furloughed to go. Once you get here you will never look back. Not being elitest, snobbish or smug, simply realistic. The regionals were never intended to be a career stop but a stepping stone. The last 10 years this was skewed and got out of proportion. Our TA at mainline has begun to swing the pendulum in the right direction. Hopefully you'll get in at the beginning of the hiring wave. For those of you in the right seat and looking for someplace to go.....do NOT start over at another Regional. Go expat now while the getting is good. Go to India, China or Africa and fly anything from the left seat that will get you turbine pic ASAP. Do it NOW and you'll be back here at a major within 12-18 mos. Your LONG term career aspects gave just improved dramatically, even though things look dire now.

Best of luck to all. You will all survive this and emerge stronger as a result.

XE's Branded operation was shut down because Continental wanted those airframes back in their system and threatened to cancel their contract at its expiration and/or hostile takeover to make it happen. No bankruptcy on the radar.

Load factor average 89% the day the doors closed. So sick of people hating on good companies.

they are new to the industry or only know what is posted on forums,

No, Bozo likes to flame XE.

Would you mind carrying in my resume? I could sure use a reference. :o

I like long walks on the beach and dream of hauling boxes under a moonlit sky!

John Bendoraitis
Career progression in short:
Northwest Mechanic
Northwest Mechanic with Degree
Northwest Maintenance Manager
Northwest no longer exists
President Compass Airlines
Compass sold to TSA
President Comair
Comair Soon to die
President Frontier Airlines
Frontier for sale-soon to die

He's just that good!

Great Post! Pure class coming from a Delta pilot on a topic that rarely brings out the best in pilots....thank you.

While I'll agree with most of what you say, you gotta remember not all RJ guys are young single dudes that can go expat on a whim. We are talking about people potentially losing jobs that have wives, kids, etc.. I'm all for us reigning in scope but it does affect lives and families.

So are you saying that all expats are young, single dudes? I am an expat and I see mostly older, experienced, married guys. It really isn't that hard to be an expat. There are commuting contracts that you can get. There are nice places to move your family as well. If your spouse supports your career then it shouldn't be a problem. If the spouse doesn't support your career choice then that is another matter. Mine supports it and the lifestyle it gives her and accepts the 3 weeks away at a time.

All I'm saying is don't rule it out just because you are married.

So ur saying in 2007-2008 cal wanted more xr's from expressjet! Cuz I remember xe furloughing

Not so much elitist, snobbish or smug, rather, self-serving.

Hopefully it'll work out better than it did for the Eastern pilots, how many did DAL hire again? Was it three or was it four?

Best of luck to all.

Yep, been there done that along with alot of other 9-11 furloughed pilots.

You forgot the greatest of all! Freedom Airlines!! Remember how they were kicked from JFK and sent to CVG?

The thing with Comair is....there will be no buyer. I love how some think that there will be a savior that rises and rescues them. It's over Johnny...it's over. No company owned planes, just Delta leased planes. Very senior pilots (since all the lower ones will be gone). Not even a building!! Nobody will make that investment thinking they could turn a former gem, turned turd, back into a gem.

You have to remember the pilot group you are targeting. The older pilots at Comair are not going to go ex-pat. Hell, they stayed at Comair all these years because they didn't even want to leave Cincinnati or commute for their jobs. You think they will go overseas...with only a few years till retirement?

Back in mid-2010, when this "downsizing" was announced, it was estimated that the junior captain would be a 1999 hire. What are the latest thoughts on this?

Junior captain, on reserve, after 13 years?? WOW, sounds like USAirways with lower pay!

I would be curious how many pilots that were furloughed after 9-11 a) were recalled by their employer(s), b) hit the bricks and found a flying job elsewhere or c) left aviation completely. Could be a lesson in there somewhere.

Why not leave in 2006 when the BK and paycuts ensued? You have to pick your battles. Either be willing to leave CVG, or commute to a new job, or stay put at Comair and hope it sticks out til retirement. 2006 was a good time to get hired, and everyone was hiring except American Airlines.

We furloughed 340+. The XR's & some LR's came back to COEX, the E-135's went to the desert. Net loss of 30 + airframes. All but 7 of them are still there.

Not to try and derail this thread on inaccurate histories, but "Code sharing" is not a mainline airline using a smaller airline, with smaller planes, as regional lift.

It all comes down to the families themselves but I personally have been an expat in China with my lovely wife and two young daughters for four years. Next month we are all moving to Qatar as a family unit to pursue another great flying job where my skills will be well compensated. If you have a wife (or a husband) that's open to a life changing experience it can be a great option. I understand not everyone can see the benefit or is willing to make the adjustment for one reason or another. Best of luck to all the Comair pilots and any other furloughed pilot at any airline.

Oh, and don't assume that you're significant other will just say "no" if you bring up a move overseas and so you never bring it up. I did and then when I mentioned it in jest she surprised me and said, "Let's do it."
You never know what you are capable of until you try.

Im pretty sure the 1999 would be the plug's doh when the 50's were parked.

Because BK and paycuts is not a cut down to 44 aircraft (or maybe less now). Back in 2010, Comair said by year end 2012 only 44 planes...which is roughly 440 pilots. At the time, there were around 1100-1200 pilots. If that didn't make you leave...I don't know what would.

If there's not a flying job here in the US, then I quit. This job is not worth turning yourself into a nomad just to find a decent job. While the US has lots of issues, I'm not about to go to the middle east, or any where else for that matter, just to build time. I will not chase flying jobs around the globe. I'd rather do something else in that case. Just my 2 cents

Peez

that's a big +1.

Very well said, my thoughts exactly!

Close, I think early 98 got to stay in the left seat in the 50. It's 91 or 92 to hold Captain in the 70.
Don't we still have some 50s to park? Or are we already at 16?

Hard to fathom that plenty of pilots at 9E, OO, RP, have gone on to fruitful careers at fedex, virgin, emirates, spirit, jetblue, atlas, and were barely in high school when most of the current comair pilots were hired..

It's not hard to fathom why senior pilots have stayed on at OH.
After the strike life was good at OH. When I was hired in '03 it was touted as "A place you can stay". Life was very good for those senior. Pay for those most senior was about upper 90's or so, retirement, excellent pass benefits, and because of PBS they bid what fit their personal needs and some were living the dream.
I flew with some who were content and had no desire to leave. Some Capt's I flew with saw OH as a means to an end and some saw it as an end.
Hopefully things do not close up at OH but if they make it out of this drama this should be a strong wake up call to move on to the majors and not be picky about where you go.

Sounds like drinking the KoolAid instead of focusing on where a regional makes its living: feeding a major airline, with contracted flying. That feed and contract can and will be eliminated at the whim of the major airline partner. You'd bet your career on that? I wouldn't.

There was a time when being a "wholly owned subsidiary" meant something different than being a "contract carrier". Perhaps you
are too young or lacking in vocational experience to remember...

Many of you forget that this consolidation/shifting of flying amongst regional carriers has been ongoing for >10 yrs. Some of us that were caught up in the first rounds moved to a wholly owned for what was supposed to be stability. Many forget that there was a time where getting hired at a wholly owned was perceived to having attained the "Holy Grail" of regional jobs. But as I've said, many of you on these boards have been in this industry for too short of time to remember. It is shocking how many have not heard and do not know the history and likes of former regional carriers such as Skyway, Chicago Express, Atlantic Coast, etc to name but a few.

I agree that today though, it is virtually meaningless.