I think they will have no problem staffing any sort of midwestern domicile, and yes, I do believe it would go pretty senior. But I also believe that it will be interesting how it will go. I know a few fairly senior people who have invested a lot of money and time moving out east and likely would stay east.

All I think is that IF we really got, say, 15 airplanes and based them in MKE (it would almost certainly be a joint domicile and pilots would fly trips for both US Airways and Midwest out of MKE) the whole face of the company would change. There would be lots of hiring and lots of upgrades. I also think the PHL domicile would be a bit smaller.

In the past 12-18 months there has been a huge amount of attrition and our average longevity has dropped a bit. So I think that if we had a MKE domicile it would go senior, but there would also be many surprises as to who would take it. Depends a lot on how big it would be.

We'll see. I am hoping and keeping my fingers crossed, but not all that optimistic. We are "uncompetitive" in other bids and have lost in a number of RFPs out there.

 

Yep. AWAC will stay a 70 RJ company IMO. When the time comes for the US Air CPA to get rebid on, I'm guessing the company will be spun off and go public to lower the owners risk.

 

Glad to hear you're sooo optimistic... I choose to drink the Kool-Aid over the poison you're serving.

 

I prefer the term "realistic".

 

That's fair.

 

We never had a shot at the Delta RFP, or even the Northwest 76 seaters, guys...Midwest, we actually have a chance at.

Once again, I wouldn't be suprised if we don't get the flying, but if the company can't secure the incremental growth they keep talking about in their own backyard, they aren't trying.

 

If the Midwest RFP is lost, I'm leaving. I'm betting a lot more will do the same.

It gives us absolutely NO hope for future growth. The management did a GREAT job securing the flying with US Air, it was a hail mary but it worked. I'd love to see the company a little more aggressive when it comes to growth (they ARE bidding they say) but I think they are getting greedy when it comes to making money off of these RFP's.

 

If we don't get Midwest flying, I won't go anywhere (I don't expect to ever fly in that system anyway)...but I bet alot of people will after finally getting fed up with the commute. There will be rapid movement as CAs go to LCCs and the legacies when they start hiring again, and CAs as well as FOs leave for corporate, charter, or fractional gigs, and a small number of FOs make a lateral move to another regional in search of a quick upgrade or bases closer to home.

Either way, 2007 will have lots of hiring & training events...

 

Maybe. The attrition has really slowed down, 2005-2006 showed 15, 20, sometimes 25 CA's leaving per month. Now we're down in the 6-10 range. I had 140 below me in 6 months time when I was hired. I don't see a rapid pace like that again, but that's just me .

I could care less about being based in MKE, I prefer the east coast actually. I'm just saying that if the company can't win the Midwest RFP it essentially is doomed to grow any further.

 

You guys are both right. I will stay 'til I get my PIC time and try to move on. I am getting pretty close to upgrade anyway. I came to ZW with really high hopes and thought that if things don't work out elsewhere I can spend a long time here. I no longer think like that. There seems to be little light at the end of the tunnel.

I grew up in ATW and thought this would be a pretty nifty place.

I also expect a lot of attrition if we don't get that Midwest flying. The company is not serious about growth and has demonstrated that employees' concerns are not their concerns.

Since I have been here they have missed out on a lot of opportunities and have missed every single one. The US Airways thing was an act of desperation that worked out. But they lost United, AirTran (both of which they had and could have kept!) lost Delta, never even were invited to bid at CAL, will probably lose NWA, etc. The boats keep sailing and we keep sitting on the dock watching them sail.

Me, I am moving to DCA, upgrading soon I hope and will enjoy life there!! At least I like DCA and the area there. It is a bit like a mini ORD!