Just because reporting isn't in line with union rhetoric doesn't mean it's incorrect or superficial. There are politics to be played on both sides of this game, don't believe anything you hear.

It's our responsibility as stewards of this profession to think critically and evaluate each situation from all viewpoints, ideally without emotional investment. Only then can we form a rational and informed opinion.

 

Sorry guys...this isn't just NPR.

The original stock market insight article upon which this was based actually was looking at the contracts that legacy have negotiated with FFD and the fact that FFD are not making the kind of profits (one FFD with as little as $23M in profit this) compared to many times that they made 10-15 years ago because of the Legacy squeeze on FFD in these contracts. The original article DID talk about the only place for FFD management to find savings was in squeezing labor. And frankly, if you listen to this clip, while it didn't talk about all of the costs and low wages, it did highlight that the FFD is primed to change.

Guys ... this really represents more the threat to FFD management than to us... and the stock rating article really highlighted that element. And if I were management (I'm not) at a FFD, I wouldn't want to be such management because they are not able to turn the profits (applies mostly to non-legacy owned regionals but the economics are the same and just not independently financed and reported) that investors (including the AAGs and DLs) are going to expect. And the original article discussed the cause for this being really the negotiated contracts with Legacy...not wages.

We're already seeing that in DL stating it taking back flying to Legacy. If you look at the DOT stats, aggregate regional flying is shrinking while legacy and LCC flying is growing. You can be angry or you can see this for what it is. Legacy's are NOT making the kind of money on the FFD model that they did 10-15 years ago and the model is already in the process of changing. The managements at FFD will continue to try to squeeze labor ... but there ARE fewer new start pilots actually pursuing this career due to CURRENT graduates pay expectations, cost of flight education, and frankly, more competitive pay both within this profession (corp/international) and especially outside this profession.

This is going to be a hard and challenging time for especially higher paid regional pilots as managements continue to try to depress wages. Many of my friends are moving as quickly as possible to LCC's and many are moving to Legacy carriers. I regret seeing what is happening at my airline...but you can respond or...

Folks, we're pilots! We plan, we have an out, we have contingencies. If you don't update and execute those plans, you crash. Now is the time to be working at alternates...knowing the destination may not be what you thought it was...and the landing might not be pretty ... but it's better than not adjusting your plan and ending up a "career accident". (and yes, I know some of those routes are not pretty and we deserve more...but sometime the weather turns to !@#t and you have a mechanical at the same time).

Plan, execute, re-plan, select your alternate, execute ... repeat as necessary!

I'm a re-entry to the industry...thought AE now Envoy would be a great place to take off out of Bankruptcy...bad times behind. I had a strategy. Couldn't predict the future we're seeming to become...but it doesn't mean I let go of the controls and watch the collision... "don't be the bunny" (try googling that)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgH0fOcp3T8

Fly safe! Career Safe!

 

Yeah, go figure... People usually save up for when they go on vacation and do not want to work. Pilots have to save up to go to work. hahaha...