Pilot shortage-give your report
04-15-2015 | 11:53 AM
#21
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2014
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The company flat out told the negotiating committee that they want to have a TA for the pilot group to vote on by April 30th. They went from meeting every other week with the NC to meeting every day of the work week and TA'd four articles in the last week alone. Something has lit a fire under them, whether it be the unexpected extension of our delta 145 flying or something else entirely remains to be seen. Big things are happening behind the scenes at RAH right now.
Do not trust people who demonstrate to you that they should not be trusted.
As for the Delta 145 flying,...... (1) Delta CEO, Anderson has publically, (and often) stated his disdain for 50 seat jets, and (2) if RAH were able to maintain 145 flying, they wouldn't have pulled the United 145 flying like they did.
04-15-2015 | 12:21 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
A Couple quick thoughts/points:
1) RAH has stalled contract negotiations for OVER 8 YEARS,..... and counting. If RAH REALLY wanted to stem pilot attrition and attract new hires, they'd get serious about reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. Clearly, they're not serious about it so we can reasonably assume that they don't WANT to fix it. Why??? See 2)
2) I believe Rev. Bedford's angle is to literally create a pilot shortage, cause cancellations, and reduce or eliminate airline service to smaller communities so that pressure will mount on congress to do away with the new 121 pilot hiring minimums, (including 117 rest/duty rules). From there, the good Rev. will once again be able to hire CHEAP, starry-eyed, newly minted, 250 hour, wonder pilots with fresh commercial pilot licenses. And
3) IF that strategy doesn't work, I believe RAH will simply evolve into an aircraft leasing company, (much like GE Capital, et al), and will simply take delivery of their firm-ordered CS Series 100 seat jets, (and perhaps other airframes) which they will then lease to Delta, United, AAG, or other (foreign) airlines. Eliminate the pilots, mechanics, operations, administration payroll (and their unions),....... and just sit back and watch the monthly lease payments roll in. The lord giveth,.... huh Reverend?
1) RAH has stalled contract negotiations for OVER 8 YEARS,..... and counting. If RAH REALLY wanted to stem pilot attrition and attract new hires, they'd get serious about reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. Clearly, they're not serious about it so we can reasonably assume that they don't WANT to fix it. Why??? See 2)
2) I believe Rev. Bedford's angle is to literally create a pilot shortage, cause cancellations, and reduce or eliminate airline service to smaller communities so that pressure will mount on congress to do away with the new 121 pilot hiring minimums, (including 117 rest/duty rules). From there, the good Rev. will once again be able to hire CHEAP, starry-eyed, newly minted, 250 hour, wonder pilots with fresh commercial pilot licenses. And
3) IF that strategy doesn't work, I believe RAH will simply evolve into an aircraft leasing company, (much like GE Capital, et al), and will simply take delivery of their firm-ordered CS Series 100 seat jets, (and perhaps other airframes) which they will then lease to Delta, United, AAG, or other (foreign) airlines. Eliminate the pilots, mechanics, operations, administration payroll (and their unions),....... and just sit back and watch the monthly lease payments roll in. The lord giveth,.... huh Reverend?
04-15-2015 | 12:36 PM
#23
sippin' dat koolaid
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 982
Likes: 0
From: gear slinger
IF a pilot shortage were to happen you could color me surprised if any airline management actually anticipated and planned ahead for it. That's just not the nature of the business.
Even in the mythical event of a shortage, there won't be any dramatic pay increases at the regionals unless there are some pretty big changes to the current business model. They all "say" that they already operate on razor thin margins and can't afford to pay us much more. The regional industry will crash and burn before we see any significant gains...either that or mainline will buy up the regionals and makes us all W.O.s that they shovel money into to self subsidize their own regional feed.
Even in the mythical event of a shortage, there won't be any dramatic pay increases at the regionals unless there are some pretty big changes to the current business model. They all "say" that they already operate on razor thin margins and can't afford to pay us much more. The regional industry will crash and burn before we see any significant gains...either that or mainline will buy up the regionals and makes us all W.O.s that they shovel money into to self subsidize their own regional feed.
04-15-2015 | 01:01 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 12,531
Likes: 1,128
That's a ridiculous argument. Regionals operate on razor thin margins. They might be able to raise pay slightly but their entire business model is based on a cheap labor force with low overhead. This big shift in pilot pay will occur only if service is greatly impacted and the regional carriers say they can't staff at those rates. At that point, though, it would be cheaper to take on the flying themselves. This big sudden shift of massive increases wouldn't happen if a single pilot wasn't ever created again.
04-15-2015 | 01:30 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 362
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ummmm....yeah we do? like cause we fly the plane either fast....or slow...or ya know taxi and schtuff....if i want our flights performance to be horrible ill slow down my checklist, maybe i have to get lunch before we leave, oh and don't close the door just yet i need to get something from the crew room....but yeah no control on how early or late our flight leaves.......
04-15-2015 | 01:35 PM
#26
MK Ultra Candidate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,167
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From: Prime Leader of Boko Harumph
No signing bonuses or retention bonuses on the horizon is there?
Pilots are amazing, they complain no one is hiring, when the majors are hiring 1000 per year each, its those unqualified minorities and women taking up all the slots. Give a pilot a big bag of gold and he will complain about how heavy it is. Airline execs have crapped the bed, and the panic is becoming palpable.
04-15-2015 | 03:39 PM
#27
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 9
AWAC, for the first time I've ever seen, is having on the spot interviews at the end of the month. To say the pool is drying up is an understatement.
Also the Vacancy notice today shows 24 CA slots open. Without doubt the biggest I have ever seen in my 2 years here.
Also the Vacancy notice today shows 24 CA slots open. Without doubt the biggest I have ever seen in my 2 years here.
04-15-2015 | 03:50 PM
#28
Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,056
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From: ATP, CFI etc.
And how much did they raise the pay to help solve this situation? I interviewed with them in 2014, did fine in the Redbird sim, probably did ok on the tech exam and face to face chat, but was told no thanks and no longer received replies to any of my emails.
04-15-2015 | 03:51 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,215
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From: Capt
There ARE tonnes of pilots with their ATP, both flying now and in training...they are flying for Lufthansa, Chinese airlines, and other Asian airlines. The numbers the FAA puts out include all foreign pilots.
Atlas hired quite a few last year, and their net gain was less than five. They tried to expand, but could not.
Salaries? I'd call going from $12K/month to $25K/month a big pay increase...it is happening in various parts of Asia, starting with China. They aren't paying more because of a surplus of pilots.
Guys leaving UAL during class, turning down class dates at the majors....that is a sign of the pilot shortage.
Atlas hired quite a few last year, and their net gain was less than five. They tried to expand, but could not.
Salaries? I'd call going from $12K/month to $25K/month a big pay increase...it is happening in various parts of Asia, starting with China. They aren't paying more because of a surplus of pilots.
Guys leaving UAL during class, turning down class dates at the majors....that is a sign of the pilot shortage.
04-15-2015 | 04:02 PM
#30
Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,056
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From: ATP, CFI etc.
How do you know what the percentage is? And why would 140,000 ATPs currently listed in the FAA directory as being active pilots with FAA medicals, bother to keep an FAA medical if they work in China?
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