LIFT academy and future CBA’s
 

With the LIFT Academy exponentially increasing in size, does anyone else think this was partially designed to kill any future negotiating power the pilot group will have over the company?

How would Lift do that? My impression so far is that the company doesn't really have any significant issue with the union. I think they just want more control over the quality/quantity of the incoming pipeline.

From my experience at Republic, yes that’s the intent of the bean counters. It’s too early to tell if Lift impacts our negotiations though, because we don’t know how many Lift grades will stay at Republic.

You must be new here...

Yes, I am. Does that invalidate my question or opinion?

It undoubtedly does have an effect on future negotiations. During negotiations, both sides use items referred to as “leverage” to go back and forth with various offers. Different items vary in importance and therefore the amount of “leverage” they entail. If one side has everything they want, why would they put any real effort into negotiating with the other side?

The inability to attract quality candidates was a large item of importance for the company during the last round of negotiations. The company now has a steady supply of candidates and a year long waiting list for training dates. The union currently has no real negotiating power since they have absolutely nothing to offer in exchange for any contractual improvements. Such an imbalance is what can lead to long-drawn out contract disputes.

The issue may or may not be lift, but certainly with the slew of recent new hires whose view of the CBA is "Hey, I'm not going to be here very long anyway".

Very true. During periods of aggressive hiring at the majors, it’s difficult to get around that kind of thinking amongst the pilot group. “I’m just here to check the 121 box until Delta calls”. That’s an actual quote from someone I flew with a while ago.

Listen to the podcast Lift management did, because it is enlightening. Of course Republic management will use Lift as leverage during our negotiations.

Will you post a link for that podcast?

The FO I was flying with had it, but I believe it was pilot-to-pilot podcast. I’m sure the company has a link somewhere to it as well.

I think this is the link for it:

https://pilottopilot.libsyn.com/lift-academy

That might be the big news for the year. Republic cancels 100 E-jet order and Lift takes on 50 brand new Diamond aircraft...

Anything could happens here, but I suspect we will have a update soon concerning growth. Doesn’t mean it’s going to be good news, but it will provide needed stability for our pilots.

Based on today’s PDU, the company has ZERO desire to begin negotiations for a new CBA.

If we don’t see any growth, this is bad news for two things:

1) CBA negotiations, and
2) Off-the-street new hires (i.e. non-LIFT)

I would be surprised if we see a new CBA before 2021. The NC seemed like a weak group when it was announced, so I wouldn’t expect much positive news coming any time soon.

Not surprised the company is slowing down negotiations. They’re about making money, and getting a new pilot CBA quickly will not help the company. A lot can happen in 2 years, but I would be very surprised if we got a new CBA before 2021. I guess they meet again in June.

You'll be in renegotiations before 2021. When DL/UA/AA recoup the money the REV fleeced them out of in the BK, and sell their interests to TPG, or Indigo or some other similar outfit, you'll be back at the table.

I still don’t see how we can possibly take on another 100 airplanes. All the majors are completely at their respective scope limits. We can’t legally operate them anywhere and Odin help us if we try another branded flying adventure.

Most will be replacements, but probably a few 175SCs. I know many new hires expect growth, but it may not happen.

Hopefully BB learned from his last mistake with branded flying. I don’t think the board would allow branded flying.

I’m not seeing it either but the latest thought is that it may be possible to convert the E170s to 65 seats for AA. Then those could be replaced by 175SCs I guess. That’s 60 aircraft so we’ll see what happens. Management also seems to think scope will be relaxed at some point.

E170s to 65 seats.. sure ok that might work but I really hope no one caves on scope.

Anybody think BB might be gambling? Republic is doing a good amount of flying of other regionals that can’t meet their commitments due to lack of crews; couple that with a lot of Pilot and FA hiring, and the ERJ order. Maybe he’s hoping he will have the people and equipment in place to lure codeshares to give YX more flying as the others (guessing its XJT and Mesa) struggle to fill classes.

Just a theory.

BB likes to talk a big game, and rarely what he says ever comes to fruition. He said we’ll be going after other regionals’ flying. None of that has happened. I’ve doubted the growth talk for awhile, along with the massive aircraft order.

In a video the company posted today, BB said “...as exciting as it is ordering 100 Ejets, it’s even more exciting training future pilots.” This was in reference to LIFT. You can clearly see where the company priority is...

My personal theory is that he was betting on scope to either be relaxed or to go away thereby allowing unlimited rjs. It’s similar to the gamble that Mitsubishi and Embraer took when they developed their respective mega rjs.

I don’t think that was the initial plan, but it’s certainly the “new” plan. I think the original plan was scope relieve from United, which was never going to happen in this environment. Also he probably had no idea United would essentially buy ExpressJet. He’s just reacting to mainline at this point.

There’s no doubt in my mind after the most recent HQ visit this is part of the puzzle. Allman specifically addressed the 100 plane order and mainline scope already being maxed without us asking. The three factors were:

1- E170s to 65 seats for AA.
2- Taking flying at the expense of another regional (he couldn’t say specifically but said we’ll hear something later this summer/fall.)
3- Scope relief in some way or another.

I just had a disturbing thought. Has Republic become the new Comair? Twenty years ago, Comair charged a $325 fee for an “interview”. If you passed the credit check, you were then offered a job for another $16,000 training fee. The tag line in all their adverts boasted about being owned by Delta made them the superior flight school in the galaxy.

There do seem to be many parallels cropping up. Or maybe my tinfoil hat is on too tight again.

What is equally disturbing is that, when his Partners/Owners have flying to assign, it's going to a.) chronically understaffed, b.) notoriously underperforming, c.) mx challenged and cancellation prone airlines, (and of course SKYW) It's not going to RJET.

Man, I've been saying Brickyard is going to Comair in the next five years or so for a while now.

- Airline-owned
- Expensive
- Inflexible

It's not a good combo.

Don't you work for Endeavor:confused:

We’re not airline owned! DL/UA/AA own a percentage, but none have majority ownership. Also GE/EMB I believe. The sky isn’t falling, but I would be concerned about long term viability. Guess it depends if mainline wants to keep us around to whipsaw the WOs.

Yep...

But the three combined own a majority. If they all decide that Republic's assets are worth more than the airline itself and can figure out a way to split them, then that'll be that. I don't think it'll be short term, either, but I think it'll happen eventually.

An Endeavor pilot telling Republic that they are expensive. Now that is rich:D

Right! Comair anyone!?

Comair had autonomy, they let it go to their heads and they paid the price through insolvency. Republic has autonomy, how is it going? Ask BB.

Endeavor does not have autonomy, the CEO of DCI is also our CEO - we do nothing without permission, good or bad. Doesn’t make us safer, it does mean that DAL has an interest in us remaining operational - until they don’t.

YX arguably could recover and run without DAL, at 9E it would be turning off our life support. We are a WO paper airline. It’s two very different business plans.

That being said I don’t see YX going the way of Comair in the near future. But I also don’t see YX growing - they will stay big enough to whipsaw the other regionals. YX serves three masters, and those three masters don’t like sharing their toys.

Yeah I agree! The comair reference was in regards to Endeavor.

Man, I've been saying [ENDEAVOR] is going to Comair in the next five years or so for a while now.

- Airline-owned
- Expensive
- Inflexible

It's not a good combo.


Corrected it for ya... Read it slowly it’ll make more sense...

Read above post... slowly it will make more sense. Endeavor is also hardly in a Comair position. That whole autonomy thing played it pretty big role.

Also, who says Endeavor is the most expensive DCI carrier? There’s a ton more to running an airline than paying the pilots.

They are not the most expensive, from an accounting standpoint that is. All our support functions are outsourced to existing Delta infrastructure. Now if we get our own IT department, separate benefits from Delta, an actual HR department. Then you can start worrying.

Not even new flying. Existing flying as well. ORD is a shell of what it once was due to Skywest and Envoy taking all of the Delta and American flying. Just a few years ago Republic was one of, if not the largest regional carriers in Chicago. Now we’re down to 34 daily departures. Skywest continues to grow in LGA and Republic can’t get west of the freaking Mississippi. I honestly don’t remember the last time I flew to a state that even borders the Mississippi.

Republic is just too expensive. That’s all there is to it. If the codeshare partners really cared about performance and reliability it would be Republic coast to coast, not Skywest. It’s all about money and that’s been made 100% clear this last year with Skywest’s presence only growing on the east. Only a matter of time until they get their hands on some American 170’s... and as soon as that happens well, good luck Republic lol. Hope you had fun being the BEST.

If anyone thinks those 100 170’s are actually coming for growth opportunities I’ve got a bridge for sale.

Republic is a joke. If I were a pilot trying to decide which regional to spend the next 5 years at I’d stay as far away from RPA as possible.