I'm reading a lot about displacements, but are we talking about guys losing a seat because the plane moves or because a senior NWA or DAL pilot wants the seat?

I'm junior on the 7ER in NYC, but it's my understanding that I won't/can't be displaced off that seat by a NWA pilot. I also realize that I'll be at the bottom of that list for a long time as more senior NWA pilots, after SLI, bid into the airplane as spots open up and "jump" ahead of me.

A seat cant get taken from you. However if a base shrinks then you can be displaced from it. Therefore if in time people bid the plane your on as positions become available they would be senior to you in the seat. You cant be bumped out of your seat because someone senior to you wants it. Only way people can bid it and get awarded it is IF there is a position available in your category. If they shrink the base then there wont be positions available for people to bid into.

Once the list is merged, as aircraft are moved to different bases pilots will get displaced off those aircraft. They may then bid what their seniority will hold, anyone junior to them on their new equipment moves backwards one number at a time. If you are the bottom guy you will then be dispaleced.

So yes, a NWA pilot can displace you off the ER in NYC.

Bucking....

I think I understand now.

My understanding is there will be "no bump, no flush" of positions. So, if you can get into SEA on a pre-Delta jet (pre SOC) you would be safe as long as you wanted to stay. Now, you may never get senior (always a problem in SEA - it's real senior) but no one could bid in unless there was an opening. In our system (yours too?) the only way someone could "bump in" is if their airplane went away, then they could bid what they could hold.

I've heard no rummors about the A-330 leaving SEA from our end. Also, there are numerous old Hughes Air West guys (say Green) coming up on retirement in SEA.......what comes next will be interesting to watch. Also, what happens to frieght and all the 747-200s up in ANC will add to the fireworks.

Good luck to us all my friend.

Ferd

To say the least they are playing around with the matrix to see what works where and for what cost. There will be a lot of changes in the next three years to say the least.
From what I have head the story as of today is that the Cargo ops are still running for one reason and one reason only. They are keeping the NRT slots warm. Now after DCC, we will see what becomes of the cargo ops. Personally I would love to see it grow.

" Also, what happens to frieght and all the 747-200s up in ANC will add to the fireworks.

Good luck to us all my friend.

Ferd[/QUOTE]


FWIW, i just came out of the training center in MSP and the people there were hinting at the idea that they may bring back some 200's for charters. I heard that they are making 500 K each time they fly the military around.

Any reason why Delta won't have trips overnight in DTW or MSP, like they do with CVG now? (Delta has six day trips out of JFK that go JFK-AMS-CVG-AMS-JFK). Seems cheaper than a whole base (now, I'd like the base in DTW as I'm 30 minutes from DTW) for the company.
Cargo can make some decent money, if it's done right. If you've been up to ANC, there are large numbers of freighters transiting ANC at all hours - most making money.

When my old company did military charters (these were cargo), the military paid for the fuel. Makes it a lot easier to forecast costs with that covered.

How the bases will reorder from a seniority basis over time is fairly easy to predict. There are demographic numbers showing where all the pilots live at both airlines. Looking at the number I saw you can expect the following. SEA on the NWA side will be senior and stay senior. There are are large number of commuting pilots from NWA and Delta living in the NE. They will fill openings in Seattle as they become available. LAX and ATL will become more senior as NWA pilots move into those bases. There are a large number of NWA pilots in the SE and in CA. MSP and DET will see a decrease in seniority and probably become the new hire bases as senior pilots move out and vacancies occur. NYC is already very junior and will remain junior. There are NWA pilots in the NE but not a huge number to impact the base.
Since we don't have a SLI and have no idea what will be awarded how fast this transition of pilots to closer bases will occur is anyones guess. The only thing I know for sure after two mergers is that it will occur. Pilots will migrate to the best basing option for where they reside. Pilots at both NWA and Delta need to avoid getting upset and worked up over this transition. Its not the fault of either pilot group. The SLI will define the rules on how it occurs. Individual pilots will do what is best for them and their families which is only right. As pilots migrate they should be welcomed in the new bases without animosity. It serves no ones interest for childish behavior that happens from a small minority at times.

I agree, 100% that it makes more sense to do longer trips, but it may not to the bean counters in the long term. If they were to run longer trips they will need more crews as well.