My apologizes. I saw the Denver and the comment and made the incorrect assumption that you were a UA pilot. As you can tell from my reaction I've heard a lot from some of them and it hit a nerve. US/UA never even got to the point of exchanging lists and it was very contentious.

There was a lot of chicken-counting and it burned a lot of guys that bought US stock, convinced the merger would happen.

Seems to me that anything other than an agreed upon integration, voted for in conjunction with the agreement (like AT/SW) would face a legal challenge. Neither side of this fight has shown any interest in not continuing the fight. I've wondered if that argument would give Horton leverage.

Hi Jim,

1. Yes—they need it to go through.
2. I believe that USAPA will use a "blended" list of relative DOH with some weight towards seniority. If APA chooses to go this route they may do everything possible to water down an obvious DFR case by mixing in minimal Nicolai attributes.
3. USAPA cannot block this merger. USAPA leadership may focus on trying to assimilate themselves into APA.
4. The APA will dictate the SLI.
5. The West Pilot Class can only act reactively. They must wait for the merger to produce a CBA and the SLI must be put into place before their lawyers can file lawsuits against APA, US Airways etc.

More thoughts on Item 5:

This merger will mean that East/West will never get a CBA. Will the Nicolai even apply here? The merger will generate a three way CBA and Nicolai cannot into effect until a CBA is in place—West pilots have no seniority rights until then.

APA has every incentive to divest itself of the Nicolai award as this would punish APA and USAPA members equally.

Worst case scenario, APA may submit the SLI process to an arbitrator and rid itself of any liability.

The west would move to get an injunction to stop anything other than the nic is proposed. Parker knows this and so does APA per the letter they received from west legal counsel.

Any idea where the term "Marvin Mainliners" came from? I have a great story about a Western pilot and a confrontation in ORD once with a UAL FO, and he used that term. (It's a true story too.. I had it verified by an ORD ground controller a few years back, as well as the pilot in question.) Many of the old Western guys have used it. It is kind of like "Coon-ass"... nobody seems to know where it originated.

I can't remember if they ever told me where it came from but a lot of PSA guys I flew with used it.

I always find it interesting when someone comments on this issue sounding like they got it all figured out, implying they've educated themselves thoroughly on the arbitration award and its implications.

Of course, then I notice they can't even get something basic like the arbitrators name correct (repeatedly) and well..............it kind of shoots the credibility down and I'm left with the empty feeling I've read another marginal opinion of someone guessing just like everyone else.

Oh Eaglefly, my deepest sympathy for your "empty feeling". I will spell Nicolau correctly and maybe you get feeling better. Merry Christmas

Excellent......a post I can sink my teeth into and a warm and fuzzy to boot. I knew there was hope.

Happy New Year.