First Off - Best of luck to all the NJ guys and gals, I hope you all land on your feet.

Next, there is a very valuable lesson for all Pilots in the above post: No matter how great your job is, and how great your company was, we are labor and consequently are all only one management shuffle away from being screwed. Don't ever forget it, and don't think your company is different - in the end greed and the almighty dollar will prevail.

Unfortunately in today’s business world, noble and honorable leadership, which often yield superior results in the long term, may be seen as a negative in the short term drive to show results "next quarter" or set the company up for a buyout with big bonuses all around.

Again - Good luck to all the Net Jets guys and gals.

Scoop

thou art wise Sir Scoop !

Fall would be an unusual time to cut. The industry tends to be busier from November through April. t would be more likely to see cuts in the next few weeks as the jet set stop going to the Florida condos and the ski hills.

yeap, Warren B. called in a cleaner, and that's what he got...

These "talks" are among the pilots and the rest of the world only at this time, as in it is rumor only. This issue is the key issue to be addressed in the near future and, therefore, is prime fodder for speculation.

Not to say that it won't happen, however, every PR statement from the new leadership since the first furlough has been that "they think they got the number right" and that no further cuts should be necessary barring a reversal in the economy. Should a furlough be announced it will certainly circulate all financial media outlets and will be viewed as calling into question the "stability" that NJA markets. Also, this would be at a time when furloughs and layoffs have mostly subsided so it will certainly stand out from the rest of the news.

My two cents but may be worth less...

First of all, to settle the "more furloughs" rumor, official word from the union right now is that the company will not be announcing any more furloughs "in the immediate future". Take if for what it's worth, but that is great news for those on the bottom of the current list of active pilots.

Tim, as for your expectation of a long furlough, I think you're wise to consider that a likely possibility and my reasoning would be the same as yours in terms of attrition: with the early outs having been offered, those that were going to retire in the next 3 years have already done so. Strangely enough, however, I have noticed an attrition of 33 relatively senior pilots in the last 3 months. I absolutely don't get it, but if it stays that way, eventually attrition will force the company to bring some guys back. So there is a bit of good news on the horizon and I am hoping that 2010 will continue to see a rise in demand and with it, the prospect of bringing some furloughed pilots back. Good luck with everything until then....

Won't be many furloughed pilots to call back since they're taking those forced "resignation" letters seriously. Going to be interesting to see what the union does when push comes to shove.

I flew with one of my favorite captains before I was escorted off the property. He was approaching 67 years old and was telling me how much he was looking forward to being with his grandchildren and wife more with retirement. I said to him " are you taking the early out or do you wanna keep flying for at least three more years?". He immediately responds " I would like to fly for another year and hand over the controls to you young bucks". When I told him that he could retire now and be paid most of his salary for the next three years, while being home with his wife and grandchildren FULLTIME, he laughed and said "I wish". This guy was completely clueless inside and outside of the airplane.

I hope to god he is one of those 33, who now get to spend more time with the wife and grandkids

Sokol may not be around much longer if those pesky ethics charges keep popping up. Wouldn't bother me a bit to see him gone, only because I don't want to see the place turn into another United.