I seldom post here anymore. My time of trying to make ASA a better place has passed. So why now? It's pretty obvious that we the pilots are facing a rather bleak decision and career outlook in the coming weeks. My goal isn't to influence how anyone votes, but to instead encourage everyone to look at the bigger picture.
First, look at the regional industry itself. Richard Anderson started the game of constantly shifting the flying around with new SHORT TERM contracts. After successfully lowering costs, Doug Parker and UAL's CEO of the week joined the race. While all the regional pilot groups tried to rally the troops against "lowering the bar", they missed the point altogether. IT'S NEVER BEEN ABOUT WHO HAS THE BEST OR WORST CONTRACT !!!! It's about something I call JUNIORITY. There is NO contract XJT can sign that can compete with 2-3 year captains. Can't happen, won't happen.
SKW inc. knows this! It's the very reason their corporate business plan has concentrated on getting all the new RFP's over at Skywest Airlines to lower the upgrade time and average seniority. XJT's average seniority is now among the highest if not THE highest in the entire regional industry. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS! Our MEC is doing their very best and has pointed out many times that if our company would concentrate its efforts on flow-thru agreements and other career advancement opportunities, that it could lower our average seniority. There's a reason that's never going to happen. It's the same reason DL only offered "preferential interviews" to the Endeavor pilots.
What I'm about to say isn't meant to criticize our senior pilots. The majority living on the senior end of the list are great aviators. The experience and stories there are incredible. DL, AA and UAL would be glad to negotiate deals to offer those pilots interviews IF THEY WANTED TO GO! Most of them don't. BUT, that end of the seniority list is also home to a significant percentage of guys that the legacies don't want; the top 50 on the FO's no fly list, no Bachelor's degree, poor people skills or perhaps a blemish on their record from decades ago.
So these contract extensions we are being asked to sign have only one purpose; to steady the ship while Inc. systematically offloads the precious cargo. (the flying contracts) We may see a few short term extensions with our partners and perhaps even a short term award. But the bigger picture has been painted. The long term goal is to reset the regional industry as a stepping stone to the majors. It was never meant to be a final stop on the career ladder.
My opinion is that whether we approve these contracts or not, unless we can figure out a way to lower our average seniority by A LOT, the end result will be the same. On one hand it will buy us time. On the other; What makes us different than Comair right now?