U r assuming ual wont park some planes and reduce mainline flying. Its very simple to park a few a320's and let some (25) 757's go away.
I believe this to be their ultimate plane as new deliveries REPLACE current aircraft- no expansion, no growth. One freaking routr to auckland doenst mean crap when u park a boatload of planes and reduce capacity by a factor of 5!

 

Just look at the forward guidance on system capacity. Down domestic and up international. The up in international will be the addition of 787 flying. Domestic going down with additional 7379s coming, only means expect more airframes to be parked then added. Net result is only retirements and training bubbles will draw staffing needs until the new contract is completed. With the postponement of changes to the flight and duty time rules I do not see an implementation of those changes effecting staffing prior to a complete jcba. impo

 

I don't think we'll have a contract for a couple of years. If UAL parks planes, CAL will just keep more training UAL pilots.

 

Respectfully but I don't agree with a large net capacity reduction by UCH in the future and although Delta management is different, they did not park old costly to fly jets during the recession because they were full and generating fees. I can't see any airline parking a bunch of planes with ticket and fee revenue going through the roof while fuel prices decline. Profits are soaring at these airlines lately, I can't see a big capacity cut in the face of control over the consumer. Think they'd fly a 172 if they thought it would net a buck in this environment.

There only needs to be convincing austerity measures in the US and debt contagion relief in Europe to turn the global economy around. I see the majors maybe keeping net capacity or a slight reduction, but a large drop that caused furloughs would come in response to a major crisis that stifles demand IMHO.

 

With the TPA, parking United airplanes will cost the company a fortune. Every furloughed United pilot will get 4 months of severance and then is eligible for a vacancy at Continental for which they will be paid whatever they were making at United. And in the process the pilots will be offline in training for two months at a cost of what, 50K? Throw in some voluntaries like happened last time and you have guys making up to $190/hour to sit in the right seat of a 737.

 

What kind of hoops are you guys going through upon returning, I know drug and alcohol. Any other hoops, physicals, psych, EEG, stress tests, etc.

 

From what I understand, you are flown to IAH for a drug test and to complete paperwork about a month before your class starts. You have to have a first class medical, but that is it.

 

That is all that is involved. Painless. Drug test, fingerprints and paperwork.

 

What flavor was the koolaid?

Lee

 

No offense but no koolaid. Management, instructors and union reps all talked about the same issues with different views. Everyone being very friendly, helpful and sincere in their views (from where they sit). Honestly as pleasant as new hire at UAL without the stress of being a new hire. Think a view shared by most if not all of the pilots in the first class.