You remember 747 FO in HNL going unfilled in 1997? Man those were fun times. I think the combination of both pilot groups plus the retirements could make the next few years very interesting especially if we announce an order for 100 seat jets.

I'm not moving seats anytime soon, but it will be fun to see what happens.

 

I thought I remember UAL ordering some CS300's? Not many, 30 or so?

 

I'm not sure which will be more interesting, watching what happens or how it happens. Kind of like irregular ops in the middle of an id. Just sit back and watch Nero play away.

 

Pre-merger UAL said they were evaluating the C-series. There is currently no announced order.

 

This. October will begin the fleshing.

 

Pay banding, while not perfect, allows a Captain or FO who loves European flying to make the top pay without having to leave his/her senior position on the 76 and chase the 777. While I like Asia and 15+ hour flights, a lot of folks don't. This opens up the 777 (and in your case, the 747) to people who really want to be on the airplane and not just those chasing the $.

 

So screw everybody else so a couple 767-400 Capts and FO's can have a high paying short TAFB schedule. Why not just pay the guppies that much and the 747 the least.

 

Far from perfect is more like it. Although it "might" prevent folks from chasing equipment for $, same pay for vastly different sizes of aircraft is the wrong way to go. Pilot production used to be tied with equipment flown, heavier and faster meant more money. Pay banding is the first step to same pay for all depending on seat. Longevity pay doesnt make up for it, we will all enjoy a new low average of pay. Seniority has start to become a dirty word in the industry, but if the majority in an airline want to go this route, go for it. You certainly will be unable to switch back once done, though, so be careful of what you agree to.

 

Something has to give. The generous company will not raise the lower tiered aircraft up to 400 or 777 rates. The 400 and 777 will in essence be subsidizing higher rates for smaller aircraft by forgoing a pay raise or, taking a cut.

 

Another night at the Holiday Inn Express, so I looked at the 320 current levels versus departures: Same disclaimer

A320
base---------Capt----% of Capts---Dep/Month--% of Deps-----under/over staff
JFK/EWR-----46------3.1%---------1439---------10.8%---------112 under
IAH-----------48------3.3%---------1989---------14.9%---------171 under
CLE-----------0--------0.0%---------251----------1.9%-----------28 under
ORD----------230-----15.6%--------2284---------17.1%----------21 under
DEN----------237-----16.1%--------1209---------9.0%-----------104 over
SFO----------116-----7.9%---------1560---------11.7%----------56 under
LAX----------109-----7.4%----------715-----------5.4%----------30 over
IAD----------159-----10.8%--------1200----------9.0%----------27 over
total----------945-------------------10647

So, it looks like IAH and EWR/JFK are in for some Airbus bids.

Overall, the biggest openings look to be in SFO, since it looks like they need 320 bids and 737 bids. Understaffed on both sides of the operation!!! So, given that A320 F/O bids have historically gone unfilled there and more recently the 737 F/O bids have gone unfilled there, tell your friends that are looking to get hired, they better start learning how to cheer for the Niners!!