ChipChelios

Be careful with the pre-mature ejaculation in this business. I left Pinnacle when it was the end of the world and people were running around screaming the rapture is here. Now I wish I had stayed put.

Fleron270

Under furlough protections in the CBA, it states "In addition, the total number of Captain positions shall not fall below three hundred five (305)."

I'm sure that if they did downgrades, it would be in vain, as all the junior captains would immediately leave for elsewhere (unless they still got captain pay which is highly doubtful).

l2flare

I don't buy for a second they would honor the 305 ca number if it would result in an inability to operate, EL has said roughly the same thing btw..

If they were to downgrade the exodus would be rather dramatic by every fo left on the list.

prex8390

On a lighter subject note, anyone see the new taxi procedures for Charlotte? Yeah that's totally not gonna make things worse than it already is around the D concourse.

Name User

I can't help buy think something is at least in the works on the back end at AWAC. I just can't see AA nixing the AWAC feed. They are already talking about keeping 50-ish S80s on through 2019 and refurbishing them because they can't get the flying elsewhere. PSA and Piedmont cannot staff their flying and Eagle is just able to do so by shrinking.

Einstein2014

What is very alarming is that they are losing valuable employees and they are not doing anything about it. This is what is getting me confused. They are at a point where captains are covering FO flying and seems that a lot of the maintenance personnel are leaving as well. I keep running into my classmates who have their two weeks notice in and know of many others who do as well. How could our leadership create this situation and at the same time push us to continue flying even if we are sick. That calling out sick may impact our career progression at AWAC. This really boils my blood.

daOldMan

Here is what has happened...

AAG wanted to get rid of Air Wisconsin. It is too expensive, and they only fly old 50 seat jets. AWAC was not willing to buy 76 seat jets, as well as new hangars, maintenance people, systems, etc. It would have cost them millions more than just the cost of the airplanes.

So, AAG bought a bunch of 76 seat jets and gave them to PSA. The extra lift that PSA was providing would be much cheaper than AWAC due to the low seniority of the pilots at PSA. Those 53 CRJ900s plus a few 700s going to PSA from Envoy would have completely replaced AWAC.

But, once the airplanes went to PSA, Republic started to self destruct. No one really knew for sure what was going to happen there.

So, AWAC is left in limbo until AAG can decide what it is going to do. AWAC is too expensive for what they provide. It isn't just the cost of the pilots that is more expensive, but AWAC itself makes a profit. Even if all other things were even, a Wholly Owned would be cheaper since all profits at PDT/PSA/Envoy go back to mainline.

At this point, AWAC does have a few hundred pilots, but AAG could easily attract 500 new pilots between their three wholly owned at a cheaper cost than it would be to extend a contract to AWAC. They could just give more airplanes to PDT and Envoy, and they would no longer need AWAC. PSA has the training and management staff to support 1800 pilots, but currently has 1200 pilots. They could easily grow, and all it would take would be a little bit of money.

The wildcard is still Republic. If Republic can prove to be dependable, that will be the end of AWAC.

So, AWAC really doesn't care about pilots leaving because they are preparing to wind down operations anyways.

dead meat

Anybody know what MP has been saying in the crew rooms the last few days?

billyho

I agree Chip! This happened at Piedmont and ask all the Capt. at Republic and AWAC if they should've left Piedmont now? Many would be getting ready to flow right now.


If you can upgrade really fast and better your QOL then start considering it.

akulahunter

Yup... Basically there is something in the works, but the company isn't going to announce anything until ink is on paper (or so close that another delta doesn't happen). The company is talking to other carriers, not just AA. We just bought new engines. Anyone who leaves here in the near term for a lateral move (including spirit and frontier) will most likely regret the decision. A few more upgrades soon*.

Also, that we will most likely have to give up our 70 seat rates if we want bigger planes.

Best line was that we haven't reached the FO hiring cliff, but we will by January if the company hasn't announced something.

The ACP cadre are saying that they are all pressuring the company to share plans, but that the company is refusing to do so...