Compass Updates - Saga Continues
04-11-2017, 08:37 AM
#4731
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2011
Posts: 146
Well, not let the company say that the base won't be on the chopping board, let alone saying it won't shrink days before a closure announcement. Second I get they can't spill the beans as soon as they know but at least the union could have said something about it the same day as the conference call saying no change.
There is literally nothing more that they could've done except start to prepare announcements and resources to support pilots with the closures, relocations and associated contractual rights.
04-11-2017, 09:39 AM
#4734
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Posts: 273
Exactly.
This is not great news but this happens all the time in this business,and not just at the regionals. Base closures happen at the majors many times, or a base shrinks and you get bumped out. Just talk to some of those senior guys when you jump seat on someone else.
Bad news is when they send out notices like...
" we will be furloughing 500 pilots next month"
" the company filed bankruptcy today"
"Delta just gave all our flying to Mesa"
If you listened to the call today,the good news is all our planes are under contract to fly til early 2020s. He didn't give exact dates, but even if you assume the worst, that gives you 3 yrs to move on.
This business ALWAYS moves in cycles. We have been in the rising part of the cycle for the last few years, but all signs are we are close to the peak if not already passing it. Sooner or later the music will stop again and hopefully you have a chair where you want to be til the next rise in the business cycle.
There was a very good article in a recent ALPA mag about how this business moves through the cycles. Suggest you read it and understand the business you work in.
This is not great news but this happens all the time in this business,and not just at the regionals. Base closures happen at the majors many times, or a base shrinks and you get bumped out. Just talk to some of those senior guys when you jump seat on someone else.
Bad news is when they send out notices like...
" we will be furloughing 500 pilots next month"
" the company filed bankruptcy today"
"Delta just gave all our flying to Mesa"
If you listened to the call today,the good news is all our planes are under contract to fly til early 2020s. He didn't give exact dates, but even if you assume the worst, that gives you 3 yrs to move on.
This business ALWAYS moves in cycles. We have been in the rising part of the cycle for the last few years, but all signs are we are close to the peak if not already passing it. Sooner or later the music will stop again and hopefully you have a chair where you want to be til the next rise in the business cycle.
There was a very good article in a recent ALPA mag about how this business moves through the cycles. Suggest you read it and understand the business you work in.
This "crisis" is the first crisis of those who have never been through a bad day day in their life at a regional airline because this is their first airline..ever. So, now the sky is falling. Calm down. Compass is still a fine place to be IF it coincides with your career goals.
04-11-2017, 10:38 AM
#4735
On Reserve
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 21
Now we just need to replace "rick" with another "bob"....
04-11-2017, 12:35 PM
#4737
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2016
Position: E175 FO
Posts: 186
I understand you're wanting something more from the union. But, you do understand that they're all under a CDA, right? They can't say anything until announced by the company. They don't have any power over whether or not the company can make an announcement and what that announcement is.
There is literally nothing more that they could've done except start to prepare announcements and resources to support pilots with the closures, relocations and associated contractual rights.
There is literally nothing more that they could've done except start to prepare announcements and resources to support pilots with the closures, relocations and associated contractual rights.
04-12-2017, 06:15 AM
#4739
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2013
Position: On the right hand side
Posts: 665
Exactly.
This is not great news but this happens all the time in this business,and not just at the regionals. Base closures happen at the majors many times, or a base shrinks and you get bumped out. Just talk to some of those senior guys when you jump seat on someone else.
Bad news is when they send out notices like...
" we will be furloughing 500 pilots next month"
" the company filed bankruptcy today"
"Delta just gave all our flying to Mesa"
If you listened to the call today,the good news is all our planes are under contract to fly til early 2020s. He didn't give exact dates, but even if you assume the worst, that gives you 3 yrs to move on.
This is not great news but this happens all the time in this business,and not just at the regionals. Base closures happen at the majors many times, or a base shrinks and you get bumped out. Just talk to some of those senior guys when you jump seat on someone else.
Bad news is when they send out notices like...
" we will be furloughing 500 pilots next month"
" the company filed bankruptcy today"
"Delta just gave all our flying to Mesa"
If you listened to the call today,the good news is all our planes are under contract to fly til early 2020s. He didn't give exact dates, but even if you assume the worst, that gives you 3 yrs to move on.
The base closure is not the only bad news Compass has had in the last 6-12 months. Losing 6 planes doesn't sound like much but when you think in percentage terms we lost nearly 10% (9.7% if you're splitting hairs) of the fleet at the time. The change in scheduling system has also been less than great. So sure we're not furloughing but when every airline is hiring what makes this place attractive to new blood?
Is it a horrible place that's comparable to Mesa? No. But let's not sugar coat it and sell this as top tier. If I was a CFI looking at the regional market today my top tier companies would be wholy owned airlines paying a bonus. If I was a CFI looking for a West coast regional I'd be looking at Horizon or SkyWest. I would definitely not even think of Mesa or a TSH company as a first pick but they would be in the safety school stack (like college applications, the ones you apply to just in case).
04-12-2017, 07:49 AM
#4740
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2016
Posts: 70
You are making the point for why people should leave or not come. The business does go in cycles, our long running bull market is currently 2nd longest in recent history so I'd agree we've either peaked or are approaching it the tip. Saying that our current flying is only protected by contract until 2020 means it's less than 3 years for people to get out (if there is as much hiring going on then as there is now). So why not make the move now while the tempo is fast? My suggestion would be go to a LCC if you think the cycle is peaking: there is no outsourcing of pilots to regionals and for the MSP/DTW guys there's a DTW base at Spirit which is Jr. Get your seat now if you think the music will stop. If you'd be comfortable at Compass with a possible stop in music, stay. Obviously everyone has to make that decision for themselves.
The base closure is not the only bad news Compass has had in the last 6-12 months. Losing 6 planes doesn't sound like much but when you think in percentage terms we lost nearly 10% (9.7% if you're splitting hairs) of the fleet at the time. The change in scheduling system has also been less than great. So sure we're not furloughing but when every airline is hiring what makes this place attractive to new blood?
Is it a horrible place that's comparable to Mesa? No. But let's not sugar coat it and sell this as top tier. If I was a CFI looking at the regional market today my top tier companies would be wholy owned airlines paying a bonus. If I was a CFI looking for a West coast regional I'd be looking at Horizon or SkyWest. I would definitely not even think of Mesa or a TSH company as a first pick but they would be in the safety school stack (like college applications, the ones you apply to just in case).
The base closure is not the only bad news Compass has had in the last 6-12 months. Losing 6 planes doesn't sound like much but when you think in percentage terms we lost nearly 10% (9.7% if you're splitting hairs) of the fleet at the time. The change in scheduling system has also been less than great. So sure we're not furloughing but when every airline is hiring what makes this place attractive to new blood?
Is it a horrible place that's comparable to Mesa? No. But let's not sugar coat it and sell this as top tier. If I was a CFI looking at the regional market today my top tier companies would be wholy owned airlines paying a bonus. If I was a CFI looking for a West coast regional I'd be looking at Horizon or SkyWest. I would definitely not even think of Mesa or a TSH company as a first pick but they would be in the safety school stack (like college applications, the ones you apply to just in case).
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