Eric Stratton

Which airlines were forced to give up flying during a bankruptcy?

The regional pilots have no say in what airplanes they get to fly just like the majors. The majors didn't want them so someone had to fly them.

I think the regional guys wouldn't scream that loudly if it was Delta taking the flying vs. another regional. Better to have mainline take it than have it continuously swapped between regionals.

B317

Question; Does the RPA pilot contract have a "No Strike Clause" ? If so, the RPA pilots would legally have no choice in the matter.

eaglefly

True.

Some advocate taking it "all" back, but fail to acknowledge that a substantial percentage of flying many regionals do were routes that were NEVER flown by the major they feed. As such, it isn't theirs to take back as they never had it in the first place.

At Eagle, a lot of our current flying was indeed assigned to us by AA/AMR but the pilots on the proerty at the time (already flying their own original routes) had no basis (legal or otherwise) to refuse new flying. Most (senior at least) would have no problem seeing that flying returned to its rightful owners, all though for most junior it would mean unemployment.

The fact is, is that frequency of a route is what customers look for as it involves flexability and thus it's what companies require for profitability. Many routes cannot support acceptable frequency with large mainline aircraft, so either they run 2 flights a day in the hope of filling them up with enough pax to turn a profit or operate smaller aircraft more frequently. For many of this flying and routes, if the smaller regionals stopped flying them, then they would die. Flying them with mainline aircraft or regional aircraft with mainline compensation would probably just force that airline to abandon the route. A byproduct of that is a weaker mainline with less revenue (prehaps picked up by someone else) and a loss of size and jobs at that mainline.

No easy answers here. The fantasy of either eliminating regionals or mainline taking over all their flying (again whether it was originally theirs or not) will only insure weaker and smaller mainline carriers with less employement and slower advancement for those who are fortunate enough to hang on.

Eric Stratton

Eaglefly, what do routes have to do with it. Regionals don't set the routes they're going to fly. Regional management doesn't tell mainline these are our routes and those are yours. No regional owns the flying it does. If mainline management decided to bring all of the flying back in, there is nothing the regionals could do. It's not going to happen but there isn't anything they could do about it.

As for profitability, I would say that most managements don't know how to make a profit.

eaglefly

My point involved another poster declaring that they (mainline) should take it ALL back. If you're right and no pilot group "owns" the flying it does, then by the same token they don't own their airplanes, crew rooms or uniforms either (at least the right to wear them).

I guess then management owns the air we breathe and we should be thankful for them allowing us to use THEIR air. Economics is the only reason management hasn't decided to bring that flying back in (to mainline), and unless something changes with this industries economics, then you're right there too, it's not going to happen regardless of threats, brinksmanship or tantrums.

The time to control the disease was in its infancy when economics weren't so dire and the scurge had not spread. That boat has sailed into oblivion forever never to return. But be of good cheer, as the fat cats in Herndon will contine to swell nicely for years to come while you (and me) the poor gullible saps whose income is the gas that swells them continue to beg for scraps and eye food on each others plates.

Sounds like a good deal to me................how about you ?

Eric Stratton

The regionals may own their airplanes or crew rooms but they don't own the flying. It is contracted to them just like catering is. If they want to get new service when the contract runs out they are free to do so.

You are correct that the time to control this was years ago. When you have people at the mainline who believe regional flying is good because it allows them to have higher pay it's an uphill battle. If you ever talk to someone who doesn't care if they outsource smaller airplanes ask them if they would care if they outsourced the largest. I bet you will get a different response because it will affect them.

MD80

I agree DAL (United, US Airways...) needs to take it ALL back. Then hirer more pilots with a "B scale" system in place for the aircraft under 100 seats. The regional pilots will be rehired and the whip-sawing will end.

One contract for each legacy carrier

ps. the current legacy carriers will have more job secure and a system similiar to a national seniority list will be started.

RAHPilot5

So it's Republics fault for the decision that were made to relax scope in the past huh? Who do you work for? Just wondering since you like to throw mud. All the best

RAHPilot5

2nd this MD

Eric Stratton

Don't you understand? If you are a pilot it's never your fault. It's always someone else's. We like to blame everyone and never ourselves. Kind of like airline managers always having an excuse of why they rarely make money.