IFlyFL410

Well since no one here was at a meeting, here's the latest:

Block hrs. for CMR now reduced 26% instead of 14% starting Dec. 1st.

11 aircraft parked on Dec. 1st. Will contniue to use them as spares until picked up by lessors.

A/C utilization going from about 11 hrs/day to about 8.5 hrs/day never to return to previous utilization for forseeable future.

Renegotiating leases to get more favorable rates. Actual negotiated lease costs will determine how many a/c leave the fleet. Worst case scenario for now is 30 a/c leaving the fleet...all 50 seat planes.

Starting Dec. 1, GSO base decreases by about 15 crews or 25%; JFK increases by 10%, MCO was supposed to close but now going to keep it open, just in case...

Pilot furloughs: 220 - 440
Flight attendants: 110 - 220
Field Agents: 130 - 160
Managers/Support: 90 - 130
Mechanics: 40 - 50

Above ranges are based upon exactly how many a/c leave the fleet and how many people take voluntary separations, voluntary furloughs and leaves of absences. Incentives for the voluntaries is pending bankruptcy court approval but includes enhanced medical and travel bennies.

Timing. Voluntary separations & furloughs: Dec. 1st; Involuntary furloughs after the holidays. Bid for voluntary separations, furloughs, etc is to open up Oct. 19th.

In negotiations with unions for pay and work rule changes to achieve cost savings of $17.3 million from pilots, $8.9 million from Flight attendants and $1 million from mechanics. Looking for things like min. line reductions to lessen the furloughs and other benefit changes.

Fred takes a 15% pay cut, other officers and directors take 10%. Salaried take a 7%, hourly take a 4% cut.

Defined retirement contribution at high risk, 401(k) match ok. Changing precription drug plan (no cost changes to employee) and no plans to change health care provider for 2006.

Working on preferential hiring for furloughed CMR pilots at other DCI carriers.

That's about it.

Life sucks, then u die.

LAfrequentflyer

I feel your pain and stand by you and the rest...I'm in the same boat...Who would have thought with a global war on terror the USAF would be looking to RIF 4,000 CGOs??? Well they are - only a few career fields are exempt (pilots / navs / special forces officers...) those commissioned in 02 / 03 are meeting a retention board that will decide our future. I was enlisted for eight and one-half years before earning a commission. I'm now looking at being forced out of the AF without any benefits or retirement after 12 years of service. When the board meets next year I'll have 13 years service (one year short of 14 - had I been 14 or more years active duty I would have been exempt). I'll have only what I was able to put aside and my education...I've got resumes ready to go and will be looking for contract jobs in Iraq / Afghanistan to make up for the $$$ I stand to lose from not being able to retire. Fortunately, my wife is able to earn good $$$ as a software engineer - we can make ends meet until I get a job and start building towards a retirement...

Nothing is set in stone - but the prospects for my year group and career field are not good. We are overmanned by 30% and the AF must "thin the herd" to buy their new F-22s and JSF...

In light of all this I couldn't be more excited about the future... I'm looking forward to the change / challenge this new chapter of my life could offer me...For me, the uncertainty of life is extremely exciting/intoxicating...My senses are sharper and I know with gods blessings, support / love from my wife and daughter I'll be able to get thru the next few months - what ever the AF decides I'm confident I'll make the most of the opportunities as they present themselves...

I apologize for the speech...I needed to say / write something to get this off my mind...

V/r,
LA

1900Driver

I hate the way airlines figure it out? Like comair they will be lay off pilots BUT ASA and Mesa are hiring like crazy because people are willing to work for crap!!! I really hope Mesa really goes under someday!!(although I hate to wish someone a bad future) BUT man it just doesn't make sense airlines are hiring these 600 hour pilots to make crap flying a RJ with 90 seats and another is laying off people although they are both flying for delta... Stop working for nothing!!!! Its so dang sad!!

capto

I agree very sad to see decent airlines like Comair in such shape and crapy regionals like mesa still hiring pilots and paying them pocket change.

Raptor01

1900Driver,
How can you compare Mesa to ASA? Give me a break. ASA 1998 contract is better than Mesa in just about every category. Now maybe Mesa, Freedom, and Gojets now that would be a comparison for making nothing. I have a few friends at ASA, and a 2nd year fo is making $35,000 with 13-15 days off a month and higher up people in training dept. making over $100,000. Still not paid what they truly are worth, but Mesa, come on dude.

Bye

flyerNy

I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to geico.

Fools & Horses

Just what this whole freaking aviation world needs.

Thank you!!

flyerNy

Hey, i figured a joke might release some stress rather than some sad sob story to help bring everyone further down into thier depression. Laughter can relieve a lot of stress, try some. I'm not happy to hear any of this as much as you guys are. But apparently this is what the industry is about. get hired, get furloughed, switch companies, get hired, get furloughed... what else can you do but laugh at it? I couldve been one of those guys getting furloughed at comair too.

Fools & Horses

flyerNY,

No, I was serious. This whole industry is in a state of shambles (with the
current exception of the large cargo carriers), and it's refreshing to take
a momentary break from the majority of these posts. Skylow is frequently
very depressing to read, but on rare occasions even he (whether he intends
it or not) offers some levity.

I wish everyone here had the ability to support their families and/or
themselves without having to sell out to airline management. If an individual is enthralled with flying airplanes that's great, but at some point it is important to realize that it really is just a job. Someone just posted that we should have scale in this industry...a 737 Capt. gets the same rate of pay no matter what is painted on the side of his/her aircraft. Same idea for all other aircraft/seats. That idea would have been ill received years ago; however, today it might not be a terrible idea. Pay wouldn't increase at the rates it had in the past, but it certainly wouldn't tumble as quickly as it is now.

Sorry to ramble on. LAfrenquent: if you get to this post, sorry to hear about your situation. You seem to have an excellent grip on just about everything, and I know you'll do just fine no matter where you wind up. Best of luck to you.

Fools & Horses

shamu

First of all, my sympathy goes out to all the Comair folks... if you want to continue life in the DCC world, ASA is hiring for the forseable future. Word has it that we are gearing up to take in Comair furloughees... The pay is a dollar short all around but the reserve time is short and ASA is taking delivery of some CR7s and CRJs within a few months and more next year. We're all waiting on mainline to dump some more flying our way due to the bankruptcy with the possibility of bigger jets on the way - SCOPE dependent of course. I have mixed feelings about this because its good short term, but for those of us looking to the majors, will there be anything to go to...

Yours in the dollar a day nightmare...