Comair updates?
10-03-2009, 08:13 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 1,454
10-04-2009, 10:28 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Missionary
Posts: 309
Not meant as flame-bait
This may need to be posted on another thread, but the childish bickering on other threads, (“Citation-vs-Dash8”, and most Mesa posts come to mind), makes this furloughed ComAir pilot look for thoughtful insight from those I know and trust.
Our government and ALPA are marching, goose-step toward a paradigm shift in airline hiring by proposing ATP's for all 121 carrier pilots. On the surface, this seems a logical step, but intrusive government oversight into pilot's records, and the accompanying tax-payer dollars spent (per CBO estimates of HR3371) will have NO quantifiable effect on safety, and the wishful thinking that airlines will crack-open multi-year contracts to pay more for qualifications completely ignores the negotiating process. A government that proposes millions spent on pig-excrement methane effects on global warming -(an actual program)- has not done a single study on ATP vs. non-ATP rated pilot safety. The catalyst for this is the Colgan crash, regardless of the fact that both pilots had well in excess of 1,500 hours. (others :ComAir/Lexington, Pinnacle/flame-out, FedEx MD11, etc.) Even if those in support of this change get their wish and regionals improve pay and QOL, it's quite possible the majors will contract further (“Hey, we already pay our regional a good/ lower wage, let's grow the regionals”), dumbing-down the industry to the lowest common denominator and further eroding those prized legacy carrier jobs.
Yes, I was hired with less than 1,500 hours, as were my late father (B747-400 Capt.) and brother (B737-800 Capt.)...mea culpa. We'd all be barred from the cockpit because of quantity-over-quality. My instructing slow flight and steep turns in a Cessna for another couple hundred hours will not make me into Capt. Sully or his unknown F/O. Flight instructing, crop-dusting, traffic-watch and like jobs are rapidly dwindling, and may even ingrain bad habits.
Kit Darby's fabled pilot shortage will materialize when age 65 kicks in. Where will we get our pilots? The military's cut to the bone (and all those ex-fighter jocks with less than 1,500hrs. will not be going to the majors OR the regionals), there's a mass exodus from GA training, and socialist Europeans have more freedom with ab-initio that we free Americans don't. On the FAA panel for rule change are flight school directors who are salivating at the chance to bilk students out of more money, (only spoiled rich kids need apply now).As aviation enthusiasts, shouldn't we be promoting our profession and not setting up obstacles for our young Lindbergs and Erharts, telling them you must pay exhorbitant sums to qualify?
The solution? Keep it simple...propose a military-style pipeline for all pilots. Prospective pilots entering training are asked what their goal is, and sent down 1 of 2 pipelines with corresponding license requirements Pipiline A) Casual day VFR flyer-Sport Pilot license. Owner/renter/business types get a combined private/instrument. No more restricted to day/night VFR types and increase safety. (This would be the stepping stone to Pipeline B) Professional Pilot license. Stage check 1-Private/ Checkride 2-Instrument. Stage check3 -Commercial Single/ Checkride 4-CFI.(at this point, those who want to fly commercial SEL leave the program). Stage check 5-Multi, checkride 6- to ATP PTS. Allow more FTD time (only certain FTD's) and count that as a qualifier for Professional License. Students and schools save money and get more of that all important instrument scan.
Too simple? (sorry this was long winded...but I believe this is a critical issue)
In fraternity-NoStep
Our government and ALPA are marching, goose-step toward a paradigm shift in airline hiring by proposing ATP's for all 121 carrier pilots. On the surface, this seems a logical step, but intrusive government oversight into pilot's records, and the accompanying tax-payer dollars spent (per CBO estimates of HR3371) will have NO quantifiable effect on safety, and the wishful thinking that airlines will crack-open multi-year contracts to pay more for qualifications completely ignores the negotiating process. A government that proposes millions spent on pig-excrement methane effects on global warming -(an actual program)- has not done a single study on ATP vs. non-ATP rated pilot safety. The catalyst for this is the Colgan crash, regardless of the fact that both pilots had well in excess of 1,500 hours. (others :ComAir/Lexington, Pinnacle/flame-out, FedEx MD11, etc.) Even if those in support of this change get their wish and regionals improve pay and QOL, it's quite possible the majors will contract further (“Hey, we already pay our regional a good/ lower wage, let's grow the regionals”), dumbing-down the industry to the lowest common denominator and further eroding those prized legacy carrier jobs.
Yes, I was hired with less than 1,500 hours, as were my late father (B747-400 Capt.) and brother (B737-800 Capt.)...mea culpa. We'd all be barred from the cockpit because of quantity-over-quality. My instructing slow flight and steep turns in a Cessna for another couple hundred hours will not make me into Capt. Sully or his unknown F/O. Flight instructing, crop-dusting, traffic-watch and like jobs are rapidly dwindling, and may even ingrain bad habits.
Kit Darby's fabled pilot shortage will materialize when age 65 kicks in. Where will we get our pilots? The military's cut to the bone (and all those ex-fighter jocks with less than 1,500hrs. will not be going to the majors OR the regionals), there's a mass exodus from GA training, and socialist Europeans have more freedom with ab-initio that we free Americans don't. On the FAA panel for rule change are flight school directors who are salivating at the chance to bilk students out of more money, (only spoiled rich kids need apply now).As aviation enthusiasts, shouldn't we be promoting our profession and not setting up obstacles for our young Lindbergs and Erharts, telling them you must pay exhorbitant sums to qualify?
The solution? Keep it simple...propose a military-style pipeline for all pilots. Prospective pilots entering training are asked what their goal is, and sent down 1 of 2 pipelines with corresponding license requirements Pipiline A) Casual day VFR flyer-Sport Pilot license. Owner/renter/business types get a combined private/instrument. No more restricted to day/night VFR types and increase safety. (This would be the stepping stone to Pipeline B) Professional Pilot license. Stage check 1-Private/ Checkride 2-Instrument. Stage check3 -Commercial Single/ Checkride 4-CFI.(at this point, those who want to fly commercial SEL leave the program). Stage check 5-Multi, checkride 6- to ATP PTS. Allow more FTD time (only certain FTD's) and count that as a qualifier for Professional License. Students and schools save money and get more of that all important instrument scan.
Too simple? (sorry this was long winded...but I believe this is a critical issue)
In fraternity-NoStep
10-05-2009, 03:55 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 1st year pay for the 3rd time
Posts: 1,434
NoStep,
There are two problems I see that I doubt will change much regardless of number of active pilots.
1) People have no problem buying their tickets from Orbitz or Travelocity as long as they can have it $1 cheaper. These same people put blind faith that the government will keep them safe from all harm because they monitor flight crew training and other mandates. Then when there are crashes these same geniuses that can't run the post office or Amtrak now propose even more useless laws on the books so that the priceline.com crowd will feel better knowing their government put words to paper and fix everything.
2) Even with age 65 I don't think we'll see the pilot shortage everyone is talking about. For starters, this recession isn't going to be adding any jobs for a few years. Airlines like Delta want to cut a lot of routes from their schedule so who knows how many pilots will be needed in the future. And remember, there wasn't always an age 60 now 65 rule. You could literally fly until you died, or at least stop passing your medicals. So who knows if there won't be a movement in a year or so for age 70.
Secondly, the airlines will lobby and get exemptions to address the pilot shortage if one ever happens. The government could always open up our domestic routes to foreign carriers and now you'll be competing against the Frenchy French for your domestic route.
Bottom line: have a backup plan. Do what we always do, plan for the worst and hope for the best. And no matter what you do, don't put your faith in some politician to save or create your job. Thats just a road of disappointment.
The Chow
There are two problems I see that I doubt will change much regardless of number of active pilots.
1) People have no problem buying their tickets from Orbitz or Travelocity as long as they can have it $1 cheaper. These same people put blind faith that the government will keep them safe from all harm because they monitor flight crew training and other mandates. Then when there are crashes these same geniuses that can't run the post office or Amtrak now propose even more useless laws on the books so that the priceline.com crowd will feel better knowing their government put words to paper and fix everything.
2) Even with age 65 I don't think we'll see the pilot shortage everyone is talking about. For starters, this recession isn't going to be adding any jobs for a few years. Airlines like Delta want to cut a lot of routes from their schedule so who knows how many pilots will be needed in the future. And remember, there wasn't always an age 60 now 65 rule. You could literally fly until you died, or at least stop passing your medicals. So who knows if there won't be a movement in a year or so for age 70.
Secondly, the airlines will lobby and get exemptions to address the pilot shortage if one ever happens. The government could always open up our domestic routes to foreign carriers and now you'll be competing against the Frenchy French for your domestic route.
Bottom line: have a backup plan. Do what we always do, plan for the worst and hope for the best. And no matter what you do, don't put your faith in some politician to save or create your job. Thats just a road of disappointment.
The Chow
10-05-2009, 04:28 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: Missionary
Posts: 309
NoStep,
There are two problems I see that I doubt will change much regardless of number of active pilots.
1) People have no problem buying their tickets from Orbitz or Travelocity as long as they can have it $1 cheaper. These same people put blind faith that the government will keep them safe from all harm because they monitor flight crew training and other mandates. Then when there are crashes these same geniuses that can't run the post office or Amtrak now propose even more useless laws on the books so that the priceline.com crowd will feel better knowing their government put words to paper and fix everything.
2) Even with age 65 I don't think we'll see the pilot shortage everyone is talking about. For starters, this recession isn't going to be adding any jobs for a few years. Airlines like Delta want to cut a lot of routes from their schedule so who knows how many pilots will be needed in the future. And remember, there wasn't always an age 60 now 65 rule. You could literally fly until you died, or at least stop passing your medicals. So who knows if there won't be a movement in a year or so for age 70.
Secondly, the airlines will lobby and get exemptions to address the pilot shortage if one ever happens. The government could always open up our domestic routes to foreign carriers and now you'll be competing against the Frenchy French for your domestic route.
Bottom line: have a backup plan. Do what we always do, plan for the worst and hope for the best. And no matter what you do, don't put your faith in some politician to save or create your job. Thats just a road of disappointment.
The Chow
There are two problems I see that I doubt will change much regardless of number of active pilots.
1) People have no problem buying their tickets from Orbitz or Travelocity as long as they can have it $1 cheaper. These same people put blind faith that the government will keep them safe from all harm because they monitor flight crew training and other mandates. Then when there are crashes these same geniuses that can't run the post office or Amtrak now propose even more useless laws on the books so that the priceline.com crowd will feel better knowing their government put words to paper and fix everything.
2) Even with age 65 I don't think we'll see the pilot shortage everyone is talking about. For starters, this recession isn't going to be adding any jobs for a few years. Airlines like Delta want to cut a lot of routes from their schedule so who knows how many pilots will be needed in the future. And remember, there wasn't always an age 60 now 65 rule. You could literally fly until you died, or at least stop passing your medicals. So who knows if there won't be a movement in a year or so for age 70.
Secondly, the airlines will lobby and get exemptions to address the pilot shortage if one ever happens. The government could always open up our domestic routes to foreign carriers and now you'll be competing against the Frenchy French for your domestic route.
Bottom line: have a backup plan. Do what we always do, plan for the worst and hope for the best. And no matter what you do, don't put your faith in some politician to save or create your job. Thats just a road of disappointment.
The Chow
Your point #1 is exactly right, and I don't think alot of pilots who may have even read the bill realize this is a setup job in case, God forbid, you make a mistake in the cockpit. They will spend millions$ probing pilot records, as the bill demands, in order to scapegoat in the future (excellent point!)
I disagree with point #2, however. Yes, there could be a move for age 70, but the days when a pilot could fly until dead were over in the 1940-50's era thanks to C.R. Smith at American Airlines. We got a taste of what a shortage will look like in 2006-08 with the hiring boom.
Something else to keep in mind, fewer pilots qualified at entry level jobs will make reserve and upgrade seniority skyrocket. (Just food for thought).
Thanks again!
NoStep
10-05-2009, 09:34 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: NOYDB
Posts: 876
I have a lot of friends that work in D.C. for the FAA, and in the House and Senate. HR3371 will not make it to law. The ATA and RAA are big money players in this card game. The FAA boss even stated that he wasn't in favor of HR3371. I think the introduction of the MPL will happen long before HR3371 sees the light of day. That's what the ATA and RAA wants. ALPA is also in favor of the MPL. Unless there is change, there will be a pilot shortage; due to disparaging wages not the shortage of pilots. We'll see the same thing we saw in 2007 and early 2008; pilot factories spitting out 90 day wonder pilots will low time and little experience to fill the void.
10-05-2009, 02:41 PM
pants on the ground
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: back seat
Posts: 1,359
I have a lot of friends that work in D.C. for the FAA, and in the House and Senate. HR3371 will not make it to law. The ATA and RAA are big money players in this card game. The FAA boss even stated that he wasn't in favor of HR3371. I think the introduction of the MPL will happen long before HR3371 sees the light of day. That's what the ATA and RAA wants. ALPA is also in favor of the MPL. Unless there is change, there will be a pilot shortage; due to disparaging wages not the shortage of pilots. We'll see the same thing we saw in 2007 and early 2008; pilot factories spitting out 90 day wonder pilots will low time and little experience to fill the void.
10-05-2009, 04:30 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: FO
Posts: 3,044
Whats the word on the Crj-900 that got its wing smoked by a truck on the ramp in JFK? I heard it has some serious damage to the trailing edge of the wing and flap...looked like it was sitting up on the cargo ramp North of 13L/31R (couldn't make out any damage though).
10-05-2009, 04:34 PM
Furlough line holder
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: CRJ2, ATR, CRJ7, E145, 737
Posts: 1,845
I'm sure Delta is thrilled..that's another plane they can take away from Comair!
10-05-2009, 05:04 PM
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Position: CPT
Posts: 51
Yep - It was thrashed pretty good. I saw it parked @ 11A/KK Pad on the 1st. The whole right aileron and right trailing edge to just inside of the tip had MAJOR damage......
It was moved to Hanger 3 (NE corner of JFK). Maint. said it could take weeks to get it back online......
It was moved to Hanger 3 (NE corner of JFK). Maint. said it could take weeks to get it back online......
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