Trebor

Wise folks usually try to talk about what they know. I try to comment only on SkyWest Airlines since that is what I know. Maybe a little about my parent company SkyWest Inc., and I'm interested in what is said about ASA since we are sister companies. Everything else about all other airlines is conjecture, theory, and assumption based upon conversations I have with my fellow professional pilots. Not knowledge. Given this criteria for making knowledgeable comments, Winglets DOES NOT work for SkyWest Airlines, nor ASA. There is no such thing as a SkyWest pilot flying ASA paint. Just because you believe something is true doesn't necessarily mean it is.

Back to the ORIGINAL topic of this thread. SkyWest Airlines has around 100 poolies. Recently it seemed there may be some movement on the horizon so the poolies were contacted and essentially were told to dust off their skills because opportunity may be coming. For whatever reason, the opportunities did not develop as anticipated, or were postponed, or may not be coming at all. I truthfully don't know what happened to stop the excitement. Either way it is disappointing to a poolie to get the news, be called back in to go reinterview, or check back in, or get evaluated, or whatever you want to call the current letter, and then find out that things are on hold again. I have been there. It sucks and I empathize with you.

For what it's worth, if and when SkyWest Airlines (not Inc. or ASA) exhausts their needs from within and they do need to recruit new pilots at SkyWest Airlines (not Inc. or ASA) they are contractually obligated to OFFER a specific amount first to United furloughs. Then they will see if ASA furloughs that meet SkyWest Airlines (not Inc. or ASA) hiring minimums are interested in coming over to SkyWest Airlines. If after those two options are looked at, there are remaining positions available they will be offered to the SkyWest Airlines (not Inc. or ASA) poolies.

As for having a class canceled 3 weeks before you were going to start. I feel for them. Many of us have made plans and arrangements only to have life happen and screw up everything. It sucks but you adapt and move on. I have a good friend that was two weeks into their ground school at their new airline job when the Chief Pilot walked in and said that the company was folding and he was real sorry but they were no longer employed. That really sucks.

I don't know how many other hiring pools there are out there at other airlines so I won't speak about this as if I have intimate knowledge on the subject. (Note the maturity exercised by admitting that) What I do know is that Camille and her team are trying their best to keep the SkyWest poolies informed of the ever changing dynamics that everone is dealing with. The letter to me seems like a subtle way of saying something along the lines of "I'm sorry to get your hopes up with our recent communications. There is a good possibility that things are still in the works and we want to be ready to pounce. Since we have had no significant contact with you since your original interview we would like to visit with you again and do an evalutation on where you currently are. This will help both you and us know what needs to be polished so that when the real opportunity comes you are ready to join with us!" I guess I see this as a great opportunity to get my face back in front of the company I want to work for and have them remember why they chose me in the first place. Any good leader and professional is always up for a little constructive critique that will make them better.

To the original poster of this thread: I am sorry that you have been in limbo. Although not as long as you, I also had to wait longer than I wanted or anticipated to have the opportunity. It caused my family great financial hardship but the sacrifice and wait was worth it. I can understand the frustration and anxiety you must have been through, especially over the last few weeks, however your comments are concerning at the bottom of your original post.

"Hate to say it, but this is the best thing they could do? The sign of great management. Times are tough. Hang in there folks."

You sound entitled and it doesn't come across well. Again, I understand your frustration but what more do you want from SkyWest? We are not hiring right now. You are in the pool. When the time comes you will get first crack before any other pilot on the street. (Except the two groups I mentioned before.) You will be given a shot before pilots who in all probability have thousands more hours than you. Be grateful. You made an impression once that convinced us we wanted you in better times. Don't taint that. On the other hand, if those are your genuine feelings then have the integrity to call Camille and tell her you are no longer impressed with SkyWest and wish to withdraw from the hiring pool. I hope the post came more from frustration than from your character. I sincerely hope that if SkyWest is where you want to be then you get here in the very near future. Again, I believe you will be well rewarded for your long suffering. If there is anything I can do on a personal level to help you out, please PM me and I will do anything within my means.

Good Luck!

winglets

awwwww... blinded by the whipsaw.

Same size airplanes and same top dog. Yes Skywest management doesn't screw their pilots like TSA gets it. They are fair. But the whipsaw is still there and it hampering both groups.

nigelcobalt

Trebor,

Nice first post man! Well said.

WAVIT Inbound

Why is it that every post I read of Winglets is spoken in my head in the voice of a robot? I'm just saying. Weird.

E6-B

Nice post trebor, you seem too mature for apc

Though I have to say I sympathize more with the op especially with how much some of the poolies have been jerked around. Obviously Camille has to act on what information she is given, but the yo-yo-ing is pretty hurtful I would imagine to people who are trying to move on with their lives.

This is a great exercise in patience, but I wouldn't chide anyone who comes on here to vent about the entire process. I would actually say that they're entitled to that.

Bustin

Honestly, if you don't expect to be jerked around by the industry you don't know what you're getting into. Wavering on a class date is certainly not in the realm of worst things that can and will happen in your career. If that's too much for you I would strongly advise you to reconsider your career choice.

gtechpilot

As a furloughed ASA pilot, winglets' line of reasoning doesn't seem that far off. I don't see him bashing anyone or posting anything that is not factual. Republic has multiple holding companies, but they are all Republic pilots (same for Mesa, however long that lasts).

I also agree that the whipsaw game is being played, although fairly mildly. During contract negotiations when SKW Inc bought ASA, Delta had originally designated -900s for ASA to fly. The ASA MEC at the time wanted certain provisions in the contract and JA threatened to transfer the -900s to SKW if the union didn't give in. The union called his 'bluff'.

More recently, PBS was pushed by management very hard last year. We were told over and over that we needed to agree to it and soon or there would be no growth. Very shortly after talks seemed to 'break down' this summer, the company furloughed.

gtech88

You sound entitled and it doesn't come across well. Again, I understand your frustration but what more do you want from SkyWest? We are not hiring right now. You are in the pool. When the time comes you will get first crack before any other pilot on the street. (Except the two groups I mentioned before.) You will be given a shot before pilots who in all probability have thousands more hours than you. Good Luck![/quote]

If I remember correctly, the pool was made up of the old Skyway CAs and FOs

NewEnglandAir

I don't post much but it sounds like Winglet is a furloughed ASA pilot who is disgruntled at SkyWest Airlines pilots. [deleted]

winglets

Yes, you got me. On the Colgan thread I must be a disgruntled Expressjet or Continental Pilot. On the Mesa thread I must be a disgruntled ACA pilot.

If you haven't figured out why I made up my mind why I won't share the place I work at, this is the reason. Trying to deflect away from the truth by saying the real reason I believe that is because I was screwed over at the other company.

ASA and Skywest pilots all work for the same company. It is no different than NWA and Delta. Except those pilots are merging onto one list. The Skywest pilots need to end the whipsaw and combine lists.