Mountain Wave

A few weeks have gone by since we were shamefully delivered the news by Wayne Heller that Lynx Aviation would be dismantled. I’m sure like everyone else the last couple weeks have been a time of many emotions usually returning to outright anger over what has transpired. As we witness the unwelcome end of Lynx Aviation as an airline, I believe there are some points worth mentioning. Undoubtedly the natural inclination after reading this would be curiosity as to the author. It doesn’t really matter.

The story of Lynx Aviation has been written all but the last few pages of the last chapter. Unfortunately it will be known by those who worked here and by those with knowledge of the circumstances, as a tragedy. Even after the fate of our airline had been sealed unbeknownst to us, we were the topic of a Denver Post article that was one of the most complimentary articles ever written about an airline. In a time of unprecedented fuel price volatility, our aircraft was the most fuel-efficient in the sky. With public perception of the airlines at an all time low, we delivered a service to our passengers that rivaled any airline’s. After reading that article most of us would have thought that the future of Lynx Aviation was not only bright but also assured. In that context it’s no surprise that we were blindsided by the news that our operation would be disposed of. Point number one: after three years of superior performance we were owed a significant explanation of why Lynx was not a viable operation that included supporting evidence for closing Lynx. Needless to say a three-sentence press release in addition to a “webcast” devoid of any financial numbers, details, specifics regarding efforts for Lynx’s future was infuriating.

Perhaps what bothers me most about the circumstances is what Brian Bedford’s decision has seemingly stolen from many of us. The lost income, the temporary loss of career progression are both insignificant in comparison to what he seems to have successfully taken: the loss of passion for a career in which we are exceedingly skilled. I can’t count how many times this week I’ve heard “I might just leave aviation.” I could hardly blame anyone for considering a different career path after the experience of two months under his “leadership.” Point number two: Don’t let “Frank Lorenzo-in-training” decide your career. If this is what you want to do for a living, don’t let an airline executive make your plans. Fly planes, live where you want to live, earn money, repeat.

Lastly I say this. Someone told me a story once about a pilot sitting in a terminal waiting for a flight. Another pilot came up to him clearly in a hurry and asked if there was any chance he had a couple quarters. His phone was dead and he needed to make a call. The pilot reached in his pocket and pulled out all of his change and said “take it, if we don’t take care of each other nobody else will.” The guy needing the quarters sat on the Southwest hiring board…. Point number three: Republic pilots make a convenient target for our rage, and if you’ve witnessed the same behavior this last month from some embarrassing examples as I have it’s hard not to think that their pilot group consists of anything but those. However, any adult knows you can’t stereotype. Unfortunately this anger plays into Bedford’s management strategy of divide-and-concur, leaving all of us bickering like children while Bedford reaps the benefit of a divided pilot group playing us off of each other. We’re better than flipping each other off as we taxi by. Make no mistake the individuals responsible for the death of Midwest, Lynx and soon Frontier, are Brian Bedford and Wayne Heller, not the employees who signed up to earn a living flying airplanes.

iPilot

Very well said!

Golden Bear

So were up to 2 airlines shut down as a result of this transaction and the dust hasn't even settled yet?!

BB is like a bull in a china shop of pilot's careers.

duvie

Spoken like a true gentlemen. Unfortunate circumstances, but a very refreshing reaction. Good luck

Dougdrvr

Just imagine how it feels to have this pulled on you after 25 years and still see airplanes with your name on them in your base.

After 25 years of outstanding service.

HawkerJet

Even though it is happening to us it is true we can only imagine the pain after 25 years of service. The last pilot group to take it that bad was TWA, how many are still furloughed?

At least the TWA logo was put to bed, the ultimate indignity is to see your brand continue flying by outsourced labor.

Even though we were a FAH owned startup, Frontier was never "our" brand, but most of the employee's on that side of the house did treat us as family, thank you.

As the OP said we did contribute to the whole in a meaningful way, only to have our contributions discounted to the lowest pay for a Q400 ever, and then finally discarded by RAH, thank you.

I don't blame the Republic pilots they are just a means to BB's end.

No matter the industry, I think labor in this country is in for a long fight to even remain status quo.

Dougdrvr

I hope they ARE a means to BB's end, the end of his carreer. Of course, if that happens, he will just surface somewhere else like a Loon in this lake of insanity.

Fishfreighter

You can't have something you don't own stolen. Your career wasn't stolen. It was sold to the highest bidder. And he was able to purchase it because he has pilots willing to fly his airplanes for substandard wages and benefits.

Its cause and effect.

crazy pills

What's with this attitude that regional pilots are "willing to fly for substandard wages and benefits"?
I'm sure you know that we do not want that but do you really think we have any choice? Major airline pilot contracts left the door open for people like BB and all of the other regional airline management to come in and make serious money for themselves. Had pilot groups given up a little bit of $ to keep all of it's flying, there would be no BB and there would be no "outsourcing of jobs".
Unfortunately that isn't the case and my generation of pilot has been sold down the river so the big guys at the majors could have had a higher hourly pay rates and not have to fly small planes.
If they had been in my position would they have not joined a regional based on principle?
Do you expect people in my position who are half way up a regional seniority list to quit based on the principle that we are flying outsourced airplanes? (airplanes and flying that were given away, not stolen)
How about every mainline pilot who are flying for %40 less pay than 10 years ago quit on principle then. Isn't a %40 pay decrease considered substandard wages?

sizzlechest

And RAHs 35 years of outstanding growth and safety.