bravo45

hmmm....

Thanks for the reply, I have a number of friends who got in and they are flying, and seemed happy. Truth be told I am not very confident in prospects here, but having said that I am not the one to decide and for my situation right now, unless I am not crossing a picket line I might take it...

I really need to look more into it I guess

Ronaldo

Basically, if you've applied everywhere else and no one is bitting then I'd come here if it is your last option and you aren't leaving a real job. If you don't mind the complete uncertainty that is always in place here, and people being VERY VERY angry all the time, you might survive a while.

Bottom Line: either we fix a lot of the management issues by contract constraints or we burn this place down. Our management bought two defunct airlines while telling us it has no money. They've also said in response to complaints that people can just leave since "Republic was never meant to be a career destination. It's a stepping stone." In order to ensure that people leave, the company operates in the manner it does, delaying CBA negotiations for years (rather effective I might add).

One example: The company displaced all the Q-400 pilots from the Q to the 190 effective 1 May 2012. A few weeks ago, they took those pilots are re-upgraded them back to Q-400 CA positions, despite the fact that hundreds of senior FOs bid for those CA positions. Now with the closure of DEN base looming. Some of the most junior pilots at the company are making twice what a 6 year FO makes and driving to work. Meanwhile the senior FOs and CAs in DEN on the 190 will be displaced to the base, certificate, and equipment of the company's choosing. Then, if DEN reopens in a few months, like it did last time, many of the original pilots in this base will be unable to return, and they will continue commuting while junior pilots enjoy a better QOL. They've done this 17 times!!

I should add, when I came here in 2007, we had been in negotiations for 6 months for a new CBA. We are still negotiating that CBA. So don't bank on having a new CBA anytime soon. We were denied a proffer of arbitration by the NMB, and the company is stalling until they can spin-off F9 to our shareholders. Spin-off expected to occur around June 2013.

MusicPilot

It amazes me how many people b*tch and complain about working for RAH and tell everyone to go elsewhere and yet they've never been elsewhere themselves. They think the grass is greener at other carriers and have no clue that they'd be b*tching and complaining just as much if they were somewhere else. Is the contract perfect at RAH? No, but neither is it at any other regional. There's always something to b*tch about. If its so bad then why are they still sticking around? Just my .02. I've been dealt a few bad cards in my aviation career and just pushed through it and worked hard to move on. Best part, no jet PIC. So, yes you can move on.

Bolo

Finally, somebody that gets it! Great post MusicPilot!

Hetman

I voted with my feet. I was a way senior captain at RAH. $100k+/year, living in base, flying that fancy 170. When I was hired, I was the best employee who had ever proudly worn the badge. By the time I left, my career goals were "Anywhere but here with anyone but you."

I would rather be furloughed from my current job than still be working there.

Oskeewowow

I try to keep my complaining to a minimum. When my college buddies at comparable regionals make 15k more a year, then I'm going to be vocal about why RAH sucks. I tell them stories that make their jaws drop. It's just my educated guess, but I don't think pilots at Skywest, Expressjet, Eagle (for now), Compass, Air Whisky, or Horizon have to deal with the shenanigans RAH pilots deal with on a daily basis. How many pilots had pay errors this month? I heard a rumor it was about 400.

To your second point- at five years seniority, why would I leave for another regional? It makes more sense to support my union and fight for a better CBA. Part of that involves spreading the message to prospective pilots that RAH is not a company that values its employees.

Oskeewowow

Weren't you a top 300er? Wha? Huh? Didnt you want to stick around and take your rightful place as Airbus Captain in seven years????

Hetman

Yup. #126 before the interlopers came in and knocked me down to 600-something.

I would have enjoyed commanding the mighty Fifi but the real satisfaction would have come from evicting a squatter from my seat. That is why I stayed...

..oh, wait. I didn't. I reckon I didn't care that much about that after all.

That bit of hubris sure contributed to the mess, didn't it?

RAH RAH REE

But every F9 guy on here is POSITIVE that all RAH'ers want to take all their spots at the magical Frontier Airlines!

BTpilot

No, we don't..