NVUS

Word is that most, if not all, EMBs will be retired by the end of 2015. It's becoming too expensive to replace the prop blades, and the only company that manufactures them is lucky to churn one out in less then two weeks. I'm sure a good portion of that flying will transition to pro-rate on the CRJ2.

ClickClickBoom

Real reason, pilot efficiency. UAL pulled the plug on the EMB, 28 people vs 50, to even allude to anything remotely resembling anything like a pilot shortage would cede the power to the pilots. Make no mistake, the industry is getting squiggly and can't figure out how to fix it. Some cities that will not support higher yield fares will be relegated to Greyhound codeshares. Follow the money.

NVUS

Uh no, the prop blades and hub replacement costs are astronomical. Has nothing to do with pilot efficiency. The margins on the EMB are higher than the 200.

disillusioned

Man, how many of us would change our vote on the last pay package knowing that the pay raise for the Bro was only going to be for 18 months? Everyone was so convinced the Bro wasn't going anywhere, that we allowed ourselves to pay money out to 1st and 2nd year guys on a plane that was on its way out the door. I felt that was the biggest indication that the plane was on it's way out. Management played on us knowing that the Bro pilots had been hosed for years, and our hard rate for the 175.
Also, any bets that trip stacking that went away with 117 will be added back as a feature for the next pay package? Or more promises to work on reserve improvements.

ClickClickBoom

Like I said "follow the money" These decisions are made behind closed boardroom doors, so unless you are a member of the board(highly doubtful), it's algebra. SKYW has started to load its diaper and they are getting diaper rash. What halfway intelligent pilot would come to a company that has a 7+ year upgrade, when they can go to GoJhets or Meas and upgrade in a much shorter time, regionals, every single one is just a whistle stop on almost every pilots career. Because some pilots got jammed up by 9/11 and got comfortable doesn't mean its the best career choice. The difference between GoJhets and a Skywest tour could be more than $1,000,000 for a young guy. So stop swilling the Kool-Aid and do the math(algebra).

AlaskaBound

Come on..you know there's no talking sense to NVUS. Ask him to post a map of where SkyWest flies and he can do that pretty well.
You are absolutely correct in this post. It's spot on.

ClickClickBoom

Lesson,
SKYW has all the contracts, plans and cards. You have nothing to make an informed decision except intuition and the magic 8 ball, so when SAPA(SKYW Inc AD agency) tells you that this is the best you are gonna get, that's the word from the company. So many guys refuse to listen to those who have gone there before, and as a consequence make the same exact mistakes, lesson. If the company is offering anything its because they aren't planning on having to pay it. Pilots are paying checkers when the company is playing 3D chess. Want better work rules? Leave......
Been there for more than a decade, it has been a slow decay(frog in pot of boiling water). Am planning to leave.

disillusioned

I have honestly thought for the past year that SkyWest would benefit by combining pilot lists. My feeling is KB keeps disregarding policy and almost daring the pilots to vote in a union. Or maybe they realize that is 70% would vote in a pay freeze, we probably won't vote in a union and they can do whatever they want to us. They target small groups at a time, but the problem is that most of us have a long memory. 5 years of reserve and I still won't answer CS calls and have no desire to help out on my days off. There is some deep emotional scaring from the abuse of TE's minions and they have no desire to help change any of that.

Continue to fight us and not work together to find solutions. Continue to think that the name SkyWest will bring pilots in the door. I agree they have been around for 40 years and done more stuff right than other regionals, but the game is about to change and SkyWest is living on past accomplishments.

ClickClickBoom

SKYW,
SGU is so far out off touch, I have decided that the disconnect between their version of reality and what is actually going on is in their DNA, and as such will be impossible to change. First we don't work together, we work for them. Example is your favorite dept, CS, the angst that they have dealt the flight crewmembers is legendary, you know that first hand. Understanding who and what you work for is imperative if you don't want to go crazy. This is a job, nothing more or nothing less, you fly a plane for 4:25 minutes you get paid for 4:25 at your payrate. Having some misplaced loyalty to a corporate entity is foolish and counterproductive, they want you to to work on your day off do it for the money, because the love is lost when you agree and hang up the phone. Don't believe me? Accept an assignment, then call back and say you forgot your moms birthday party was on that day...
They are still trying to figure out why there aren't people still hammering on the door to work here. I will offer the same advice to you and anyone else, get what you need, then decide what your next goal might be. If its outside SKYW, so be it. If one decides that SKYW is their destination, they need to open their eyes, accept it for what it is and deal with it.
The single pilot list is simple, the lists are separate because they have a plan, who knows what it is, but rest assured that plan was in place when Jerry met with DAL leadership prior to the purchase. Your and my fate was decided long before we even knew about it, rest assured SKYW, UAL, DAL, AA and all the rest have an inkling as to where this show is headed, the pilots are just along for the ride.
The institutional delusions are strong and quite often are the undoing of an entity, if nothing else it will be interesting...

ClickClickBoom

First place at the Special Olympics is......well you know.....
First Place at the Special Olympics.