yawdamp

I have to laugh. While you are reveling in your opinions, my mind is clear. I/we have worked hard and shall continue to work hard (here or elsewhere - no matter time and place) to demand a better quality of life for my/our family(ies). We derserve because we have earned and executed. Continue to cloud the subject, as well as expect respect for what you pretend to know. You're wasting my time.

A320Flyer

OK folks. Spoke to our CP and he confirmed that corporate has officially "anticipated delivery" of 4 new A320's. The first one to be delivered in March, 2010. I had heard the rumor but hoped the deliveries would occur sooner. All furlougees should be back by next year. That's the official word.

BoredwLife

You know, that is good news if it stays true. For guys like me who were furloughed in the first group, unemployment is running out, and we are getting to the point were we haven't flown 100 hours in the past 12 months, which a lot of flight jobs want. Any sign of hope is good.

Merlyn

Best rumour I've heard today, for sure!

A320Flyer

Our CP assured me that it's no longer just a rumor. He said it is a fact. Corporate is moving to bring in new planes on property. My take is that many things can change in the external environment in the mean time (worstening economy, natual disasters, terrorism), knock on wood. But all things equal...we should see some 320's by early next year.

Grounded320

I try not to post on these boards but I feel bad for some of the new guys hoping for a solid future at Spirit. Things will never be great at Spirit for the following reasons.
1. Union representation has often worked in their best interest, often cooperating with management and not the pilots they represent. Must I say this is not all, but there is a strong track record.
2. Pilot intimidation by Spirit Management specifically lead by your current director of operations is well documented. Although this is a tactic used by a lot of airlines at one point or another Spirit finds a way to take this to a new level. This is evident by the enormous number of notice of investigations issued by management. The union has made several statements regarding this intimidation, just read some of your mec emails. You can also read some of the more hidden intimidation messages in your chief pilots, now DO weekly letters. The frequency of these investigations by percentage is higher then most major airlines with more then 10 times the number of pilots. I cannot begin to state all the good pilots who have been threatened by this sort of intimidation, often for doing the right thing.
3. The weakness in the pilot group itself. Spirit has some senior pilots who have often bragged to me about the huge salary they were making by picking up loads of open time. Mind you some of these individuals often felt the need to brag about their earnings while simultaneously demonstrating how incompetent some of them were flying the aircraft. Generally, there were reasons why these sub 2000 hires never could get hired at a major, yes they are dangerous. Now, don't confuse these guys with some of the really good guys, notably the a couple ex eastern guys, and a couple of senior check airman. These guys will never support the rest of the pilot group. I think some of you have all flown with your hotel ALPA guy, (I think his name starts with H if its still him) and been scared somehow. This chump once told me " I would do anything to save my job, pay cut, I don't care about the junior guy".

Now, there are a lot of good pilots/people at spirt as well, but with the corporate culture at Spirit you are fighting a losing battle. What I suggest is keep quiet, build your experience and wait for a new opportunity to arise. Now in this economy this might take some time, but it will come. Just don't live in the utopia that spirit will one day be a great place to work, it won't. Not unless there is a complete flush of management and enough expansion to wipe out the effects of all the bad seeds. I do applaud you for caring and trying to make a difference. I hope that you are successful, but you must also carefully analyze the reality that is Spirit!

Sailor

Be quiet and wait!

move on and wait some more.

EVERY AIRLINE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS.

Old news!!!!

Grounded320

I beg to disagree with you. I have worked for several airlines and been hired at 2 majors. Spirit is a very unique case, and a very classless company. I feel really bad for all the good pilots/people at spirit and around the industry. I decided about a year ago that I needed to find a way to bring the issues good competent pilots face to the forefront of public debate. Over the past year I have been working with a well known publisher in writing a book bringing a realistic and somewhat painful reality about the airlines, and how they really work. The book is almost done, but I am currently working through legal issues with my attorney. I did not leave anything out including employee names, company names, flight releases, mx reports, ect, all of these have created significant legal issues. The only stuff that will be confidential is the identities of pilots who provided me additional information. My hope is to inform the public, and hopefully force this industry down another path, a path that airline pilots deserve. Its also important that we stand up for our fallen Colgan friends. Although we don't know the full story as of yet, we all realize that there were many factors that led to the two pilots being in that situation. As a former regional pilot, we all learned most on our own, or from fellow pilots. I know by experience that I did not get the same level of training at the regional as I did at the majors. Discount is discount, you get what you pay for. Well I am getting off topic. My points about Spirit will be well addressed in my book, so I hope you buy it once it hits the shelves.

Sailor

Do you mean that your colleagues will not get a free copy?

I really hope you do well with your book. It is always good to see people using the creative side of the brain. But the reality is that we complain, then we change jobs and complain some more.

You, as a seasoned pilot must know that we are difficult people to satisfy. Not to say that Airlines should treat pilots the way they do, I think is a double edge knife.

One of the contributing factors are our Unions, The rumors, The He said-She said comments, and my personal favorite the Single Pilot Operation "me-me-me" Attitude.

I hope things change, meanwhile I keep playing lottery...

Agree to disagree. Cheers!

Grounded320

Yes, I will give out free copies where I can. The proceeds are going to help wrongfully terminated pilots get job retraining or any other assistance to get them back on their feet again. I understand that a business is simply that, a business. I am not talking about run of the mill pilot vs management conflict, but disputes that pilots are forced to fly in conditions in which they should not. Spirit has promoted their efficient fuel savings program even at the expense of safety. Right from the former Do's mouth " we would rather you divert then give you an extra drop of gas" How many Captains got called on the carpet for requesting more fuel, Well I knew at least 2, I flew with them. Speak up, lose your job. Some choice that is! This is only one example of Spirits corporate philosophy. I know the majors I have been hired at would never ever question a pilot for putting safety first even if that meant taking a little extra fuel. So like I said Spirit is the worse case scenario. I agree with the " he said she said thing" so I based everything in my book on facts. I did a great job of documenting things, basically at the time to protect myself. Spirit would not think twice about turning you into the feds. I am sure there are some Spirit pilots reading this board that have been the victim of a Spirit disclosure the the feds.