EWRflyr

As has been said before, yes. However, my preference would be for 2 CAs and 2 FOs...two full working crews for 12+ hour flights. (Actually for 8 hour flights but I am being realistic in my dream world.)

paladin

Yeah I was kidding. The age 67 is, as age 60 was, just an arbitrary number. We all are living longer and healthier lives so pick your own number. Age 65 was a rationalization tied to Social Security benefits. Actually age 62 brings you to Medi-Care and reduced SSI benefits but for the over 60 guys at the airlines they won’t get to see their full SSI until 66 and for those born after 1959 they won’t see it until age 67. In light of the way those in Washington are gutting the economy we may never see it.

cal73

I think everyone from cola 10 was already back in retraining by June 2010. They keep accounting for em but we have been back for months already; save a few that extended. I am aware of only 2 that extended. I don't know how many took subsequent colas.... Less than 10 I think. I realize that I am not exactly in the know but I try to.keep my ear to the ground.

paladin

Just curious but other than featherbedding why do you advocate more than one CA per flight. With the experience level and quality of FO's there is no need for two CA's. I don't mean to discount the valuable experience of all crewmembers but just as in the early days modern cockpits should not be allowed to be run by committee.

SUPERfluf

In addition to COLAs returning, the end of the scheduling restrictions of the furlough mitigation LOA effectively adds another 100-150 pilots (union's estimate of jobs saved) to the roster.

Also, realistically, the 787 positions are actually extra positions for other bases up until the 3Q of next year. We have been told the recalls will start training in November so they will be back long before the 787's arrive.

With the company assuming a new JCBA before the spring system bid and uncertainty over when the 787's will arrive, the staffing needs for the next year are more than uncertain.

SUPERfluf

Experience of FO's not-withstanding, if the Captain is on break and the QRH has to come out, the Captain has to be called back up to the flight deck.

That's not the safest or most restful situation. Better if there is always someone up front with the authority to make a divert/continue decision.

Free Flyer

I can understand the company's standpoint on making everyone return to their seat after getting trained on the 787, to save money. But this is ridiculous. So after getting typed on the 787 you go back to the 737 for 8 months or however long it takes Boeing to get this bird going, and then you go back to the 787!

I don't see the furloughees getting recalled until after the 787 shows up sometime late 2011 or early 2012 for 1 main reason.
1) CAL will just cycle 18 pilots a month through training over the course of a year to get all of the new 135 787 positions typed while the rest of the seniority list is forced to take up the flying slack and fly the coverage.

Solution: Don't bid the 787 at CAL and make them recall the furloughees. This can be accomplished by saying once you are typed on the 787 you are no longer able to fly your current fleet type. They will then have to recall the 147 furloughees to cover the other pilots going to training. So what you get is senior guys on an extended "paid vacation" while waiting for Boeing to get the 787 up and running. This is the only true way to get the furloughees back!

Oh, and hint hint fellow CAL guys. Remember, due to our company's cheapness, if you bid the 787 and you don't live in IAH, you get to pay for your own hotel during training because you voluntarily bid that base. Not to mention all of the Feds crawling all over you while you train. Just something to think about!

SUPERfluf

Have you read the press releases & the blastmails?

The union and company have already stated that the recalls will begin training in the middle of the 4th quarter of this year. (November)

This has been verified by pilots who have spoken with manpower planning about possible training dates when considering their bids.

The furloughed pilots have been through enough stress, try not to freak them out with conjecture.

SUPERfluf

Uhhh.....yes.

Free Flyer

So the 17 furloughees that were recalled on our last bid (the January 2010 bid), have they started training yet? Nope, not to my knowledge. Now I know it hasn't been a full year yet since the early 2010 system bid, but I don't see how manpower planning can tell people to expect training in early November for our current system bid when they haven't even started the training for the folks from the early 2010 bid. Just saying.