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Originally Posted by kailuaboy What are the junior bases now? I didnt even ask. I have heard EWR and ive also heard CLE.
My start date is the 13th.
About the 69 aircraft, she said that its really complex but, they are not worried about it. She said something to the fact that if Continental takes the aircraft, that kinda breaks the contract they have with ExpressJet. Now, is this true? or is that something I thought I heard? Also, from what she said, IF they take the aircraft (its really expressjets), ExpressJet would be able to take routes from say, United or delta, etc. is that right? |
Junior base is most likely still EWR. I based there and we have a great bunch of people working here. CLE is shrinking a bit according to our latest bid packet so I would not plan on it as a viable long term option. It will be a base but it's unclear how large. The company feels they can staff it with crews travelling through from either IAH or EWR.
As for the 69 aircraft, nothing is written in stone yet. They are NOT XJTs aircraft. We lease them from Continental and have first right of refusal meaning that we can continue to lease them (at a higher rate) while flying them elsewhere as long as it is not through one of the 3 hubs. A few options I see could happen:
1) XJT and CAL could still reach an agreement and status quo results
2) XJT and CAL do not reach an agreement and one of a few things happens...
a) we don't find flying for the planes and CAL finds someone else to fly the 69 A/C removing them from our fleet
b) we find flying with the planes through another code share
c) the aircraft remain at XJT but are flown for XJT Europe but not by our pilots (see
www.expressjeteurope.com )
d) we keep them and fly them on our own (oh God I hope not!)
I would say that option 1 is still possible although it seems that CAL wants to diversify their RJ feed. As much as it pains me to say it, this might be a good business decision on their part and over the past few years they have done many things to distance themselves from us. Obviously if that happens it's not good for me or the XJT pilot group. I don't buy into the argument many here at XJT maintain that we "do too good of a job for CAL" or that "we are too ingrained into CALs service and it would be too difficult to change." I think those arguments are a bit simplistic and ignores the cost savings that CAL feels they need to achieve. Just ask any AWAC, ASA, Commair, Mesaba, or Pinnacle pilot what they think of those arguments.
As for the option to find someone else to fly the 69 aircraft for in the states, I believe this really isn't very feasible since it is no secret that there is an overabundance of 50 seaters in the marketplace. I believe that it is far more likely any additional codshare flying will be found in Europe. If you listen to this past quarter's conference call with our CEO Jim Ream and investors, he clearly states that they believe that there is more opportunity in Europe than in the states and that is where they are concentrating their efforts. If that happens, we will not be flying them in my opinion because XJT is legally only allowed a 49% ownership in XJT Europe and our (the pilots) contracts scope only covers us for XJT flying that is covered by the Railway Labor Act (RLA)...in other words does 49% ownership in XJT Europe constitute XJT flying and does the RLA cover such flying in Europe that is questionably XJT flying? In opinion the answer is probably no on both accounts since there are too many potential loop holes. Anyone of us who thinks they will be flying over there anytime soon is drinking some REALLY good Kool-Aid!
Most likely, we will not keep the flying and the planes will go elsewhere. I have heard the company believes that they will not have to furlough because attrition will keep the company properly staffed. We'll see, I don't necessarily buy that either.
I don't really like our options but I accept the idea that what is good for XJT the company might not coincide with the best interests of its pilots. I don't like it but that's life and it's out of my control so why lose sleep over it? If you want to listen our CEOs comments last quarter go to the company website and look for quarterly conference calls.
I will not comment much on training because Bob already covered it pretty well. I will say that between now and your first day I would study nothing other than what they probably gave you in the study guide...memory items and limitations being the most important. Secondly I would get familiar with flows but I don't believe it is necessary to have them memorized before you come. I knew the memory items and limitations cold prior to day one but not the flows and I did fine. Work hard while you're there but don't stress about it since it's not brain science. I agree with Bob that you should save the party until after you pass the PC however if you periodically pass a test or finish a sim and want to have a beer at dinner to decompress or blow off steam go for it...I did, I guess it depends on the individual. Just don't be the guy who treats the whole process like 1st semester of their freshman year. Most importantly RELAX, take it as it comes, and you'll be fine. The training department guys are there to help you.