Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilots...

[Velocipede]

Sorry, train, but when you have to scramble to replace almost 20% of your business, its a major hit.

But you keep sippin' that Kool-Aid and hope they get enough volunteers, because if they don't, the involuntary furloughs are sure to follow.

[Lee D]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

Duck and or don your flame retardant suit. Thank you.



No one wants to lose wages and of course employment. However with respect to getting pay cuts back, it can take years. . . if ever. I don't know if you will ever truely "make up the difference." Lost wages are just that.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

Temporary pay cuts? You're living in a dream world, there. Mesaba got a HUGE boon by negotiating snap backs in their bankruptcy contract. Probably one of the best things they could have done. Too bad Delta, United, American, Us Airways, etc etc didn't do it. They took cuts well over 6 years ago (some more than once), and despite an uptick in financials (until the recent blast through the roof of oil prices), not once has the option of getting those wages back come up. See, in order to get those wages back, they have to re-enter negotiations with management. Management has to agree to it. If they don't, well, you're in until the contract becomes ammendable and beyond. Take my airline, for example. We're going on 4 years from our ammendable date with no contract in sight. If we had agreed to pay cuts in 2001 along with everyone else, we'd be looking at almost 7 years of "temporary" pay cuts.

You're also assuming you'll get on with a major. I can introduce you to a whole gaggle of guys that are still at my regional with tons of turbine PIC time that can't buy an interview, much less get a job at a major. If merger mania catches on, fewer majors mean fewer jobs. Those people that come to the regionals thinking of it as "just a stepping stone" might be in for a rude awakening.....

[Cruise]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

I'm confident' that I will get on with a major. Why is everyone so pessimistic about getting on with a major? Have you tried to get on with one yet?

As a matter of fact.....YES, he has tried....and continues to try. Many, many people are trying, myself included.

It's great you're so confident you'll get to a major. However, I think you might want to try to finish your ratings before you think about getting on at a major. I'd also check your attitude at the door.....'cause it's not impressive.

[FlyChicaga]

Obviously this is not good news. However, being the eternal optimist, here is my take:

This is a direct result of the current reduction in growth at the majors combined with an adjustment of flying allocation from branded to charter and the new United flying. We were hiring for a certain amount of attrition, and seeing that Continental, Southwest, UPS, etc. has reduced their hiring numbers, we have more pilots than we planned we would need. Rather than directly furlough our lowest couple-hundred pilots (who may or may not have posted in this thread), the company would rather offer Company-Offered Leaves of Absence. This is a much better choice than a furlough... More than a couple JetCareers users would be on the chopping block if that happened.

I have talked directly with the CEO and Crew Planning both in person and over e-mail, and this is how the current situation was explained. It is not due to a failure of our Branded flying... In fact, while some markets have suffered, others have flourished tremendously. We are in a period of transition, and things shall be treated as such. Everything is very fluid. As is our hiring estimations, just like every other airline.

I suggest the naysayers that do work for us send off a few e-mails to those "in the know," like Crew Planning, our Senior Director of Flight Operations, or even the CEO. You WILL get a response.

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

No other details really worth providing, but things aren't looking so rosy over there.

Over there? Yeah... I'm the ridiculous one.

[wheelsup]

This guy probably lives with his parents and/or receives economic outpatient care. My guess is he's <20 and doesn't even have the PPL. It's not even worth the aggravation. He'll learn eventually, provided he gets off the 'rents teet.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

Bookmark this thread. No, really, right now, bookmark it somehow on your computer.

Return to it in five years and I bet some part of your above statement will have changed significantly. I promise!

[Firebird2XC]

This bites. Another company with good-labor relations takes a hit.

Best wishes and hopes for the pilots of XJET in the days to come. Hopefully things get better.

[Maurus]

Originally Posted by Seggy

It is good that you are confident, you have to be BUT you never know. If the majors merge, things are going to slow, etc.

Actually not necessarily. If the demand for flights stay the same, there would be no reason why merged airlines would supply less flights, and in the next 5 years when everyone has to start retiring again, we will most likely see a hiring boom again.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Maurus

This is making me hope that Republic gets into CLE soon for a hub. Would be nice as I would be able to stay at home. Express jet isn't looking too promising these days.

Just opened a 145 base there.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut.

Not being in the industry right now... I really don't think you understand the full context of what you are saying with that statement.

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

How do you know? Ask any of the pilots who took concessions after 9/11 how they are doing with getting rates back to pre-9/11 numbers.

Proud... I didn't take it as a flame. But... you have to understand that there truly is a lot more to life than just "flying the plane".

I think you'll find that most professional pilots on the board will disagree with what you stated. Your example would show that management can have their way with us, simply because we "looooove" to fly so much that we are willing to sacrifice pay and QOL for it. That's simply not the case... nor should it be the case for any future contract negotiations.

A post like yours is solid gold to a company negotiator when it comes time for contract negotiations. Their stance will be... why should we pay you more money... or even the money we are currently paying you now... when there are young bucks standing in line wanting to work here and will do it for much less... because they "love" to fly.

Think Mesa... and see how that's working out.

Bob

[TVB]

That's not good to hear, have a good friend who got on there not too long ago. Hope everything works out for you guys.

[Proud Pilot]

Originally Posted by FlyChicaga

Obviously this is not good news. However, being the eternal optimist, here is my take:

This is a direct result of the current reduction in growth at the majors combined with an adjustment of flying allocation from branded to charter and the new United flying. We were hiring for a certain amount of attrition, and seeing that Continental, Southwest, UPS, etc. has reduced their hiring numbers, we have more pilots than we planned we would need. Rather than directly furlough our lowest couple-hundred pilots (who may or may not have posted in this thread), the company would rather offer Company-Offered Leaves of Absence. This is a much better choice than a furlough... More than a couple JetCareers users would be on the chopping block if that happened.

I have talked directly with the CEO and Crew Planning both in person and over e-mail, and this is how the current situation was explained. It is not due to a failure of our Branded flying... In fact, while some markets have suffered, others have flourished tremendously. We are in a period of transition, and things shall be treated as such. Everything is very fluid. As is our hiring estimations, just like every other airline.

I suggest the naysayers that do work for us send off a few e-mails to those "in the know," like Crew Planning, our Senior Director of Flight Operations, or even the CEO. You WILL get a response.



Over there? Yeah... I'm the ridiculous one.

Hi Matt. I love your avatar. You know what they say about guys that go out of their way proclaiming that they are straight don't you!

[charlie1017]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

I'm confident' that I will get on with a major. Why is everyone so pessimistic about getting on with a major? Have you tried to get on with one yet?

Seggy got interviewed at Southernjets (Doug's airline) a short time ago...

[frog_flyer]

uhhh. Hint to guys on reserve. take it. keep your travel bennies and insurance.


?

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

You never, ever, ever, ever give something to any company in hopes that you'll get it back.

Consider what you've got with any employer to be the equivalent of your virginity. Once you give it up, it's gone, and there ain't a damn thing you can do to get it back.

And then they know you'll put out, too, and they stop doing the equivalent of buying you nice dinners, flowers, and jewelry.

[Maurus]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Just opened a 145 base there.

Thats what I thought. Just an extra option in my future if one or the other options don't work out.

[WindyCityPilot]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

Hi Matt. I love your avatar. You know what they say about guys that go out of their way proclaiming that they are straight don't you!

What? Do you want to come over and tell me?

(See two can play this game!)

(Yeah this is FlyChicaga BTW)

[FlyingPoke]

Hope xjet can figure things out, they were my #1... but I guess I can just hold out for Republic and try to get IAH with them. Guess my wait just got a little longer (possibly)... The end of the hiring boom is looming it would seem.

[Proud Pilot]

Originally Posted by FlyingPoke

Hope xjet can figure things out, they were my #1... but I guess I can just hold out for Republic and try to get IAH with them. Guess my wait just got a little longer (possibly)... The end of the hiring boom is looming it would seem.

Unfortunately, I think you are correct. This is the reason I am in such a hurry to get on with a regional and get my 1000hrs turbine PIC so I can get to a major before they stop hiring again.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

Unfortunately, I think you are correct. This is the reason I am in such a hurry to get on with a regional and get my 1000hrs turbine PIC so I can get to a major before they stop hiring again.

That takes several years.

Then, if you are hired just as they stop hiring for years, you're on reserve for that amount of time.

Starting to see why be able to wait it out at a decent regional important?

[FlyingPoke]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

Unfortunately, I think you are correct. This is the reason I am in such a hurry to get on with a regional and get my 1000hrs turbine PIC so I can get to a major before they stop hiring again.

Is this a joke... this guy is throwing every bad cliche out there, "Im just gonna be here a while before I go to a Major"... "Take a pay cut to help the company out"..."Im gonna get 1000 PIC TURBINE ASAP, PS I dont know how to fly through a could yet!"... this seems like a flame bait inspired user... avatar included

[Proud Pilot]

Originally Posted by Nick

That takes several years.

Then, if you are hired just as they stop hiring for years, you're on reserve for that amount of time.

Starting to see why be able to wait it out at a decent regional important?

There is no such thing as a decent regional. I want to get on with the one with the quickest upgrade time so I can get my 1000hr turbine PIC and get on with a major. I'm not going to "wait it out". I've set a goal of being a major airline pilot and I will achieve it as quickly as possible.

[fosters]

Originally Posted by Proud Pilot

Unfortunately, I think you are correct. This is the reason I am in such a hurry to get on with a regional and get my 1000hrs turbine PIC so I can get to a major before they stop hiring again.

These posts are too "stereotypical" and are not very believable.

alterego, eh??

[MissedApproach]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

Think Mesa... and see how that's working out.

And if you are... remember that they're basically hiring street captains on the CRJ. If you get furloughed from XJET it may not be a bad gig if you're willing to give up your life until you have that magical 1000 PIC.