Bruce Had A Bad Day

[USA320Pilot]

Lpbrian:

Lpbrian said: “A Line maintenance dept. is a sizable operation, almost equal to a heavy maint. dept.â€￾

USA320Pilot comments: No it’s not. I do not have the exact numbers readily available, but US Airways has line maintenance in a relatively small number of stations with a small work force. Most line maintenance is conducted by contractors. Furthermore, the line maintenance mechanic positions will shrink due to MDA.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[USA320Pilot]

Just one more point...

If the company flew an all Airbus fleet of 279 aircraft, the company would create significant economies of scale and improved marketing to boot revenues by rationalizing the fleet. I have not looked at the specific numbers, however, a leisure all Airbus configuration under America West contracts could have a lower CASM than a combined Airbus/EMB fleet with the larger aircraft carrying more passengers in high-density markets.

There would be improved productivity by more easily interchanging flight crews to reduce “sit aroundâ€￾ times at hub and focus cities, a higher flight crew pay-to-block-hour ratio, reduced pilot training costs, reduced pilot staffing to account for a training float, and a smaller parts inventory. Moreover, in the short-term the company would have about a 4-year “holidayâ€￾ from conducting heavy maintenance.

Moreover, these new aircraft could be equipped with modern IFE systems and have a smaller First Class section to boost revenue. For example the A321s could go from 26 to 8 aircraft, the A320s from 16 to 8 and the A319s from 12 to 8 first class seats, which would increase the number of seats on each aircraft from 169 to 184, 142 to 150, and 120 to 124 seats, respectively.

Maybe the company isn't that concerned about the IAM...

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[cavalier]

Just one more point...

If the company flew an all Airbus fleet of 279 aircraft, the company would create significant economies of scale and improved marketing to boot revenues by rationalizing the fleet. I have not looked at the specific numbers, however, a leisure all Airbus configuration under America West contracts could have a lower CASM than a combined Airbus/EMB fleet with the larger aircraft carrying more passengers in high-density markets.

There would be improved productivity by more easily interchanging flight crews to reduce “sit aroundâ€￾ times at hub and focus cities, a higher flight crew pay-to-block-hour ratio, reduced pilot training costs, reduced pilot staffing to account for a training float, and a smaller parts inventory. Moreover, in the short-term the company would have about a 4-year “holidayâ€￾ from conducting heavy maintenance.

Moreover, these new aircraft could be equipped with modern IFE systems and have a smaller First Class section to boost revenue. For example the A321s could go from 26 to 8 aircraft, the A320s from 16 to 8 and the A319s from 12 to 8 first class seats, which would increase the number of seats on each aircraft from 169 to 184, 142 to 150, and 120 to 124 seats, respectively.

Maybe the company isn't that concerned about the IAM...

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

[post="168916"][/post]​

Gee I thought the little planes were going to save the day, now it's the "bus" that will, next week it will be, what? Oh I forgot, concessions. So are these Modern Systems concessions?

 

[cavalier]

Maybe the company isn't that concerned about the IAM...

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

[post="168916"][/post]​

Not to worry, the feeling is mutual.

 

[700UW]

Lpbrian:

Lpbrian said: “A Line maintenance dept. is a sizable operation, almost equal to a heavy maint. dept.â€￾

USA320Pilot comments: No it’s not. I do not have the exact numbers readily available, but US Airways has line maintenance in a relatively small number of stations with a small work force. Most line maintenance is conducted by contractors. Furthermore, the line maintenance mechanic positions will shrink due to MDA.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

[post="168899"][/post]​

Wrong again bucko.

Line maintenance is done by US Airways mechanics, the only time a contractor can do any work if it is minor maintenance, which basically is not much, if it calls for replacing a componant, like a rotable it has to be done by US Airways own mechanics. And if and when a contractor does due work that is prevented by the CBA, it is grieved and paid. Once again you post false information about something that you have no idea about.

And line maintenance is not shrinking due to MDA, in fact their are bids for jobs all through the system, we have maintenance at 18 stations.

I just love it when you post false information. Do you have a condition? Is that why you post blatant false infomation about a contract that you have no idea about, that you don't work under, about a department you don't work in and a union you don't belong too?

 

[USA320Pilot]

There are benefits in the "Transformation Plan" to fly Airbus aircraft in high density markets with quick turns from key East Coast cities to large metropolitan areas that does not exist for an RJ or larger EMB aircraft. Smaller aircraft are better suited for the hub-and-spoke model, but US Airways wants to shift its hub flying to 75% point-to-point. Therefore, larger aircraft make more sense.

That's why the company will not take delivery of no more 50-seat RJs per its new Bombardier agreement or add more affiliate carrier 50-seat RJs to the network.

The business plan changed when the company decided to become a LCC/network carrier hybrid.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[USA320Pilot]

I have seen line maintenance conducted at stations like PHX or other cities by contractors. As MDA grows and it flies to cities where there are no mechanics, line maintenance could be conducted there too.

Maybe the IAM is playing them self right into the company's hands and management really does not care if the union participates in the new business plan or not. It's too bad because we have thousands of great IAM members, but their refusal to participate in the new business plan could result in thousands of employees having self induced "pain" that is greater than what the company could apply.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

I have seen line maintenance conducted at stations like PHX or other cities by contractors. As MDA grows and it flies to cities where there are no mechanics, line maintenance could be conducted there too.

Maybe the IAM is playing them self right into the company's hands and management really does not care if the union participates in the new business plan or not. It's too bad because we have thousands of great IAM members, but their refusal to participate in the new business plan could result in thousands of employees having self induced "pain" that is greater than what the company could apply.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

[post="168929"][/post]​

They do not conduct line checks or anything major, they can replace a light bulb, check a hydrolic leak, fuel leak, change a battery or apply an MEL. Anything above that is mainline mechanic work, and like I said, the logbooks are checked and when the company violates the agreement the grievances are automatically paid. That is why we have road trips of our mechanics to non-mtc stations.

And you ignore the facts as usual. And if the company does not care about the IAM why do they keep asking for the IAM to come to the table?

Why are you obsessed with the IAM and it members? Your posts are filled with wrong information about the IAM, its contract and its members.

But you should really do something about your obsession with the IAM, since 90% of your posts are about the IAM. Do you have IAM Envy? Wish you had the intestinal fortidue we do? I bet secretly you want to be an IAM member.

 

[cavalier]

I have seen line maintenance conducted at stations like PHX or other cities by contractors. As MDA grows and it flies to cities where there are no mechanics, line maintenance could be conducted there too.

Maybe the IAM is playing them self right into the company's hands and management really does not care if the union participates in the new business plan or not. It's too bad because we have thousands of great IAM members, but their refusal to participate in the new business plan could result in thousands of employees having self induced "pain" that is greater than what the company could apply.

Respectfully,

USA320Pilot

[post="168929"][/post]​

I would say that the self induced pain will be on managements end when the company fails due to maintenance delays of massive proportions when passengers become worried and book elsewhere with a stable carrier. You're kidding yourself if you really believe that the IAM is irrelevant, if it were we would already be gone.

I know better than to spar with you captain, but you post such twisted logic that I can’t help myself at times.

 

[700UW]

Oh by the way, the IAM has a million dollar grievance in regard to the happenings that use to occur in PHX, and it is going to arbitration. Even have photos to show what was occuring.

 

[Segue]

He also sounded annoyed by what he said were continuing questions by union leaders and employees about why the company could not guarantee profit-sharing benefits if the company files for Chapter 11. "The answer is pretty simple," he said in his message yesterday. "If we file for Chapter 11 protection, nothing, and I repeat, nothing can be guaranteed -- especially a profit-sharing plan."
But they continue to offer this wonderful perk to the Employees!!!!
Nothing here can be Guaranteed, not even the truth.

[post="168679"][/post]​

Do you really think anybody has the power to guarantee you anything in this situation? Does anybody learn anything from history?

The only certainties in life are death and taxes.......

 

[hopethingswillbeok]

We're lucky if our CONTRACT mechanic knows how to change a light bulb, I really think the company would save in the long run, to have a real mechanic stationed almost everywhere we fly, when you contract out, you get what you pay for....

 

[Dizel8]

I find it interesting, that someone would wish for all the mechanics to disappear with outsourcing.

Instead of threatening, perhaps someone should try to understand the reasoning, that the IAM has for balking on the proposal being presented.
The company has not acted in good faith and wish to continue down this path of deceit, yet someone still thinks the IAM should put trust in the company.

Perhaps, the company needs to think long and hard about what to do about the IAM. They should perhaps consider treating the IAM fairly, uphold their end of the bargain on the contract that they signed. Instead, they continue to violate contractual terms, hoping that they will win in arbitration and that this will cost less.

I am curious, what someone would do, if all of a sudden it was proposed that Mesa pilots would be flying the Airbi's and that someone should agree to it or else. That is what someone is proposing the IAM agree to.

Someone needs to start looking at the choice the IAM have been given: Stand up and fight or concede and be gone. Would that someone choose option one or option two?

 

[700UW]

Good post Dizel8, the problem is people can't fathom the fact the company declared war on the IAM, not the other way around.

I for one would rather die with dignity then to live in fear as a coward.

Since two rounds of mismanged concessions have not saved the company, there is not much of any reason to think round three will, or how long will it be before they ask for rounds four or five.

You can look to TWA as a fine example of how at least five rounds of employee concessions did not save that company.

 

[fr8tmastr]

This is a little off topic but it is related in the big picture. It seems there are many that want to outsource jobs at any cost, will buy foreign aircraft, and then wonder why nobody domestically will buy a ticket on their airline. I have to say it because the greedy make a buck at any cost decision makers dont get it. If nobody has a job, nobody will buy a ticket! And before I hear it yes I know Boeing has foriegn parts on their aircraft, but they are mostly US and definitely made here, IE people are paid here. Maybe someday before its too late the people with the power will realize what is happening to this country in the big picture, Nah, that is just fantasy