Shuttle Flying, Bankruptcy Financing, & Gecas

[markkus757]

The only official change that I have heard of is an increase in fuel for range. There is an unofficial version that is floating around that sounds like what the pilot is talking about, but it is not offical yet; at least no more official than the A330 freighter or the A350 that is supposed to compete against the 7E7.

 

[jack mama]

I thought a322 was supposed to be A332 standing for A330-200?

 

[700UW]

That would be a A332.

 

[luvn737s]

Wait just a minute here! Mr. USA320 said they were going to furlough out of seniority and they were going to shed only Boeings and those dirty dogs who tried to stand up for the pilots would get theirs! Shedding A319's???!!! That can't be good for USA320.

C'mon boys, let's rally around ol' USA320 and let managemnt know they can't do that to one of ours!!

Boys?

Boys?

(sound of crickets chirping and a dog barking somewhere in the distance)

 

[Justair]

I am surprised that the RC4 have put up with one spineless pilot as long as they have.

I wish they would just kick some butt ( mainly the spineless pilot).

Happy Thankgiving.

JustAir

 

[USA320Pilot]

Luvn7373s:

Luvn737s said: "Wait just a minute here! Mr. USA320 said they were going to furlough out of seniority and they were going to shed only Boeings."

USA320Pilot comments: If my memory serves me correctly, following the RC4's decision to not send out the Company's proposal on September 6 for membership ratification, management provided ALPA with a proposal that sought out-of-seniority furloughs, eliminated the 279 mainline fleet count, reduced the DC Plan from 50 to 10%, eliminated fragmentation rights, CARs, and other scope reductions.

If the company's proposal would have been sent out for vote by the RC4, and ratified by the membership, there still would the 279 minimum fleet count today. Therefore, I suggest the RC4 has failed the pilot group once again and if you're angry, take your complaint to the RC4.

Also noteworthy, last summer ALPA's RC4, and the other union's too, were told by GECAS that the financier wanted to reduce it aircraft financing exposure to US Airways. Furthermore, the B737s and A319s being returned have lease terms below market value. These terms were negotiated by the Seabury Group during bankruptcy I and now GECAS wants to place them with operators willing to pay a higher fee.

Do I like this? No, of course not, but ALPA's RC4 and every other union was told this could happen. This has nothing to do with being spineless, it has to do with union leadership stupidity.

Meanwhile, today’s announcement regarding the GECAS transaction will remove an average of about one aircraft and ten pilot positions per month from March through December 2005. None of these reductions have been factored into the permanent bid 05-01, effective February 1.

The February bid reflects 281 mainline aircraft and by the end of 2005, US Airways will operate 271 mainline aircraft.

According to the ALPA R&I Committee, US Airways’ Retirement Department says there will be the following mandatory 2005 age 60 pilot retirements:

3/1/2005 – 8
4/1/2005 – 8
5/1/2005 – 10
6/1/2005 – 6
7/1/2005 – 11
8/1/2005 – 10
9/1/2005 – 17
10/1/2005 – 12
11/1/2005 – 14
12/1/2005 – 10

Total 2005 age 60 retirements following pilot permanent bid 05-01 – 106

In addition, it is anticipated there will be other pilots leaving the company for early retirement, LTD, resignations, and other attrition from March 1 through December 31, 2005.

Separately, US Airways PIT Base Administer Dawn Mercer and BOS/LGA Base Manager Cheryl Hull recently reported that all of the Chief Pilots recently received an email indicating the company will not grant any 2005 VLA’s due to 2005 anticipated pilot staffing shortages.

The GECAS agreement removes an average of 7.5 B737s in 2006 and 2007. It is anticipated that over 200 pilots per year will leave US Airways’ employment during the 2006 through 2007 timeframe.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot

P.S. In regard to the A322, it is on the drawing board and could become a part of the company's fleet plan.

 

[700UW]

7.5 737s? Are they going to cut a plane in half?

Airbus has no mention of an A322 on their web site, the only plane in development could be an A350 to compete with the 7E7.

 

[Dog Wonder]

"P.S. In regard to the A322, it is on the drawing board and could become a part of the company's fleet plan."

And they have sharpened their crayons.

 

[700UW]

The only mention of an A322 on the web is message groups speculating and wondering what would a A322 be if they made a bigger A321.

Once again Herr Pilot is proved wrong.

 

[USA320Pilot]

USA320Pilot said: "GECAS agreement removes an average of 7.5 B737s in 2006 and 2007".

700UW: "7.5 737s? Are they going to cut a plane in half?"

USA320Pilot comments: With all due respect, let me go real slow, real slow for you. 15 divided by two equals 7.5, which creates an average. My third grade son understands this but others...

700UW said: "Airbus has no mention of an A322 on their web site."

USA320Pilot comments: Correct, they're not on the website yet, but that does not mean US Airways will not obtain them in the future. It is also not on website yet, that the EMB-170 will be on the Shuttle in February, but it will be on December 5.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[700UW]

And if my grandmother had gonads, she would have been my grandfather.

And you cant average a plane, it is only a whole number, you can't remove a 1/2 plane from a fleet type.

So common sense would say 8 planes one year and 7 planes the next.

Is that S L O W enough for you?

And I can say there is a A10000 in US's future using your logic.

There is no A322 on the drawing boards or in US Airways' Future.

Just admit you don't know it all, just like the UCT/ICT.

Funny the management meeting they had with the powerpoint slides SHOW ALL Airbus on the Shuttle on the February Schedule, so is management lying to themselves or do you just know more then them and should be the next CEO to replace Lakefield?

 

[Dog Wonder]

USA320Pilot comments: The bugs they are everywhere. I keep swatting them, but then there are more. And, I can't find any dead ones AAAAUUUUGHHHHHH!

 

[USA320Pilot]

The February schedule operates 281 mainline aircraft and the Company would like the fleet to be as large as possible, but due to union leadership stupidity GECAS got tired of union incompetence and elected to take their airplanes to give them to another business enterprise.

GECAS could care less if employees believe they're "impoverished" or are "paid too low". GECAS wants their aircraft operated by profitable companies, whether or not its US Airways, MDA, PSA, or anyone else.

If the ALPA RC4 had sent out the company's September 6 proposal and it was ratified by the membership, which was a better deal for labor than LOA 93, the 279 fleet count would have remained.

The ALPA RC4 and other union "hardliners" are the reason GECAS pulled the plug, thus, if any employee is upset about a smaller mainline in the near-term they should complain to their union leadership. These leaders were warned by both GECAS and management this could occur as far back as last summer.

Unfortunately, you cannot fix “stupidâ€￾.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[Dog Wonder]

In these times of stress and uncertainty, humor is so important. I just want to thank A 320 Pilot, A EMB 170 Pilot, and numerous other management stooges for giving the rest of so much entertainment.

Without some one to regale us with stories of management efficiency and the need to submit to their omniscient will, it would be hard to laugh.

You do have another career waiting for you. Do not worry about your current jobs. The field of comedy awaits you. Don't limit your gift to the denizens of this board. Release the talent that you have and entertain the masses.

We would all be grateful. thank you for your contributions.

In the words of that great American philosopher Jimmy Buffett "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere", no wait that was hours ago, "If we couldn't laugh. we would all go insane".

 

[USA320Pilot]

Yesterday’s GECAS – US Airways announcement greatly increases the odds that the company will survive and I am now more confident than ever that US Airways will become a strong competitor. GECAS has now made a post bankruptcy commitment to the company that is more important than the ATSB commitment, and has provided Bankruptcy Bridge financing that was probably required for the company to continue operations. That’s the good news.

From a pilot perspective, the orderly reduction of 25 aircraft during about a 34-month period will result in an average loss of 7.35 pilot positions per month, after permanent bid 05-01. This will create more stagnation and result in modest growth up the seniority list.

If US Airways returns to profitability the company would like to grow mainline hulls and chairman David Bronner has indicated he may be willing to acquire other airline assets if they become available. But the only way this will occur is if US Airways emerges from bankruptcy and returns to profitability, which is the only true way to prevent layoffs.

Separately, I understand there still is a provision in LOA 91 that permits pilots to bid MDA, regardless of their position on the seniority list, if there is a furlough. In my opinion, there will not be a pilot furlough, however, if one does occur any pilot would have the opportunity to bid MDA and fly the EMB-170 & EMB-190s.

Regards,