Lets set a few things straight.
There was no flow thru.
No document, means no actual flow. The best way to describe what actually happened is that US Airways hired internal pilot canidates from a subsidiary. That's it.
It was not the "traditional" manner in which new hires are screened and brought onboard, but that's what happened.
In IMO the company decided it was not worth the cost and effort to resurrect the hiring apparatus
only to staff co-pilots for the E-170. IMO They had gone through the APL, and had decided that it would no longer provide enough furloughees willing (or able, if held at a JFJ position) to return for what the E-170 right seat payed.
So the company took it upon themselves to hire internal canidates from it's regional subsidiaries. They took it upon themselves to utilize the basic outline of what WOULD have been a Flow Thru (if it had been signed). IMO this was done because it was easy, quick, and provided adequate F/O staffing for what was a high aircraft delivery rate. But it did not put them under any obligation to continue since nothing was in writing
The truth of the matter is that when push came to shove, the reality of the situation was that there was no real procedure in place, no real agreement, and no bi-directional flow. The proof of this was is that when it was
not in the company's interest to allow a flow back (causing displacement + incurring training costs), then the sham of there being a flow was uncovered.
So the best way to think of the situation is that those internal canidates that came over to fly the E-170 from PDT/ALG were "2004/2005 mainline newhires"... On the AAA Senority List, furloughed onto the APL list, and eligible for recall to the mainline.
But just like a mainline newhire (formerly at a wholly owned) from the previous "off the street" hiring, these pilots have
no rights to return to their old position (outside of the negotiated JFJ positions availiable to APL pilots).
Clear...?
Before you say "well, why not now...?", understand that it is a totally different situation.
First off, there is not an excess of subsidiary pilots (like there was when ALG was put to pasture). Taking pilots from the subsidiaries now will require those pilots to be replaced (read = $$$).
Second, the mainline will require the pilot hiring machine to be turned back on for all positions in the near future anyways, so nothing is saved on this by using subsidiary pilots (again).
Third, if an actual flow agreement IS signed this time, that opens the company up to having to allow a possible flow back someday (read = $$$).
And Fourth, the E-190 delivery rate has been far slower than the E-170's were brought onto the property. There is not such a urgent demand for E-190 First Officers (as there was for the E-170 back in '04). They only estimate a need for an addition 26 for the rest of this year...
Basically the "window of opportunity" came and went, as it was a strange and rare occurance of the planets all lining up to create what happened in 2004 and 2005. US Airways has changed, and I seriously doubt that the company will ever see it in their interests again to hire internally (when "off the street" is now considered a cheaper and easier option)...
Cold Hard Financial Reality