Swapping -50's for more -90's

[Reserve4Ever]

My point was losing it to Delta, at least there's a better job to go to. If you lose them to Skywest, ASA, Mesa, whomever, it's still gone, except it goes to someone that ISN'T higher up on the food chain. This way, there are more jobs for the regional guys to move up to. I agree it sucks to lose the flying, but you have to remember that Delta owns the flying anyway. I'd give up CRJs here to NWA if it meant I wouldn't be stuck at a regional for my whole career.

I know what you are saying, and I agree if a regionals flying is reduced it is better as a result of mainline increasing flying. Of course in the case specifically between Comair and Delta, an increase in Delta flying at the expense of Comair's does nothing for the career hopes of comair pilots, because the chances of delta hiring pilots from comair is pretty slim.
Of course with the amount of flight hours comair loses on a monthly basis out of cvg to chq, asa, and now freedom, Delta getting additional MD-90's really isn't that big a deal.
I do see and agree with your overall point though.

 

[FatBastard]

We will have to wait and see. May 1st is going to be interesting, to say the least.

So if Comair does drop thier mins, just think of this......... a 250hr. Pilot in the right seat of the Mad Dog. Man, that would be kewwwwwwwwl!!












































































































I'm kidding!!!! I'm Kidding!!!

 

[ready2fly]

Sweet. Maybe there IS hope for us non TPIC FOs to get on at Delta.

From your mou....er.....keyboard ...to God's ears!!

 

[Seggy]

Sweet. Maybe there IS hope for us non TPIC FOs to get on at Delta.

From your mou....er.....keyboard ...to God's ears!!

Stranger things have happened!

We can be getting Starbucks for Captain Taylor, Captain 'Staplegun', and Captain 'FO4EVER'!

 

[H46Bubba]

I hope Southerjets is going to give me a new job in ATL! Has there been any formal word about Comair? DL owns a chunk of 50 seaters and most don't belong to Comair. Comair owns most of it 50/40 seaters. MDPilot, please remember that there are other people behind the scenes other than the pilots!

 

[MDPilot]

I hope Southerjets is going to give me a new job in ATL! Has there been any formal word about Comair? DL owns a chunk of 50 seaters and most don't belong to Comair. Comair owns most of it 50/40 seaters. MDPilot, please remember that there are other people behind the scenes other than the pilots!

Hmm... If you get more airplanes at mainline, you need more mechanics, F'As, gate agents, ramp agents, just like more pilots. If your regional subcontracted job supporting Delta goes away, apply at mainline.

When I got furloughed, I didn't see Comair offering to give me a new job even though they took my flying. I don't see your point. It's all just business.

 

[surreal1221]

In reality I think most of us would rather not lose them to anyone. Most of us here believe comair is dying a slow death, probably to be accelerated soon should a sale to another airline occur.

Most of us think ASA is dying a slow death as well. . .but for different reasons.

 

[H46Bubba]

Hmm... If you get more airplanes at mainline, you need more mechanics, F'As, gate agents, ramp agents, just like more pilots. If your regional subcontracted job supporting Delta goes away, apply at mainline.

When I got furloughed, I didn't see Comair offering to give me a new job even though they took my flying. I don't see your point. It's all just business.

MDPilot, I know your feelings on the whole furlough issue, and I think you're justified. I'd feel the same way. I fogot the sarcasm tag after the Delta job thing. Nobody owes me anything other then Uncle Sam and my VA disability. I'd apply to Delta in a heart beat as soon as I knew positions were avail. DL mx control has a sweeter setup anways! Your also right about it being just business. Sometime a reality chaeck is in order about working in the airline business. I want to see more flying and aircraft for the mainlines. I remember when 737s, 727's and DC-9's used to fly into ROA and other small cities. Now it's just RJ's and t-props. Do you think there's still or will be a continued need for regional feeder service? I mean there were still commuter airlines back in the day.

 

[MDPilot]

I remember when 737s, 727's and DC-9's used to fly into ROA and other small cities. Now it's just RJ's and t-props. Do you think there's still or will be a continued need for regional feeder service? I mean there were still commuter airlines back in the day.

IMHO, the manic growth of the RJ/regional airlines over the last 10 years is an abberation in the airline cycle, precipitated mostly by the contraction of mainline/legacy hub and spoke carriers after the economic downturn in early '91 followed by 9/11.

As the growth in pax (if the FAA's forecasts are anywhere near correct) continues over the next few years, I think you'll see, not necessarily an overall shrinkage in "regional" ASMs, but certainly not the growth rate that has occurred in this cycle.

As more and more pax start to clog the system, it will be much less costly to fly them on larger aircraft (B-737-600/700 size) from/to what are today's smaller markets. The turboprops (I believe will see a comeback) and RJs will shift to what would today be considered exploratory markets, tomorrows small markets.

The medium markets that today are served by 100-150 seat aircraft will shift to 140-180 seaters, and planes like the 787 will replace the 757 on cross country domestic as well as 767 international flights.

As a former COO of Southernjets was fond of saying "RJs are a short term solution to a long term problem." I believe he was right in this instance, and the national fleet size of 50-80 seat RJs is pretty much maxed out right now.

 

[derg]

Stranger things have happened!

We can be getting Starbucks for Captain Taylor, Captain 'Staplegun', and Captain 'FO4EVER'!

Or do like LeeD does and just stand in the way when you're trying to order!

 

[mpenguin1]

MD that is.

From the chief pilot's office daily bulletin:

Hmmmm? Doug goes to the 767 & Delta could be adding more MD90's, almost as if Delta was waiting for Doug to get off the MD90 before adding additional aircraft. I guess Delta was protecting the new aircraft from "hard landings":nana2:

 

[FatBastard]

I hope Southerjets is going to give me a new job in ATL! Has there been any formal word about Comair? DL owns a chunk of 50 seaters and most don't belong to Comair. Comair owns most of it 50/40 seaters. MDPilot, please remember that there are other people behind the scenes other than the pilots!

Hey Bubba, you are going to finish up your ratings right? Are the rumors going around Comair bad? I know they claim they are going to lower thier mins even more so, but when I read you are trying to leave for mainline, it sends chills down my spine.

I would hate for someone to get on with them and then the doors close, or they get sold off to............MESA!!!!!! (Sound of a blood curdling scream/evil, maniacial laughter)

 

[H46Bubba]

Hey Bubba, you are going to finish up your ratings right? Are the rumors going around Comair bad? I know they claim they are going to lower thier mins even more so, but when I read you are trying to leave for mainline, it sends chills down my spine.

I would hate for someone to get on with them and then the doors close, or they get sold off to............MESA!!!!!! (Sound of a blood curdling scream/evil, maniacial laughter)

Yeah I'm tying up the loose strings in my training. There are no rumors of impending doom. If we get sold or spun off, so be it. I really don't think we're going anywhere for awhile. Joe Kolshak from DL was here the other day talking about new aircraft by the end of the year. I'm not ready to jump ship. I'm not too worried. We are planning on bidding again for NWA and CO's next RFP. Our operating costs were to high for them on the last RFP and we got outbid by SKW on the Midwest Connect contract. If Comair were to cease to exhist, I think DL would be the place I'd want to be. I already worked for Mesa once, and I really don't feel like doing it again. Besides they still owe me a paycheck!

 

[Reserve4Ever]

I would be careful about putting alot of hope behind Mr. Kolshak's words about new airplanes at Comair. If Delta does not already have a buyer, this would be a way of potentially gaining some interest. Since I have been at Comair I have read the new airplane promises a couple of times, only to see airplanes parked.
I am not saying new airplanes are impossible, but take most things you hear with a grain of salt.

 

[H46Bubba]

I would be careful about putting alot of hope behind Mr. Kolshak's words about new airplanes at Comair. If Delta does not already have a buyer, this would be a way of potentially gaining some interest. Since I have been at Comair I have read the new airplane promises a couple of times, only to see airplanes parked.
I am not saying new airplanes are impossible, but take most things you hear with a grain of salt.

Oh I hear ya! Just like in 05 when we were "supossed" to get new EMB-170's when you guys took a pay freeze. Instead Delta cuts flights in and out of CVG, file Ch.11, return 30 lease returns, and DL takes away 12 700's. I like to keep the dream alive!

 

[kellwolf]

Yeah I'm tying up the loose strings in my training. There are no rumors of impending doom. If we get sold or spun off, so be it. I really don't think we're going anywhere for awhile. Joe Kolshak from DL was here the other day talking about new aircraft by the end of the year. I'm not ready to jump ship. I'm not too worried. We are planning on bidding again for NWA and CO's next RFP. Our operating costs were to high for them on the last RFP and we got outbid by SKW on the Midwest Connect contract. If Comair were to cease to exhist, I think DL would be the place I'd want to be. I already worked for Mesa once, and I really don't feel like doing it again. Besides they still owe me a paycheck!

What's NWA gonna bid out? Our stuff is locked up until 2017, and I doubt they'll shaft their own wholly owneds for an outsource (not b/c of costs, but b/c NWA likes the control factor).

 

[FlyChicaga]

More Continental flying won't be up for bid until 2009-2010. 51 airplanes that our CEO probably wants back... too bad this time they'll be the 135's and EP's (ie. the crappy ones).

 

[derg]

Apparently, and I haven't confirmed this because there's no way until they show up at B-36 in a Southernjets livery and a funny tail number, but they're supposedly coming from China Southern.

CS has about 13 of them and I'm not sure how many RJ's = 13 MD-90's market-wise, but considering the market value of a 50-seater is fairly low, who knows.

But then the market value of a -90 is low too.

 

[Vyse]

Apparently, and I haven't confirmed this because there's no way until they show up at B-36 in a Southernjets livery and a funny tail number, but they're supposedly coming from China Southern.

But then the market value of a -90 is low too.

That'd be pretty weird to see a Southernjets plane with a B- tail number!

 

[derg]

We've got a handful of Kuwaiti -ER's!

Tail numbers are easy to change.