AA Fleet Changes

No... To be honest, I see it almost going back to the way it used to be. As mainline draws back from some of the smaller markets, we will likely see small 121 operations like Cape Air start popping up to fill some of the gaps. It will create some interesting business opportunities over the next decade.
Already on it.
 
No... To be honest, I see it almost going back to the way it used to be. As mainline draws back from some of the smaller markets, we will likely see small 121 operations like Cape Air start popping up to fill some of the gaps. It will create some interesting business opportunities over the next decade.
One of the problems I see with this is aircraft. In the 9 seat market you have the caravan or for routes that require longer legs or higher altitudes the Pilatus, but these days there isn't much being built in between that and say the ATR, and the 1900s and Saabs won't stay viable for 121 operation forever (sorry @ASpilot2be).
 
One of the problems I see with this is aircraft. In the 9 seat market you have the caravan or for routes that require longer legs or higher altitudes the Pilatus, but these days there isn't much being built in between that and say the ATR, and the 1900s and Saabs won't stay viable for 121 operation forever (sorry @ASpilot2be).

King Air 350s?
 
I'm blanking on the name, but Cape Air has gone all in on a new piston twin replacement for its 402s.

Another possibility could be running the larger RJs on multiple stop routes. CLT-PGV-EWN-OAJ-CLT or something like that.

A better idea could be a 50 seat turboprop that doesn't have the MX issues that the Q400s seem to have.


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I'm blanking on the name, but Cape Air has gone all in on a new piston twin replacement for its 402s.

Another possibility could be running the larger RJs on multiple stop routes.

A better idea could be a 50 seat turboprop that doesn't have the MX issues that the Q400s seem to have.


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I hope it succeeds, I really do, but it's only a matter of time IMHO before the commercially operated piston twin does entirely in favor of the Caravan/Pilatus.
 
I hope it succeeds, I really do, but it's only a matter of time IMHO before the commercially operated piston twin does entirely in favor of the Caravan/Pilatus.
It all boils down to the lifecycle costs of 2 piston engines vs one PT-6, and the fact that twins are always carrying around a spare engine.

I believe the engine on the Cape Air replacement is going to be FADEC, push button start, single lever operation. That could mitigate some of the damage some ham fisted pilot could do to them and perhaps lengthen TBO.

We'll see.
 
I think AA will eventually go to a model where the only way to fly for them will be to flow through one of their wholly owned regionals. There will be enough boys and girls sold on the idea of guaranteed flow to make it work.


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Which is why I still think they are grooming them for sub par wages.
 
Which is why I still think they are grooming them for sub par wages.
The problem with the 100% flow theory is that other airlines are also hiring. When the head of recruiting at United states at WIA that they'll be having difficulty filling their mainline flight decks in 3-5 years, that to me describes a hiring environment where people aren't going to accept a long stint at a regional.

Ultimately someone at AA is going to have to deal with that reality if they want to operate 76 seat aircraft.
 
The problem with the 100% flow theory is that other airlines are also hiring. When the head of recruiting at United states at WIA that they'll be having difficulty filling their mainline flight decks in 3-5 years, that to me describes a hiring environment where people aren't going to accept a long stint at a regional.

Ultimately someone at AA is going to have to deal with that reality if they want to operate 76 seat aircraft.

I don't necessarily disagree, but there will be plenty of guys and gals who accept a job at the sub-par wage wholly-owned airlines, and that flow is going to seriously ramp up very soon, that it will be hard to stem the flow at any airline of the bleeding. IMO, both Delta AND United need to do the same thing that AA is doing.

Edit: The long stint is over at most regionals, except for the most senior guys. Guaranteed flow also guarantees stability.
 
I don't necessarily disagree, but there will be plenty of guys and gals who accept a job at the sub-par wage wholly-owned airlines, and that flow is going to seriously ramp up very soon, that it will be hard to stem the flow at any airline of the bleeding. IMO, both Delta AND United need to do the same thing that AA is doing.

Edit: The long stint is over at most regionals, except for the most senior guys. Guaranteed flow also guarantees stability.
At some point someone in the CEO Suite in ATL, DFW, ORD, or SEA needs to figure out the following:

- 76 seat pay @ $35 / hour at a WO will always have challenges due to lateral moves, LCC hiring, etc.
- 76 seat pay @ $35 / hour on a mainline list will get staffed for a very long time.
 
It all boils down to the lifecycle costs of 2 piston engines vs one PT-6, and the fact that twins are always carrying around a spare engine.

I believe the engine on the Cape Air replacement is going to be FADEC, push button start, single lever operation. That could mitigate some of the damage some ham fisted pilot could do to them and perhaps lengthen TBO.

We'll see.
I don't know about the PT6 but the TPE 331 still wins hour per hour over a pair of TIO540s for major maintenance (overhauls and hot sections). You burn more gas, but it's cheaper gas and you haul a lot more.
 
At some point someone in the CEO Suite in ATL, DFW, ORD, or SEA needs to figure out the following:

- 76 seat pay @ $35 / hour at a WO will always have challenges due to lateral moves, LCC hiring, etc.
- 76 seat pay @ $35 / hour on a mainline list will get staffed for a very long time.

I don't disagree with you. But I think there would have to be a lot of other things to happen first betwee APA and management before a stapler would be issued. I just don't see it happening that easily.
 
A better idea could be a 50 seat turboprop that doesn't have the MX issues that the Q400s seem to have.

*cough*

ATR_72-600_ATR_house_colors_F-WWEY_-_MSN_98_(9739890333).jpg


*cough*
 
...I believe the engine on the Cape Air replacement is going to be FADEC, push button start, single lever operation. That could mitigate some of the damage some ham fisted pilot could do to them and perhaps lengthen TBO....

Fixed gear, too. Design criteria seems to include technical sophistication only where it pays off. But, being Italian, it sure looks sexy. A flying Vespa.

Plus, it runs on fuel lower in octane than ramper-spit.
 
Fixed gear, too. Design criteria seems to include technical sophistication only where it pays off. But, being Italian, it sure looks sexy. A flying Vespa.

Plus, it runs on fuel lower in octane than ramper-spit.

Having about 300 hours in another Tecnam product makes me skeptical of anything Tecnam being reliable enough for a commuter operation.
 
Been tried. Behold the Beech 1300...

View attachment 35193
Good ol' Stateswest, around 1991 USAir scaled back the whole former PSA operation ditching the Bae-146s, moving the MD-80s to the East Coast, and keeping just a few trunk routes like LAS/SFO/SEA/SAN/LAX open with mainline 737s and either ended service to the others or put these little guys and B1900s on a select few routes from SFO/LAX(FAT/SMF/MRY, ect). They even got the PSA smiles on the nose. The SFO/LAX regional routes actually lasted until either 1999 or 2000 with TransStates jetstreams until USAir fully pulled the West Coast plug...and then came America West.
 
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