Eagle Training Classes Cancelled?

I'm a couple of hundred numbers from the bottom of the list. Not really enough to be safe. Even if I don't get furloughed, I'd likely be uber-junior on reserve and doing lots of sitting around, never over-blocking.

I guess I'm just sitting here, crossing my fingers.

Then again, some of the circulated rumors could just be AMR management trying to squeeze the unions. Both pilot groups are in contract talks, remember?

Ready2Fly's post ruined my night last night, but later on I went to bed and realized- hey, doesn't matter what I do. I just keep showing up to work like I always do. Until they tell me not to, there's not much I can do.

In the meantime, I just need to cultivate a stronger backup plan.

Ultimately, this could just be the harbinger of things to come. If we put McCain in the White House, my profession's pretty much dead anyways, so a furlough now might just avoid prolonging the agony.

I remember my Mom telling me stories about Dad weathering the strikes at NWA in the 70s. While some of the senior guys holed up in their summer cabins, he was out shoveling concrete to make ends meet. When he wasn't doing that, he was walking the picket lines.

He made it to the top of the pile in the end, but it wasn't all roses all the time. If he can do it, I can do it.

I remember being a pilot in the regionals being used to lampoon the song 'Rock Star' a while back. The comparison holds- consider what a musician does to get to the 'big time'. Are we really any different in that regard?
 
This got posted on my company forums, it would mean 400 Eagle pilots on the street.

-------

AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., today announced significant reductions to its 2008 domestic flight schedule, including a fourth quarter mainline domestic capacity reduction of 11 percent to 12 percent from the previous year. It also outlined plans to retire at least 75 mainline and regional aircraft.....The capacity reductions will also result in the retirement of 35 to 40 regional jets, as well as a number of turbo-prop aircraft from AMR's regional affiliate fleet.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080521/law515.html?.v=7&loc=interstitialskip
 
Well damn.. that's no good. I think a lot of us are going to be lucky if we have a job in 6-9 months.
 
CamYZ125 said:
Well damn.. that's no good. I think a lot of us are going to be lucky if we have a job in 6-9 months.
Click to expand...

I'm not an AE person but I do have buddies there. I would just say my buddy said they were still short some 40 FO's in ORD alone let alone other bases. Therefore even with those in the training pipes they would still be short that man in ORD. Anyways I dont think AE guys should be worries as it sounds like the company stopped hiring knowing this was going to be happening. In addition with having current shortages already it seems they will be fine.
 
meyers9163 said:
I'm not an AE person but I do have buddies there. I would just say my buddy said they were still short some 40 FO's in ORD alone let alone other bases. Therefore even with those in the training pipes they would still be short that man in ORD. Anyways I dont think AE guys should be worries as it sounds like the company stopped hiring knowing this was going to be happening. In addition with having current shortages already it seems they will be fine.
Click to expand...

Did you miss the part where they said they'd reduce Eagle's staffing by 40-50 airplanes (at least 400 pilots)? That would kind of negate that whole "We need 40 more people in Chicago!"
 
jtrain609 said:
Did you miss the part where they said they'd reduce Eagle's staffing by 40-50 airplanes (at least 400 pilots)? That would kind of negate that whole "We need 40 more people in Chicago!"
Click to expand...

No I did not miss that. There's more to meet this story then sitting back and freaking out. Also from talking to some people at other places they are expecting to lose some American flying (one comes to mind right away is CHQ). Anyways AE was short by some 40 in ORD with the plan of those planes being gone from my understanding. Meaning from what I heard from a friend in training right now they are alright. However he's in training and perhaps he hasnt heard the whole story. Just saying!

There's no need to sit back and get all freaked out and get the AE guys worried.
 
I WAS schedule for the June 9th class but got the call today that it is cancelled.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
Shhhh said:
I WAS schedule for the June 9th class but got the call today that it is cancelled.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
Click to expand...

Pinacle is still hiring so is Comair?
 
Gonzo said:
I am at the school house now so I have some info.
ready2fly said:
The information I've been hearing is a bit more ominous:

1. The class scheduled to start this week was cancelled;
Only the class on the 26th is cancelled now, but I would bet the June 9th and 23th will be soon.
2. Two classes already in progress were sent home;
None of the four classes that are at the school house were sent home.
3. Eagle has ceased hiring;
Eagle now has a pool.
4 Rumors of AMR filing Chapter 11 this summer;
?????
5. Rumors that Eagle will "lose a crap-load of flying in September"; and
6. Rumors of furloughs (15% fo staff) at both AA and Eagle.
Keep in mind if AA parks planes then Eagle will need to park planes. Word is 50-100 MD's to be parked.
Click to expand...



I hope this helps.:banghead:
Click to expand...
Sadly, I believe what I posted originally is more of the truth than I wanted it to be. This is what we received today:

Peter Bowler-CEO of Eagle said:
SPECIAL EAGLEWIRE FOR MAY 21, 2008
Published Especially for the Employees of American Eagle

* * * * PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS * * * *

May 21, 2008


Eagle and Executive Employees,

At today’s annual stockholder’s meeting, AMR announced its decision to make even deeper capacity cuts for the fourth quarter of this year than previously announced. The rapid growth in jet fuel prices, combined with the weakening economy, has created very difficult conditions for airlines in the United States.

The fuel price impact from January to March was up more than $660 million dollars for AMR compared to prices paid during the same period last year. As we all know, prices for jet fuel – as well as for gasoline – have increased even further in April and May. Although AA has raised prices several times and increased various customer fees, total revenues have not kept pace with expenses. AMR’s loss of $328 million during the first quarter was alarming and the continued increase in fuel prices and signs of economic softness are further cause for concern.

Under these conditions, many of AA’s and Eagle’s routes do not generate enough revenue to pay for variable expenses such as fuel, landing fees, taxes and the salaries of our crews and other operational personnel. As a result of these facts, and to ensure that AMR has enough financial resources to weather this storm, it has decided to reduce its system-wide capacity.

While AA has not made final decisions on the specific schedule changes, it expects to cut 11 percent to 12 percent of fourth quarter domestic mainline capacity from 2007 levels and has directed Eagle to reduce our schedule by approximately the same percent. As a result of these reductions, American plans to retire 40 to 45 mainline aircraft and the regional network will be reduced by 35 to 40 regional jets, as well as some number of turbo-props.

Unfortunately these capacity reductions will result in layoffs at both American and American Eagle – and could result in facility closures or consolidations. As we get a better understanding of the new schedules and carefully evaluate our staffing requirements by work group and by location over the coming weeks, we will communicate specific changes as quickly as we can.

I am grateful for the excellent work Eagle’s people do. You are making a difference every day by ensuring that every trip and every job is performed safely, by caring for our customers and finding ways to complete our work efficiently under challenging conditions. I am confident that we will adapt to the changes announced today as well as to the outcome of the ongoing divestiture process and that Eagle will be one of the world’s safest, most reliable and successful regional airlines. Thank you for all your efforts.

Sincerely,

Peter Bowler
President and CEO
Click to expand...

Hope everyone at the schoolhouse is still there and that those on the bottom keep their jobs.....but, I'm afraid that's not going to happen.

Keep your heads up folks! This will pass!

Stan
 
meyers9163 said:
No I did not miss that. There's more to meet this story then sitting back and freaking out. Also from talking to some people at other places they are expecting to lose some American flying (one comes to mind right away is CHQ). Anyways AE was short by some 40 in ORD with the plan of those planes being gone from my understanding. Meaning from what I heard from a friend in training right now they are alright. However he's in training and perhaps he hasnt heard the whole story. Just saying!

There's no need to sit back and get all freaked out and get the AE guys worried.
Click to expand...

You're acting like the guys at Eagle at sheep and you don't want to startle them.

Furloughs are real in this industry. Shoving your head in the sand and saying, "THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!" does NOTHING for you. Life isn't all happy with warm fuzzies, bad things happen sometimes and it's better to prepare for those things happening.
 
jtrain609 said:
You're acting like the guys at Eagle at sheep and you don't want to startle them.

Furloughs are real in this industry. Shoving your head in the sand and saying, "THIS ISN'T HAPPENING!" does NOTHING for you. Life isn't all happy with warm fuzzies, bad things happen sometimes and it's better to prepare for those things happening.
Click to expand...

And or perhaps those in charge stopped the hiring know stuff you and I didnt know about ahead of time? Ever think that perhaps for a minute that they actually knew what they were doing and in order to prepare for the upcoming news they stopped classes ahead of time? Tis an amazing concept. I refuse to sit back and throw myself a damn pitty party. Xjet is still here and they were as good as gone? Sorry you wont and will NOT hear me sitting back and saying "pitty me, poor me" etc etc. ITs not my style. Not my style to get people in panics and freaked out! No need for that crap!
 
meyers9163 said:
And or perhaps those in charge stopped the hiring know stuff you and I didnt know about ahead of time? Ever think that perhaps for a minute that they actually knew what they were doing and in order to prepare for the upcoming news they stopped classes ahead of time?!
Click to expand...
Putting two and two together, I do believe that pilot recruiting did, indeed, know what was coming down the pike.

I say this because a friend from this very site called Eagle Pilot Recruiting on my recommendation to ask a question about the minimums and was told - almost ver batem: "take the job at [xxxx] because hiring is about to slow down and the minimums are about to go up."

That was three weeks ago.

And re-reading Jtrains post, I don't think he was "freaking out" or "panicing" at all - he's simply saying that these cuts are going to go deep.

This isn't merely a scrape that's going to be cured with a bandaid. It's a gash that will spew out a lot of good people in the process.

The 35-40 planes projected to go away at Eagle probably aren't coming back. If they do, great. But if you read the statement from PB, it's pretty clear - those planes and those routes are not profitable.

Now, I do agree with you that no-one here at Eagle should "freak out" or "panic." Hopefully, everyone is currently working on a plan to cover their asses while they are on furlough (those who are in danger of being furloughed that is).

If I were in the bottom 400, I'd damned sure be on the phone right now trying to line up some kind of job to bring in some $$$ while this happens.

That said, the most prevalent belief is that AMR will declare Chapter 11 some time in September. The bankruptcy will be a "strategic" bankruptcy designed to "restructure" how AMR works - and that AMR will come out of Chapter 11 some time before, or shortly after, Thanksgiving.

Time will tell.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top