ASA Furloughs?

[Chi829]

Has anyone heard anything? I havent,, just wondering whats going on in terms of rumors or anything to expect?

[ASACRJwife]

Hi, Jo,
I think ASA is safe for now. I actually anticipate seeing more RJs on the previous Delta routes to fill in for reduced capacity. Either way, I think both of our DHs are safe...they've been at ASA long enough!

I've told my DH I'm glad he's stayed at ASA and hasn't jumped ship to Delta or any of the other carriers. He knows a LOT of Captains that have gone to everywhere else to fly "bigger" airplanes and now they are staring furlough right in the face. No thanks. I'd rather him be in charge of a little 50 seater than be slogging carts at WalMart. Besides, luckily his ego hasn't gotten the best of him. Otherwise, he'd be on the chopping block some place else!

Fingers crossed...but I think since Brad took over at ASA, things have improved greatly for the employees and now they are working hard and working together to make things run more smoothly in order to become more competitive in the regional marketplace. Getting rid of LaBrecque was the best think Jerry did for ASA. And adding Brad, the second best thing!

But I think ASA is safe. I just hope it doesn't come down to my DH flying as a Captain to an FO who used to be HIS Captain i.e., furloughed guys getting re-hired as FO's!

[Chi829]

See, i've thought about the FO thing too,, I guess it could happen, but certainly they wouldnt be piad FO pay would they? Who knows,,,,,,,

[ASACRJwife]

From what I understand, if you've left the company and then return, you go back to the bottom. I guess it's a sort of punishment for leaving in the first place, I dunno.

I just hope none of the furloughs come to fruition, and if they do, I hope they all get their jobs back soon.

[Chi829]

ohoh,, Yeah I see what you are saying,,,, I mis-read your original post...

[ASA_wife]

Hey Ladies,
I have been busy so I am out fo the loop of the site. I jsut came back and saw this post and got scaried . Jason was telling me that ASA was growing becuase of Delta reducing flights. So I was like oh no they are furloughing.

April

[Bigsweetie]

Originally Posted by ASACRJwife

I've told my DH I'm glad he's stayed at ASA and hasn't jumped ship to Delta or any of the other carriers. He knows a LOT of Captains that have gone to everywhere else to fly "bigger" airplanes and now they are staring furlough right in the face. No thanks. I'd rather him be in charge of a little 50 seater than be slogging carts at WalMart. Besides, luckily his ego hasn't gotten the best of him. Otherwise, he'd be on the chopping block some place else!

I'm sure you didn't mean that the way it sounded, but I don't think pilots who leave regionals to go to a major airline have ego problems. I think they're just following their dreams, and this industry is unpredictable. I'm glad that my DH hasn't left cargo either, but if Delta had called him 3 months ago, I would've been happy for him to get that job. Why? Because it's his dream to fly those big airplanes. If it's not your DH's dream, that's o.k. by me, but it IS my DH's dream and i'd never want him to sacrifice that. We knew going in to aviation that it's risky, there's ALWAYS a possibility of a furlough (even for senior pilots - ever hear of Frontier?). No one is safe, IMO. ASA may be o.k. now, but I wouldn't bank on any airline right now... or even in the future. Airlines grow one day, and go bankrupt the next.

And I would still be proud of my DH if he was "slogging carts at Walmart". At least he went for his dream and took a risk.

Again, if your DH is happy where he is, that's great! My H wants to fly the big airplane someday - I support that... even with all the risks.

[Erin]

Well, I came on to post a really great recipe I invented today for grilled shrimp... then I saw this thread. PLEASE... we've beaten the whole size of the airplane thing to DEATH.

Anyone want to hear about our shrimp tonight? They were reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllyyyyy good!

Erin

[Bigsweetie]

Originally Posted by Erin

Well, I came on to post a really great recipe I invented today for grilled shrimp... then I saw this thread. PLEASE... we've beaten the whole size of the airplane thing to DEATH.

Anyone want to hear about our shrimp tonight? They were reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaallllllllyyyyy good!

Erin

I think if you make statements like the above on a messageboard full of pilots wives (many who fly for majors) you open yourself up for comment.

[ASACRJwife]

No, I didn't mean it that way, but he's had the option of going someplace else, and flying bigger aircraft for mainline, or staying in a place fairly safe given this whole oil-out-of-control pricing thing that is destroying the aviation industry as we speak. I respect his decision to stay at the regional for job security reasons, and monetary reasons (having a job). A lot of guys are foregoing the desire for mainline careers because seniority has its privileges at some (not all) of the regionals right now. His career (obviously!) is a lot like mine, where its EXTREMELY specialized, and outside of his and my career fields, good luck finding anyone to hire either of us.

When and if this industry ever decides to turn around, he may think about going elsewhere, but for now, unless Skywest decides to dump us or Delta decides to dump Skywest (could happen, of course!), we'll just be happy with the little RJ. I wish there was no mainline/regional division. A pilot is a pilot regardless of what he flies. But some mainline pilots prefer to keep the division between regional and mainline.

As for the furloughs, I wish they WEREN'T happening. At all. I am incredibly angry at the fact that oil speculation has driven us to this oil problem that we have now, and it pains me to see the way it is affecting the aviation/airline industry right now. I suppose I wouldn't care about the airlines if I wasn't married to a pilot. But I am, and I hate to see any of them without a job. I know how much they love to fly, and to just eliminate their jobs by parking aircraft just isn't fair. All I can hope is that oil goes back down and anyone who gets furloughed is recalled quickly. My prayers to anyone who is in this position, because I know that aviation job security is not secure anymore.