Posted on 05/08/2015 7:18:49 PM PDT by TurboZamboni
The owner of Sun Country Airlines has warned pilots that because they can't agree on a contract, "our management team has begun the process of downsizing the airline, for what will need to be its ultimate shutdown." That threat was sent to Sun Country pilots Wednesday afternoon in a letter from Chairman Marty Davis, whose family owns the Mendota Heights-based carrier. Sun Country pilots have been unhappy about their pay and for years have been locked in negotiations with the company. Davis said he presented the pilots with what he called Sun Country's "last and best offer" -- an offer that a leader of the pilots group dismissed as "wholly inadequate."
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Sun Country needs to understand that the demand for pilots has increased dramatically.
Been down this road before.
Seems fair to me. If they can’t come to an agreement, then close her down and sell off the assets. Some other capitalist will surely rush in to fill the gap.
“Sun Country needs to understand that the demand for pilots has increased dramatically.”
The Government-created Pilot Shortage is going to hit the smallest carriers the hardest, as we are clearly seeing.
For young American pilots without a silver spoon, flying freight in Africa or the Middle East is the only reasonable way to build time toward a commercial ticket now, without spending a decade as an instructor.
My company will take anyone with an ATP and 1500 hours. The pilots in my 15 Sept 2014 indoc class (I’m a dispatcher)are in upgrade class now. 7 months from the right seat to the left..
That's more scary than 2 flight managers flying together.
In the world of professional aviation 1500 hours of flying time is just a marginal note in a log book.15,000 may get you admitted to the pilots lounge discussions.
BTW Sun Country pilots have been negotiating ( been without a new contract) for several YEARS now. How long does it take for government workers or teachers or firemen or others to shut down their cash cow?
True statement about the flight managers; at my last job, a management pilot doing his yearly requal took the runway and put the throttles forward without starting number two. He tried covering it up, but the 10 deadheading crewmembers in the back knew what was wrong..
Reminds me of meeting back in 1962 with all the employees of Buckeye Iron and Brass by the old man that owned the company. A company that had been in his family since the 1830s. The company that had the knowledge and expertise the cast the engine block for Wilber & Orville Wright’s first airplane. The company that had several patents for oil and gas delivery systems. Including the automatic shutoff for gasoline nozzles. To paraphrase Mr Huffman, he told us, “I can not afford another strike. I have several standing offers for the company so If you go out, I will accept one and I doubt they will continue here. Well, we did and he did.
I understand they have now opened a bar & grill on the site named, Yep, You guessed it. BUCKEYE IRON & BRASS.
From that day to this I have absolutely hated unions.
My younger son started as a pilot for a regional airline when he was 21. He will start flying for rhe big Delta in December.
The government didn’t cause the shortage of pilots. The crappy pay for new pilots at regional airlines created the shortage.
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