2011 Ground Schools

[lov2fly]

alleluia.

[200hr Wonder]

So does this post have any bearing on this?

viewtopic.php?f=82&t=74277

And have the lucky pilots from the pool been notified yet? I keep my finger crossed for a call soon.

[rudder]

Staffing levels are based on block hour guidance, not fleet count. Take a look at the projected block hour guidance for 2011 compared to 2010, factor in attrition due to resignation and retirement, and that should result in a pretty good estimate of hiring requirements for the remainder if the year. Also factor in increased crew inefficiency due to the addition of 2 new fleet types (757/Q400).

[BingBong]

Correct me if I'm wrong (jazz employees only)...but those 8 swing aircraft were never counted on in terms of staffing levels. Staffing levels are based on hours needed by Air Canada (125 cpa aircraft) and that the 8 swing aircraft were bonus airframes that they could use at their discretion with the current crews.

I don't really see why dumping the 8 swing aircraft has any affect on staffing levels. Everyone is putting an end to the hiring...but IMHO this is only the beginning of the boom. The next three months are going to be quite interesting to say the least.

[QKDH8]

BingBong,

It's a good question. Maybe they were considered, maybe they were not. Unfortunately, unless someone is much higher up than the usual contributors here, i.e. the DFO or an ALPA CRC committee member, no one, myself included, can claim to know whether the swing aircraft were counted on from a staffing perspective. My opinion is that, from a staffing level, they were likely counted, but that's just a feeling I get from looking at past MD&A guidance, a previous conversation with the DFO, (both of which indicated that the operation of the swing RJs was a virtual certainty, and that rate negotiations were ongoing). The most compelling evidence to me however is Bid 2011-01 in January.

If we look at Bid 2011-01, we saw the following:

1) Reduction of DH8 YYZ Postions (Both Capt and F/O)
2) Growth of DH8 YYC, and to a lesser extent YVR positions (Both Capt and F/O)

This to me is a balancing of positions to match the flying. To understand this, one should know that for almost the past year, YYZ DH8 based pilots were covering a significant amount of flying that was traditionally "western flying". In the winter this became especially significant, probably as high as 10-15% of YYZ flying started with a D/H to YYC or YVR. Effectively there was a shortage of YYC / YVR DH8 crews, and a surplus of YYZ DH8 crews that were used to cover that flying. In our bid in January, 2011-01 that imbalance was rectified, with the changes above. This was basically a crew-neutral balancing act, nothing more.

The next item we saw on the bid was:

3) 60 new YYZ Q400 positions (30ish Capt / 30ish F/O)
4) Little change to the YYZ RJ (Some F/O vacancies due to attrition)
5) A few other more minor vacancies due to attrition.

This to me shows that the company was expecting the Q400s to be in addition to the fleet currently operating. This would have been the case if the swing a/c had stayed. We would have been operating 10 additional A/C by next winter, compared to our current operation, with the same number of RJs as we have now. Hence the bid showed no reductions in RJ positions, and an increase in Q400 positions. This resulted in a net vacancy bid, and the need for hiring roughly 90 pilots. (Interestingly enough, the CPA aircraft are supposedly crewed at roughly 4.5 pilots per position per airframe X 2 pilots. 10 additional aircraft = 90 pilots).

I would hazard a guess that if the swing aircraft had not been considered, then we would have seen a reduction in YYZ RJ positions in the last bid, that was equal to the growth in the Q400 positions. Remember our fleet in this case would only be growing by 2 A/C as opposed to 10 A/C under the original plan. If the company had been planning all along to return these 8 RJs starting in July, I would think that would have been reflected in the January bid, showing RJ reductions effective this summer / fall.

To summarize my point, if the swing a/c were not considered as part of the last bid, then why didn't the last bid reflect the return of these A/C with a corresponding significant reduction in baseline RJ positions? Consider that returning 8 RJs is reducing the RJ fleet by almost 15%, which would almost certainly require an adjustment to baseline crew levels.

It's just my opinion, but here's my outlook on things:

-Jazz was planning to, and put out a bid reflecting, the need to operate 133 A/C on behalf of Air Canada.
-This bid showed no reductions in RJ, because in fact none was planned. The baseline numbers remained the same, which actually resulted in some vacancies for RJ F/Os. (I.e. they replaced the attrition that occurred in the past 6 months)
-The bid showed the arrival of lots of Q400s, eventually adding 10 A/C to our current CPA fleet
-This meant lots of hiring (90 or so pilots)
-A number of G/S ran and more were planned.
-Air Canada has exercised their option not to operate the 8 sing RJs, effectively cutting growth from 10 airplanes to 2 airplanes.
-The company has met with the CRC to try and get an agreement to postpone training for pilots awarded the RJ in the last bid, until after the next bid. (Read into this that the company believes that after August there will be no need to train these people on the RJ. It costs a lot of money to train someone and then reduce them shortly after their line-indoc, and then have them have reinstatement rights which may see them bounce back and forward between equipment for years to come.)
-New hire G/S will be cancelled or postponed until after the August bid
-The August bid, 2011-02 will be published showing reductions on the RJ in YYZ, and more vacancies on the Q400, as the outlook includes deliveries scheduled for further down the line. RJ pilots will slowly transition to the Q400.
-The August bid shows that all vacancies will be filled internally, with an equal amount of reductions, with no net vacancy.
-Jazz is now in a position were the need to hire is seriously diminished, if not eliminated entirely.

I know this is a disappointing opinion for everyone hoping to get hired, and for those hoping for some movement (upgrades, schedule, bases etc.). Hopefully I'm wrong!

[Green Onions]

You completly leave the Thomas Cook flying out of your picture. These aircraft and possible more 757s will be back. And YYZ RJ crew will be back flying them. YYC RJ crew were covering eastern flying last winter as well to make up for the crew on the 757 for the winter.

[Sideshow]

Got the call from HR. Hiring has slowed down. Next 'late July' G/S will probably be it for the summer.

[ChallengerDan]

You completly leave the Thomas Cook flying out of your picture. These aircraft and possible more 757s will be back. And YYZ RJ crew will be back flying them. YYC RJ crew were covering eastern flying last winter as well to make up for the crew on the 757 for the winter.

Latest info we got from a well placed manager in Maintenance was that we are going to operate 6 757s next winter but on a different sched. Look for YUL to be downsized and 757 should be showing off its tall legs further west.

[Rex Kramer]

Got the call from HR. Hiring has slowed down. Next 'late July' G/S will probably be it for the summer.

Definitely no secret that hiring is halted. Did you get a gs offer for july or informed that late july is the next class and your in the pool? Just wondering what else HR has specified.

[Sideshow]

Definitely no secret that hiring is halted. Did you get a gs offer for July or informed that late July is the next class and your in the pool? Just wondering what else HR has specified.

Lots of planning left to do
July G/s will have 18 ppl
no new G/s till at least September
I'm in the pool for sure.
Very very slim chance I'll be in July G/s.
They never got around to sending me the CBC.

As for the 757 (My source isn't HR on this. Warning wild rumors.)
2 in YYC and maybe some in YVR. There should be 11 this season.

Skyservice ran 10 757s and 11 A320s when they were doing the Sunquest Charters...
Looks like there's room to grow for Chorus.

[rudder]

As for the 757 (My source isn't HR on this. Warning wild rumors.)
2 in YYC and maybe some in YVR. There should be 11 this season.

Skyservice ran 10 757s and 11 A320s when they were doing the Sunquest Charters...
Looks like there's room to grow for Chorus.

From yesterday's Chorus Aviation Q1 conference call - 2011/2012 Cook season will be 6 airframes and similar block hours to 2010/2011. Possible route reallocation based on commercial decisions by Cook. Winter schedule pending.

[Rex Kramer]

As for the 757 (My source isn't HR on this. Warning wild rumors.)
2 in YYC and maybe some in YVR. There should be 11 this season.

Skyservice ran 10 757s and 11 A320s when they were doing the Sunquest Charters...
Looks like there's room to grow for Chorus.

From yesterday's Chorus Aviation Q1 conference call - 2011/2012 Cook season will be 6 airframes and similar block hours to 2010/2011. Possible route reallocation based on commercial decisions by Cook. Winter schedule pending.

For you to have that much info, surely there is more to tell. ie what is potentially brewing at jazz........

[BingBong]

what is potentially brewing at jazz........

Burnt tasting coffee

[rudder]

For you to have that much info, surely there is more to tell. ie what is potentially brewing at jazz........

Public info:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/viewE ... ID=3483920

[DH772]

6 57's with possibility of couple out west would mean no crew changes. lets just say we're going to have a lot of upset westerners hating on T.O some more if YYZ crews are now doing flights in their turf.

[David Hasselhoff]

Got the call from HR. Hiring has slowed down. Next 'late July' G/S will probably be it for the summer.

Just wondering if anyone knows how they pick GS attendees from the hiring pool... I was told to expect the June 20th GS , but now that we're all in " the pool" I would assume all bets are off....

is there a certain scoring system they will now use to rank the pool candidates?

[flyinhigh]

is there a certain scoring system they will now use to rank the pool candidates?

I would imagine that'd it go by the first candidate that was interviewed/sim/medical and advised of the pool. Makes life alot easier however I ahve been wrong before.

cheers

[Thair81]

Just been reading through all of this...I did an interview in April and then got the email about no sim spots at the minute...does anyone have any idea how long the wait may be or even if there is still potential for the hiring process to continue at the moment...does the fall look good for more ground schools?...any insight would be appreciated.

[200hr Wonder]

Wondering of anyone has gotten a call for a July ground school date?

An update got an email... all ground schools for the year are full. So I guess I did not get the call for July.

[Thair81]

Just got the same email stating that hiring is done for the year...guess the wait will have to continue...good luck and all the best to those who made it.

[Iceberg]

anyone know what the bid was for the july 25th ground school?

[Beach 200]

ALL YYC

[full_flaps]

any updates on hiring? I would think with Air Canada hiring as much as they are that Jazz would have some openings. No pilot postings on their website

[Localizer]

I'm sure hiring will continue in the new year .. there will be a new position bid in January.

[Canoehead]

I would guess there will be hiring again in the new year. Plenty of people seem to be leaving...
Plus 2012 shows 10 pilots turning 65. That's the start of our 'retirement wave'.

Now if we could just get YHZ management and the BOD to wake up and get with the program.