This development is great for Skywest and
VB management but will most likely have huge repercussions for the
VB pilots.
It's merely the first step in the outsourcing of
VB flying, to pilots that are not on the
VB pilot list and if it's not stopped could very well come back to haunt us in the future.
There is absolutely nothing that stops the following from happening......First Skywest starts operating TP's on new routes for
VB, Australia wide. Then they start flying on routes currently operated by
VB pilots flying the EMB's.
After a period of time, if Skywest does a good job,
VB management asks them to take on the EMB170's and fly them in
VB colours. Now you have pilots flying a
VB type at what will probably be less money than the current
VB rates, on
VB routes.
Outsourcing is a far cheaper option for Management and if you don't think so, simply look at the rise of the regional airlines in the US. United pilots currently fly less than 50% of all the aircraft painted in United colours. An entire fleet of United 73's were retired over a period of 12 months and replaced by CRJ700/EMB170's flown by contract airlines and pilots paid a hell of a lot less than the 73 pilots they replaced.
A 5th year FO flying the EMB170 in United Express colours is paid US$45k a year!!!!!
Every pilot at
VB needs to read up on "Scope" and how having a scope clause in the next EBA is a major priority. Without one, they'll end up watching their flying being farmed out to contractors and any career progression, disappearing down the toilet.