That’s very interesting, replacing the F/Os should be quite straight forward, I’m sure that there are plenty of low hours people who have financed their own rating through Aer Arann waiting in the wings who would jump at the opportunity of a full time job. However replacing the Captains will be a different matter, especially if Aer Arann do not have sufficient senior F/Os who are ready for upgrade. If some of those leaving Captains are TRE/TRI/LTC qualified there will be huge problems getting any new hires on the line.
What about the future at Arann?
1. Aircraft sat on the ground without sufficient crews to operate them safely- financially costly and awful
PR with dispossessed passengers drifting around.
2. Dragging in short term contractors-financially costly but no bad
PR.
3. Force the remaining pilots to endure short notice roster changes and a lot of nausea – cost neutral but will increase retention problems and make the situation worse.
4. Wrap in the operation and switch off the lights.
None of them seem very palatable but there are some very serious decisions to be made.
Good luck to those that are moving on to pastures new and equally good luck to those that are left behind to cope with the fall out.