Sunstate (along with Sunstate Mildura which eventuated into Southern) was bought by Australian in '90 and Eastern in '91. Qantas inherited the two when the 'merger' happened in '93. Air Link was operating the 146 around the same time for Australian.
When the merger happened, SSA/EAA guys were actually given seniority numbers with mainline - then the upper crust of the piloting echelon (long haul drivers) removed those numbers saying they didn't want the 'talent to be tainted'.
AN had guys progressing from F-27s to 737s and onwards, apparently QF wasn't interested in the same kind of thinking.
Can't see why not? Start on the Dash, progress through the jets...retire where you want to be (even back on the Dash for the lifestyle!).
Imagine the industry today if we had that one list (and maybe one union) - the collective voice would be deafening and we would (at least I think we would probably have) more play in the decisions of the company.
Now we have been divided and conquered. We have been reduced to smearing eachother's professionalism and for what and to what end?
Alas, the longer term common good gives way to ego in the present yet again (some pilots should become politicians with that sort of thinking). So now I propose a slight hijacking of the thread and suggest to all those drivers out there, what now? It's going to be a brave new world in the coming month when the hatchet strikes a final blow on the international arm. Do we want/see some consolidation of the pilot ranks?
Food for thought...
Fuel-Off
