Virgin USA

[mealie puddin]

Is it true that Virgin USA is going to get UK SF/O's from Atlantic, put them in the left seat in the US on the 320, to give them P1 time???

[Airbubba]

I'm sure the insurance people will like that idea for a startup...

[Daysleeper]

Sounds impossible, they would all need green cards and I cant see the INS letting them in with so many unemployed US citizens.

I think someone is pulling your leg.

[Wino]

Its a windup.
No one is that ignorant.
Let it go.

Cheers
WIno

[NTM]

With thousands of qualified pilots in the US, that will happen !!!
:cool:

[skibeagle]

This particular topic has gone quiet since the April-May publicity grabbing about where this phantom is to be based. No web site, no more press releases, does anyone have any news on this topic ?

As for UK pilots flying domestic N reg in the US - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, there is only the UK Govt soft enough to permit that sort of thing - ref the 1995 attempt by BA to put USAir FO's into the right seats at BA EOG.... finally thwarted by BALPA I believe - but only after BALPA had agreed to it and then realised they needed to calm down the membership ! I believe it took some discussion in parliament though...

When a US tour operator chartered a UK aircraft to fly a program from Newark to points in Africa via Gatwick, the FAA wouldn't even grant a licence to fly into the US unless the aircraft was operated under the US flag, as a result, a US operator flew the aircraft on the N reg to Gatwick, there was a reg change done in Gatwick - EVERY FLIGHT, and then the aircraft continued on to Nairobi. The reverse was done going back to Newark. Lesson learned - very protective ! Long live the Jones Act, it's a shame there isn't a similar effective law in other countries...

[Halfnut]

http://www.virginamerica.com/Main.aspx

[scroggs]

Is it true that Virgin USA is going to get UK SF/O's from Atlantic, put them in the left seat in the US on the 320, to give them P1 time???

No, it isn't true.

[Notso Fantastic]

Can anyone BE that gullible?

[Big Bus Boy]

I'm sure your right about Virgin not taking UK pilots to the US, however uk pilots come over every winter and fly in the US on N reg aircraft, my friend does it so i know its true, based in Detroit i believe. Its a wet lease from a UK Charter for 5 months or so, good money too, happens in Canada as well, I've done that, same deal. Maybe things are not as tight in the labour laws as they should be?

[HighandWide]

Skibeagle

Actually, the IPA blocked the USAir pilots working for BA EOG in 1995, through government lobbying. Balpa, were not opposed to the deal!

[Puritan]

HighandWide that's how I remember it too, and - to BALPA's ever lasting shame - the IPA had several other such successes on this 'flagging-out' issue ( all whilst BALPA did sweet FA, yet continued to take their members subs ! ).

[skibeagle]

High and Wide, you're absolutely right, I acknowledge my error. BALPA were certainly in favour of the deal initially, but I thought they had changed their views subsequently.

Yet another BALPA-BA EOG success following the Dan-Air debacle, now there is a sore point - and rightly so.

Thanks for the link to the web site Halfnut.

[Ignition Override]

Big Bus Boy: We've seen a few A-321s in DTW and MKE, which have a very small "European" flag by the aft door(s). These planes are some sort of lease by/to Ryan Air, from what I was told. They seem to operate non-stop to Cancun, Mexico.

Chatted once with the cabin crew at a gate in MKE. They wore young, good-looking and all wore yellow scarves. The Lead Pursuer kept quiet for a few moments when I asked her in her native language (remember yellow scarf...) where she was from (a bit suspicious or awkward?), then slowly admitted that she lived in a city which is near the Rhine River. :suspect:

Hasta la vista.

[FormerFlyer]

So is there any truth in the secondary rumour that Virgin will take a large holding in America West, and turn that into Virgin America?

cheers ;)

FF

[crewrest]

I suspect after the result of the mess of taking over a basket case airline the first time ('Worst mistake I ever made'- Virgin Express) SRB isn't going to let it happen again.

As for Virgin SFOs in SFO, I case of wishful thinking I think.

[skibeagle]

Ryan Air (US version NOT Ireland's version) have been bringing narrow body Airbusses in from Europe for a few years, they used to use Airtours aircraft out of the UK, (dry leased I think). Also, Apple Vacations out of NYC used C-reg Canada 3000 A320's to fly US-Carribean routes (definitely Canadian crews). I also saw a G-reg Britannia B737 in Hawaii with Aloha Airlines markings, and that was way back in 1989, (Aloha crews operating domestic US).