The open threat from Ms. Thompson the Director of Flight Operations

[Trafalgar]

Many of us are on the verge of quitting anyway. Quite happy if AT helps push me that much closer. If she thinks she has a crewing problem now, try the 'sign or be fired' option and she will realise she doesn't have an airline anymore.

[positionalpor]

airchina overseas bases

[OK4Wire]

They were warned by training staff years ago this would happen with the A350 and it's worse than forecast

That's true for the 350, but everyone needs to remember that GL warned the adults (in a well written letter during SARS - so about a decade and a half ago) that we will be short of crews in the future, and that every option to train as hard as they could should be explored. Needless to say, that opinion was soundly ignored. How many DFOs have had the chance to fix that issue??

[raven11]

Agree with Trafalgar...try that "sign or be fired" crap again.....go ahead....try it!

[cxorcist]

Agree. Sign or be fired only makes CX's problems worse. Those suggesting it seem to ignore too many well known facts about the current shortage.

Now, trying to keep CoS99ers beyond 55 makes sense, but that will have to include proper incentives or most will reject it. A new contract with extended RA, 25 year housing and/or enhanced HKPA, and a decent set of properly negotiated RPs would start a turn that might just keep this ship from hitting the iceberg. Hope the lookouts on the ninth floor can see it though, they have a nasty habit of sleeping at the wheel. It's tough to look outside whilst busily counting beans on spreadsheets.

[ron burgandy]

"The lookouts on the ninth floor"

You saw the Bloomberg interview, right?

[Hugo Peroni the IV]

And why should cos 99 get a contract disadvantaging Junior Cos 08 pilots? You did make a choice! It's just that your plan isn't quite working out to get BPP and stay employed past 55.

Just throwing the thought out there. I don't have an iron in this fire.

[Loopdeloop]

Why bring it up then Hugo? The AOA's position since the advent of CoS 08 is that all pilots should have the option to work to 65, and those with an age 55 BPP provision in their contract should be compensated for it.
Lets not fight amongst ourselves yet again.

[BusyB]

I would have thought that after this veiled threat by AT that a large number of pilots would become so angry and stressed that they would not be fit to operate a/c

[CX-HOR]

Perhaps Hugo a number of COS99 guys who fully intend to work past 55 felt the Company offer at the time was poor and were confident enough to play the long game. Perhaps thinking that in the future ie now or very soon, the Company may need them and be willing to sweeten the deal. What is wrong with that?

As it was, the decision not to accept RA65 had all sorts of negatives apart from 10 years less climbing up the increment and seniority scales at this Company. Like never getting to the top of the seniority tree for everything from staff travel, roster requests, a/c transfers etc because guys were able to carry through their seniority instead of it being frozen at 55 when accepting COS08, rather than their original contract. Would you call that fair?

[catpac]

You are wasting your time guys, COS 99 guys have all been offered a COS 08 deal. Those that chose to stay on COS 99 will stay on COS 99. Chances of a second offer to transfer to COS 08 for RA65 are about as much as China becoming a democracy. Not in our lifetime...

COS 99 lads/gals, enjoy your BPP and an early retirement, you deserve it

[asianeagle]

or it could be that those of us who are on COS99 knew full well that come 55, there would thousands of jobs for pilots out there because, you guessed it... there is a shortage of suitably qualified people out there.

Turns out I was right, no need to retire, I simply change jobs.

[GTC58]

I have heard the following rumour if no solution will be found by the 31. May.

- Key ex-CX management is already at AirHK preparing.
- 747 freighters transition over a 12 months period to AirHK
- HK based 747 crews convert to Airbus and B777
- Based 747 crews (all captains) will be offered a position as per basings policy 2006, 13.1, Reduction in crew levels or closure of home base. As there are no home base positions available, affected crew can take a Hong Kong base within the rank their seniority can hold and will be converted either to Airbus or B777.
- However, if based 747 crews would like to stay on their base, they have the option to resign and take up employment with AirHK and as such can stay on the base in their rank.
- Absolutely no cancellation of A350 orders, if needed, some A330 will be transferred to Dragon or parked in the transition period.

[Trafalgar]

"....I don't have an iron in this fire....". Really Hugo...? What a gratuitously inflammatory comment. Why don't you take a moment to figure out who's side of the argument you've just supported. You and AT having afternoon tea together? Seriously buddy, stay in the shadows if you can't be constructive. The COS99'ers had a very good reason for not signing across. You have really shown your true colours by that comment.

[Captn_Kirk]

GTC, how is that making the training task lighter?

[Natca]

This has actually been in the works for quite sometime and starting to make sence. The issue is the long time it takes to train a new ca or fo sector and sim wise. A conversion yes will cause events but less than a new person.

[Trafalgar]

???? what on earth are you trying to say?

[Gravox]

Just a speculation,
But Perhaps Anna wants to have things settled by 1 June as Farnborough kicks off 15 July. If an aircraft order were to be placed then she knows we the pilots would have her over a barrel.
Just food for thought.

[The Visionary]

GTC58, great rumor but that would be a massive undertaking?

Questions;
What about all the freighter captns in America, Canada, Australia and Europe? Two of those have CBAs. What about all the Dec freighter captains in Hong Kong? You would then have to train/retrain a quater or more of the airline. They can't even do it now! No base openings so how do you handle all the people that don't want or can't come to Hong Kong? The ts&cs are awful at AHK. You think boarding priority is bad now???

What about all the customers, employees and everyone involved in CX cargo? Rewrite contracts etc. Employments contracts and visas and the list goes on.

I think it would be impossible but they maybe just crazy enough to try.

Oh, and btw, Atlas and Southern are voting to strike. It would hurt DHL. AHK would not be able to keep up. Oh and one more thing, AHK is 60/40. You think they'd now give 40% of the profits to the Germans. No way.

True though, if they want to burn it to the ground let them. I have my marshmellows ready!

[The Visionary]

Gravox, great point so heres a big rumor. HKA is starting a 777 freighter operation AND is in Tolouse looking at A380s and A350s. Heard that we too are now looking at A380s to compete.