Aviation Appreciation Station

[speede5]

Wow, couple lucky buggers there.

[Drummer]

For anyone who flys to LAX, they are doing a huge shuffling of the terminals by May 17. Air Canada and Westjet used to both be at Terminal 2. Now Air Canada will be at Terminal 6 which is the complete opposite side of LAX. Westjet moves to Terminal 3. Terminal 2 has (had) little line ups for security, and also was renovated around late 2014. It looks like Terminal 6 will be fairly quiet but Terminal 3 will be busy since it is mostly Delta.

[billybob123]

Terminal 6 is United and is a zoo. The bright side for AC is that now United connections no longer require the parking lot shuffle and reclearing security. Westjet is the same for Delta, but will still require changing terminals for American connections.

[Drummer]

United will be moving to Terminals 7&8 so they will no longer be in 6.

[Bill Bumface]

LAX is awful.

"Here for a stopover? Ok, go for a walk on a narrow sidewalk for 1km to your next terminal, or sit in traffic on a hot bus. Remember that security thing you did a couple hours ago? Let's do it again! I hope your first flight wasn't delayed, or you are now officially screwed."

[Bigtime]

WestJet pilots have voted in favour (61%) of forming a union.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/west...nion-1.4110517

[Lubicon]

Well that should be interesting. Know a few guys there and they were very much not in favor so will be interesting to hear their take on it.

[calgarygeologist]

Upcoming negotiations between the pilots/union and Westjet will certainly be interesting. Westjet is going to be fighting hard. Hopefully this doesn't cause any disruptions or strikes because that would really suck for everyone at Westjet and all their passengers. Damn unions!

[speede5]

If Transport Canada wasn't in the stone age over duty time and/or Westjet was able to accommodate scheduling concerns this probably wouldn't have happened.

People need to know what the pilots concerns are and what the company response has been before they blame unions. From everything I've heard on this one it has very little to do with money. As a passenger I want to know that a qualified and rested crew is flying me around.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by speede5

If Transport Canada wasn't in the stone age over duty time and/or Westjet was able to accommodate scheduling concerns this probably wouldn't have happened.

People need to know what the pilots concerns are and what the company response has been before they blame unions. From everything I've heard on this one it has very little to do with money. As a passenger I want to know that a qualified and rested crew is flying me around.

Just taking a random guess, but I'd think Westjet prefers no seniority for scheduling because then all pilots are equally rated for placing on flights. It gives more flexibility to them, and it may even be safer with regard to duty times becuase the selection pool is deeper. If seniority gives pilots the ability to, say, only choose 5 day consecutive schedules then it removes them from being able to jump in on the one day trips that they hate so much.

Just a guess though.

[speede5]

The complaints I've heard haven't been about seniority but about scheduling/duty time.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Just taking a random guess, but I'd think Westjet prefers no seniority for scheduling because then all pilots are equally rated for placing on flights. It gives more flexibility to them, and it may even be safer with regard to duty times becuase the selection pool is deeper. If seniority gives pilots the ability to, say, only choose 5 day consecutive schedules then it removes them from being able to jump in on the one day trips that they hate so much.

Just a guess though.

I don't think the company really cares one way or another for scheduling, it really makes no difference. Flights are crewed regardless and you are still awarded a block for the month based on what the company builds in terms or lines/pairings. Lots of guys choose love one day pairings because they are home with their families every night. Others like longer pairings. You bid for what you want and then hope you get something close and pretty much are happy the majority of the time.

[Ryan Coke]

You know all those Americans that didn't vote for Trump, but still have to live with the results? That's what this is like for many pilots.

[Hockeyguy13]

This will be an improvement for WJ pilots and will benefit all pilots nationwide.

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy13

This will be an improvement for WJ pilots and will benefit all pilots nationwide.

Absolutely incorrect.

[Hockeyguy13]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Absolutely incorrect.

Only time will tell.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by speede5

If Transport Canada wasn't in the stone age over duty time and/or Westjet was able to accommodate scheduling concerns this probably wouldn't have happened.

People need to know what the pilots concerns are and what the company response has been before they blame unions. From everything I've heard on this one it has very little to do with money. As a passenger I want to know that a qualified and rested crew is flying me around.

Absolutely.

The question is: does a union increase the likelihood of those things?

I would need to be convinced.

[Bigtime]

Way back we were discussing how to track the 737 MAX and Airbus NEO models, Flightradar just put this out based on new ICAO designations:

https://blog.flightradar24.com/blog/...oeing-737-max/

[Bigtime]

WestJet's first 737 MAX8 at Renton:

Boeing 737 MAX 8 WestJet C-FRAX LN6384 by Huy Do, on Flickr

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

WestJet's first 737 MAX8 at Renton:

Boeing 737 MAX 8 WestJet C-FRAX LN6384 by Huy Do, on Flickr

Sweet. I can't wait to see that arrive in Calgary. It will be great to see the new bird.