THE PILOTS OFA L PA 2 012

ompass began oper­- has undergone consolida- agement plan to exchange ations on May 2, tion, Compass Airlines has openers this November. In C2007, as a Northwest experienced some growth, and preparation, the pilot leaders Airlink operator, flying a single Barnhart expects to see ap- will spool up their negotiat- Bombardier CRJ200. But dur- proximately 40 new hires this ing structure and begin the ing the airline’s brief tenure, year. However, with change process of educating members Compass Airlines pilots have comes the occasional conflict. about what collective bargain- One of the pilot group’s ing entails. The MEC will also biggest concerns is resolving survey its members to gauge issues regarding training for contract priorities. Compass air transport pilot certificates The Compass pilots and pilot-in-command type recently elected new leaders. Pilots Keep witnessed their fair share of ratings. In January 2011, the Capts. Daniel Schultz, Michael change. Pilots who started with FAA rescinded the company’s Hafemann, and Justin Berg Their Focus the airline four-and-a-half years ability to issue these ratings will assume their roles as By John Perkinson ago have watched its oper- based on recent changes the MEC officers on March 1. Staff Writer ating certificate pass from airline had made to these In addition, these pilots will to Delta Air programs. In September, the represent seniority blocks Lines to Trans States Holdings. FAA restored the airline’s of the pilot members, which ability to issue the ratings include pilots domiciled in after it instituted an upgraded both Detroit and Minneapolis. curriculum the FAA approved. Barnhart notes that But management has been 2011 was the airline’s first slow to reinstate the training. full year with Trans States Consequently, the MEC filed Holdings. Following Delta’s a group grievance to ensure purchase of Northwest, that 70 of its members receive Delta sold Compass to Trans the training they are due, States Holdings in July 2010. per the collective bargaining Barnhart says that with this agreement. The MEC hopes to change, there has been more A Comair These days, the airline serves settle this matter soon. pressure “to wring efficiencies aircraft gets deiced before as a Delta Connection carrier The pilots are also out of the operation.” taxiing. and maintains a fleet of 36 concentrating on the flow- But despite the ownership Embraer 175s and 6 Embraer through agreement they have switch and the changing 170s. with Delta, which enables Compass landscape, Barnhart Throughout this transition, Compass pilots to flow says that “in terms of the day- the Compass pilots have up to the mainline carrier to-day operations, it’s been managed to maintain their during hiring phases. Delta business as usual.” focus on the demands of terminated this arrangement their operation. “We enjoy a after it sold Compass to Trans decent working relationship States, but the pilots on the CPZ at a Glance with Compass management,” seniority list at the time were n Founded: Compass Airlines was says Capt. Vince Barnhart, the “grandfathered,” enabling created as a Northwest Airlines subsidiary pilot group’s Master Executive them to continue to transi- and began operations on May 2, 2007 n Pilots joined ALPA: 2007 tion to Delta. Approximately Council (MEC) chairman. “We n Sale and acquisition: On July 1, don’t necessarily agree on 350 of the current 418 pilots 2010, sold Compass everything, but both parties on the current Compass to Trans States Holdings, Inc., which keep an open-door policy.” pilot seniority list have flow- announced it would operate Compass This approach to com- through rights at Delta. separately from its other airlines n Number of pilots: 418 Compass pilots will soon munications and the pilots’ n Operations: Compass operates collective resilience and flex- shift their attention to con- more than 170 flights daily throughout ibility have allowed them to tract negotiations, which are the United States and Canada as Delta adapt to the airline’s shifting slated to begin later this year. Connection business model during the The pilots’ collective bargain- n Pilot bases: Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Detroit, Mich. ing agreement does not downturn in the economy and n Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minn. a turbulent airline industry. At become amendable until April n Fleet: 36 Embraer E175s, 6 Embraer a time when domestic flying 2013, but the pilots and man- E170s

January/February 2012 Air Line Pilot 35