New OCC/SOC where will it be?

[Career Reserve]

Feb 21, 2007 8:47 am US/Eastern

Report: Region Wins US Airways Flight Center
The center would save 450 jobs and create 150 new jobs
(KDKA) PITTSBURGH KDKA has learned Pittsburgh has beat out Phoenix, Arizona and Charlotte, North Carolina, in a bidding war for a new $25 million US Airways flight operations center.

The center would save 450 jobs and create 150 new jobs.

The city and county offered $16.25 million in tax credits, loans and grants to the airline, while Phoenix reportedly offered $36 million in incentives.

Both the Airport Authority and Allegheny County have identified four possible locations for the center – three of which would require new construction.

All of the locations are on Airport Authority-owned property.

Ron Hartman, operations manager for the airline’s Findlay facility, says they are excited.

“Well everyone’s relieved on that aspect. We’re relieved that we know where, you know, how to go on with our lives, you know that the jobs will say here,â€￾ he told KDKA’s John Cater.

An internal memo that will make the announcement official is expected to be passed out to employees between 10:30am -11am.

US Airways executives are expected to make the official announcement sometime this afternoon.


http://kdka.com/local/local_story_052061324.html

 

[soc-hpjester]

The question is. Why won't the company announce anything ?

 

[pit_needs_help]

1030am eastern time.

 

[AstroLounge]

pittsburg?
:down: :down: :down: :down:

My sentiments exactly.........I couldn't wait to get out of there! If its true, start singing "Gray skies will NEVER clear Up"......miserable horrible weather, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! :down:

 

[Whatnow?]

Good news for PIT.....I for one am glad that PIT was chosen....it's much easier to stay focused on the LARGER part of the operation with the OCC center on the East side. Does makes sense!

 

[FlightChic]

I know.... Hard to believe huh? Someone MUST have had a talk with her. She's usually nice to me. I joke around with the schedulers a lot though. I am sure some F/A's can be really hard to deal with on the flip side. Working with some, imagine trying to be the scheduler who's only trying to do their job.

Scheduling is usually nice to me. I have heard how mean the two ladies with the names of states are, but I have never had a problem except once when I wanted to get released early. Scheduling did release me but acted like they were pissed off at me for wanting to go home after sitting around for a week and not getting a trip. They yelled into the phone in a really nasty voice "YOUR RELEASED!" Then I heard a loud CLICK. Georgia has been very nice to me on the phone. I think our schedulers are a lot nicer than what they used to be. They will call and ask how I am doing and what I am up to and we actually have a real conversation! OMG they are human! LOL! You still have to know your contract and legalities so you don't get screwed, and even when I call them on it they just say "OK" without trying to argue because they know they are wrong.

 

[us0004us]

The question is. Why won't the company announce anything ?

they dont seem proud of this decision.
sounds like they are embarressed.

 

[soc-hpjester]

RIGHT...... NOW ITS OFFICIAL 🙁

 

[Whatnow?]

Embarrassed by this decision....why? They have other things to be embarrassed by.....umm hello! 🙄 There has never been a major announcement that hasn't made the media first.....I'm sure the official announcement is forthcoming today.

 

[PowerUpPowerDown]

Embarrassed by this decision....why? They have other things to be embarrassed by.....umm hello! 🙄 There has never been a major announcement that hasn't made the media first.....I'm sure the official announcement is forthcoming today.

ITS OFFICIAL.....IT ON THE HUB

 

[Itestwell]

Embarrassed by this decision....why? They have other things to be embarrassed by.....umm hello! 🙄 There has never been a major announcement that hasn't made the media first.....I'm sure the official announcement is forthcoming today.

If you are referring to the inflight product, they are most certainly *NOT* embarrassed or ashamed in the least.

In the recent Crew News Session (2/14/07), DP explains that the A321 reconfigures will proceeed as planned, and the addition of *18*, yes 18 seats added to the A321 will not affect performance in markets like PHL-SEA one bit. Also, he stated that US1's will not see a lower percentage of cleared upgrades, either. The A321 will have almost the exact same amount of total seats as the 757. And again, they claim no performance issues with the new A321 at all.

What's to be embarrassed about? 😱

 

[JAMAKE1]

The question is. Why won't the company announce anything ?

Press Release Source: US Airways

US Airways Selects Pittsburgh for Its Combined Flight Operations Control Center
Wednesday February 21, 11:00 am ET

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways (NYSE: LCC - News) has selected a site at Pittsburgh International Airport for its new $25 million, 60,000 square foot flight operations control center. Approximately 600 aviation professionals will eventually be housed at the new facility, which will be the nerve center of US Airways' 1,400 daily mainline flights.

"We gave careful consideration to proposals from Phoenix, Charlotte and Pittsburgh, and all three cities gave compelling reasons to consider those proposals. However, we chose Pittsburgh for a variety of reasons, including the impact of relocating experienced employees from the Pittsburgh area and the amount of value created for US Airways in the Pittsburgh proposal. We were particularly impressed with the outstanding commitment of, and cooperation between, city, county and state officials to this project. These cooperative efforts do not occur without strong leadership," said Scott Kirby, US Airways' president.

"We appreciate the hard work of many individuals who made today's announcement possible, including Governor Ed Rendell; Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky; Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato; Allegheny County Economic Development Director Dennis Davin; Allegheny County Airport Authority Chairman Glenn Mahone; Allegheny County Airport Authority Executive Director Kent George; the entire Allegheny County Airport Authority and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development Executive Director Michael Langley.

"We are also very appreciative of the efforts of state and local officials in Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C., but believe the decision to expand our existing operation at Pittsburgh is the best operational and financial choice for our people and our airline," Kirby said.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell said, "US Airways decision to consolidate their Operations Center in Pittsburgh is tremendously good news for Pittsburgh and the entire commonwealth -- I am absolutely thrilled they chose Pennsylvania. The dedicated workforce, the attractiveness of the region and hard work of everyone who contributed to this effort should be credited for what is a major boost for Pittsburgh, and the entire region."

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said, "We're pleased that US Airways has chosen to locate its combined operations control center in Allegheny County, and we look forward to years of continued partnership with the airline. Today's announcement is also further proof that Allegheny County is a great place to do business. My administration will continue to work with other companies as they look to expand and bring jobs to our county."

Allegheny County Airport Authority Chairman Glenn Mahone said, "US Airways' new operations control center will be an asset to our community. We anticipate a great working relationship as we move forward to successfully complete this project."

US Airways merged with America West in fall 2005 and sought proposals last summer from Pittsburgh, Phoenix and Charlotte for a new combined operations center. Currently, US Airways operates an operations center in Pittsburgh (for US Airways) and Phoenix (for America West). Charlotte, which does not have an operations center, is the airline's largest hub and has several support facilities there, including flight training and maintenance facilities.

Kirby noted that US Airways has created more than 1,100 jobs in the Phoenix area since the US Airways-America West merger, and has relocated some airline functions, such as crew member training, to the hub airport at Charlotte.

Kirby stated, "We're delighted that the US Airways-America West merger has created jobs across the country, and especially pleased that we can preserve jobs in the Pittsburgh area."

Full terms of the airline's bid analysis will not be disclosed; however, the new center will be a specially designed, newly constructed facility with more than 60,000 square feet located on a 10-acre site.

Groundbreaking for the project is slated for later this year. The first day of full operation is scheduled in early 2009.

The new flight operations control center will have workspace for more than 600 professional employees who plan, track and handle US Airways' flights. The airline's Flight Dispatch, Maintenance Operations Control, Crew Scheduling, System Customer Service, Operations Engineering Groups along with administrative support will be located at the new facility. Some of these workgroups will retain some positions in Phoenix.

US Airways' heritage runs deep in Pittsburgh, dating back to 1939 when All American Aviation, later known as Allegheny Airlines, USAir and US Airways, began its first air service. Today, US Airways employs more than 2,700 aviation professionals in Pittsburgh and operates nearly 150 flights to 52 non-stop destinations from Pittsburgh International Airport.

US Airways is the fifth largest domestic airline employing more than 37,000 aviation professionals worldwide. US Airways, US Airways Shuttle and US Airways Express operate approximately 3,800 flights per day and serve more than 230 communities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The new US Airways -- the product of a merger between America West and US Airways in September 2005 -- is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers our customers 16,000 daily flights to 855 destinations in 155 countries worldwide. This press release and additional information on US Airways can be found at www.usairways.com. (LCCG)

-Fly with US-


Source: US Airways

 

[Whatnow?]

And again, they claim no performance issues with the new A321 at all.

What's to be embarrassed about? 😱

No performance issues until the first flight to the West Coast is flown....it's going to be another A-320 guaranteed! Apologies to employees and FF's to follow!

 

[Itestwell]

Press Release Source: US Airways

US Airways Selects Pittsburgh for Its Combined Flight Operations Control Center
Wednesday February 21, 11:00 am ET

Congrats, PIT! Hope this puts some employees fears to rest....

 

[delldude]

Yuns need to learn how to spell it real good...it's Pittsburgh!!!!

Picksburgh?