I do not have any new information, but as a TPA planner (on my weekend, so a bit out of the loop) here is what I know from over the past few days:
1) The whole computer fiasco. TPA disappears from the computers and no one has a straight answer why. The Foreman are entirely out of the loop.
2) The TPA closing rumor has been around for years, but management always would kill it quick. This time, silence.
3) Sudden and extreme planner cuts. The Planning staff was nailed with a substantial layoff about two weeks ago. After the cuts of last year, the planning department was understaffed - the latest cuts were to a skeleton crew of floor planners. Four days a week, only one planner for three airplanes on 1st and 2nd shift. I got bumped and took the furlough, effective in a little over a week.
4) Strange scheduling changes. They were bringing in an Airbus for a day or two, to complete 3 or 4 overnight (one-shift) C-checks. Very unusual. Possibly to get some green time built in for a disruption in the overnight checks?
5) A lack of visual progress for the S checks. As of three weeks ago, Larry Montford (TPA Director of Maintenence) was insisting that the S checks were on their way. However, there was absolutely no work happening towards that goal, with the exception of some rather nebulous planning. Also, if the S checks were coming, the planning cuts would have been absurd - since they would need all the people laid off and more to staff the new work.
6) Lastly, NOT TO START A RUMOR THIS IS JUST CONJECTURE!! There apparently has been quite a few clients interested in the TPA facility. FedEx, who bought our IND hangar (identical to TPA) is building a huge sorting facility across the street. There is also a construction project of unknown purpose next door to the hangar. There have also been rumors that DL and WN have been interested. WN is building a brand new WN only terminal in TPA, starting in 2003. They could be a potential client. DL has a hangar next door to US, but with their financial problems right now, I doubt they'd be a serious candidate. Then, there is the unlikely possibility that the hangar might remain as a line facility, for US.
Thanks to the years of working night shift, I haven't been able to sleep tonight. I'll keep checking the local newswires and let you know if I hear anything official. You know that it's official US Airways policy that employees need to hear bad news on the news before they hear it from work!