I'm not sure if I'm doing this right ... I've never "blogged" before. Not my thing.


But I'm having trouble sleeping at night and I thought writing my thoughts down might help.


I'm proud to be an AirTran pilot. I was excited to get hired and I love going to work.


But on September 27th I was ecstatic about NOT being an AirTran pilot. That was when we learned that we were being bought by Southwest Airlines. Again, I'm proud of what I've done in aviation, and I like working for AirTran, but Southwest ...


The ramifications of this announcement were staggering: not just the pay difference, but the whole future changed! We had JUST approved a strike vote, and were headed for a showdown with management. Instead, on September 27th we learned that we were being bought by the most profitable, secure and labor friendly airline on the planet. No more non stop contract violations, no more wondering if the best career move was to stay or go ... I won't go as far as to say "the promised land". But, well, it was really good news.


Now I wonder. Last week we saw that all of our new airplanes are going to SWA. Of course this makes sense, we were purchased and are going to be Southwest Airlines, why paint new airplanes in our colors? But shouldn't we (the pilots) be going with those airplanes? It is starting to look like we are years away from being Southwest Airlines pilots ... It makes me nervous.