TradeWinds

[NoahWerka]

Anybody know anything about TradeWinds Airlines out of GSO? Did a search, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of info on them.

 

[CSY Mon]

There should be plenty of postings on this forum about Tradewinds (TDX)

Try that search again....

 

[80for80]

A buddy of mine's friend was a 747 captain there. Last week he just up an quit Tradewinds. He got a job outside of aviation. If a guy is willing to quit a 747 captain job, that should tell you something about the type of operation Tradewinds is.

 

[CSY Mon]

that should tell you something about the type of operation Tradewinds is.

So what type of operation is it?

Curious minds would like to know.

 

[NoahWerka]

Interrviewed with them today. Normal stuff. The only news is that the previous mgt.crowd hired a bunch of low time pilots. Some of them can't even upgrade for a while. Now they are looking for experienced pilots in the 9-18k hour range to bring the average TT of their pilots up. Three days of interviews with 4-5 prospective new-hires each day for a pilot pool. Primiarily looking for 47 pilots, but they will expand their Airbus fleet soon. They e-mail a bunch of forms to fill out, so the paper work is just a quick check to make sure everything is filled out correctly. Then a 2 on 1 talk with the CP and Asst.CP, and a 1 on 1 with the DO. They expect to start a class in July.

 

[mushroom]

Well that's good news for those of us who work there, anyway. More hiring is always good. Also I have never heard of anything called an "assistant chief pilot." Do you mean a program manager?

 

[big_al]

47 pilots??? where did this come from? They have always been a small operation and just lost a 742

 

[cargoflyr69]

I also thought they had guys on furlough...

 

[PlaneDrvr]

47 pilots??? where did this come from? They have always been a small operation and just lost a 742

Not sure, but I believe that he said that they are looking for "47 pilots" that means that they are looking for 'B-747 pilots' and not that they are looking for "47" individual pilots. Duh!

Good thing that he did not say, they are looking for "74 pilots" (as I have also heard it referenced), then you would think that they were doing some Big Time Hiring. lol

I believe it is just 'pilot shorthand'

 

[CRACKHEAD]

Big time hiring.

PlaneDrvr,

Did you say 74 pilots?!? Well, heck I better get my stuff in to them quick!

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

PlaneDrvr,

Did you say 74 pilots?!? Well, heck I better get my stuff in to them quick!

No No No..I saw 747 pilots!! They must be buying KAL!!!!!!!

 

[NoahWerka]

Well that's good news for those of us who work there, anyway. More hiring is always good. Also I have never heard of anything called an "assistant chief pilot." Do you mean a program manager?

Never really found out what his function was, so I used that term loosely.

They are looking for Boeing 747 pilots, not 47(the #) pilots. Currently have 7(the #) pilots on furlough. Planning on adding 6 crews.

 

[Thedude]

Noah, I think I may have waltz through the office when you where filling out paperwork and I was on a fishing expedition. You intereviewed with the chief pilot and the 747 program manager. I understood that 8 crews where to be hired, might be a little wrong that could be 6. But we are going to grow the pilot group in any event.
Outta curosity, what are you quals since you where told we have such a low TT pilot group (I heard the same thing but I pretty sure it was in refrence to something else.)

80for80,
The capt in question has personal reasons other than the company.

 

[Flybet3]

A buddy of mine's friend was a 747 captain there. Last week he just up an quit Tradewinds. He got a job outside of aviation. If a guy is willing to quit a 747 captain job, that should tell you something about the type of operation Tradewinds is.

Never really heard anything bad about this place...I mean, if you dont mind being gone for a good amount of days. It always seemed to be a good operation.

 

[CSY Mon]

if you dont mind being gone for a good amount of days. It always seemed to be a good operation.

Now that is funny:

TDX gives ya more days OFF than any other company I have worked for.
Are ya thinking of the Connie boys, or perhaps Southern? Them guys are gone for longer than the TDX boys..

I was on a fishing expedition.

Looks ya ya caught something: Yer name is on the August Domicile Awards.

 

[CWI]

CSY Mon,

Good point indeed.

I've been home 6 days since May 20th, and have only worked on 3 of my days off.

That was June 1st, 2nd and 3rd to cover a pop up charter for the earthquaker victims in Java.

CWI

 

[Draginass]

One guy I know there told me that TDX has a severe attrition problem on the 747 side. Something on the order of 40%. Many have left to go to Focus, Southern, and Kallitta. That blown-up engine and hull loss in Medellin in combo with losing crews to other 747 companies makes you wonder what's going on there.

 

[CSY Mon]

The official atrition over @ TDX is 45% on the 747 side.

With crew scheduling trying to screw guys over days off and pay issues, not many crew members see a future for themselfs.

If one fights hard enough, results can be had, but guys are tired of fighting for their basic rights. And rightly so.

Top managment are also tired of guys leaving in droves and have promised changes...

We shall see, it can't get any worse considering the August bid lines....

 

[NoahWerka]

Noah, I think I may have waltz through the office when you where filling out paperwork and I was on a fishing expedition. You intereviewed with the chief pilot and the 747 program manager. I understood that 8 crews where to be hired, might be a little wrong that could be 6. But we are going to grow the pilot group in any event.
Outta curosity, what are you quals since you where told we have such a low TT pilot group (I heard the same thing but I pretty sure it was in refrence to something else.)

80for80,
The capt in question has personal reasons other than the company.

121 Capt. current on the 737. 17,000hrs.

 

[federico]

With all that flight time what would you ever come here. 121 capt 737. 17,000 to come to the second generation whale.