Great Lakes

[jrmiller92]

I posted this question on AirlinePilotCentral about a week ago and just wanted to see what it would do on here. I currently only fly 1-2 a week on my current job and really want to step into something else. I was looking into GLA and was wondering what anyone thought of my chances with approx. 350TT/190 multi? I know pay sucks but I really would love to do the type of flying that GLA does and jumpstarting my career a little quicker wouldnt hurt either. Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BcPilot99]

I was always told that it was called great mistakes and to stay away...


Just my .02

 

[iflyjets4food]

Get a CFI and spend the other 5-6 days of your week instructing and building some total time.

 

[Knob]

In the past, mins were 500/100. I believe you have a chance if you have used an HSI. Loving the type of flying that Lakes does will wear off after you get your first paycheck and work 5 day trips back to back. With your TT, go CFI.

 

[jrmiller92]

Thanks for the info so far. I was planning on doing some instructing on the side, was just curious if I could make the jump as I stand now.

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

Great Lakes flies to neither The Great Lakes nor the Great Salt Lake. Carry on...

 

[Guitar Guy]

You're likely too low to get in at Lakes. I've known people who've gotten on there with low TT like your but they were already Lakes employees. If you are still wanting to get on with the bare minimums for flight time, you'll most likely need an internal rec from a current Laker.

According to their website, mins are 750 TT and 50 multi. You can find that info at: http://www.greatlakesav.com/Jobs/Pilots.htm

 

[DrunkIrishman]

I had less than 400tt and Tosty and Budda hired me. Best experience I've gained since I've been in aviation. Anyone that tells you different hasn't been a Laker!

 

[Muppets]

Here is the deal.....I would much rather work at Lakes than flight instruct. Your total time is a little low for Lakes..but you have a good amount of multi, which they like. The best part of Lakes is your logbook will get full very fast. The bad part....you will make more $ flight instructing. talking from current experience....flying at lakes is the most fun you will ever have flying 121. Pilots are tons of fun, gate agents are cool, and management....well, they are management. Send em your stuff, what the hell.

 

[kansas]

I had less than 400tt and Tosty and Budda hired me. Best experience I've gained since I've been in aviation. Anyone that tells you different hasn't been a Laker!

Verified. Several in my class had time FAR below posted minimums. Of course, they ALL had a current Laker walk in their goods. Even without a rec, you've got a lot of multi time, so if you want to come here, give it a shot, and keep looking for someone to recommend you.

 

[Rook]

Great Lakes flies to neither The Great Lakes nor the Great Salt Lake. Carry on...

Hey UB I think that Lakes used to have an ORD base on the 120 a few years ago.

 

[Muppets]

Yeah they use to fly 120s and 1900s out of ORD and MSP. Went to Mich, Ill, Minn, ND. Uncle Buckle was still getting the diapers changed back then...that is why he dosen't remember.

 

[lurker]

Actually Junior, the name Great Lakes refers to the Great Lakes of Iowa (Iowa has lakes?).

I was there for 2 years, and yes, the QOL sucked. however, I upgraded in 2 months, and after being there for less than 2 years, I had 1200+PIC and 2 types. it was the most fun 121 flying, as well as the most miserable 121 flying that I have done.

I also flight instructed for far longer than I would have liked, and given the option, I would pick lakes in a heartbeat over instruction. If I had gone to skywest or somewhere else instead of Lakes, I have no doubt that I would have been stuck at the regional level for far longer.

go to lakes, get your time, have fun, and move on to somewhere with a paycheck.

 

[Flex81]

I posted this question on AirlinePilotCentral about a week ago and just wanted to see what it would do on here. I currently only fly 1-2 a week on my current job and really want to step into something else. I was looking into GLA and was wondering what anyone thought of my chances with approx. 350TT/190 multi? I know pay sucks but I really would love to do the type of flying that GLA does and jumpstarting my career a little quicker wouldnt hurt either. Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

It is a funny thing, but the only people that will tell you not to go to Lakes are people that have never flown there. Lakes sucks but at the same time it is a lot of fun. As far as your situation goes, you would be a fool to continue flight instruction if you can get a twin turbine 121 job (this, my friend is a no-brainer). So I say throw in your app. Your multi time is high enough and you may get lucky. If you get hired you can bail after 15 months or you can upgrade. I chose to upgrade and get the PIC time...hopefully it pays off.

 

[Hawker dude]

Actually Junior, the name Great Lakes refers to the Great Lakes of Iowa (Iowa has lakes?).

I was there for 2 years, and yes, the QOL sucked. however, I upgraded in 2 months, and after being there for less than 2 years, I had 1200+PIC and 2 types. it was the most fun 121 flying, as well as the most miserable 121 flying that I have done.

I also flight instructed for far longer than I would have liked, and given the option, I would pick lakes in a heartbeat over instruction. If I had gone to skywest or somewhere else instead of Lakes, I have no doubt that I would have been stuck at the regional level for far longer.

go to lakes, get your time, have fun, and move on to somewhere with a paycheck.

Dude, Iowa has like one lake. Lakes HQ used to be in Spencer Iowa. where the he*l is that? anyone, anyone, anyone.....

 

[skypine69]

spencer iowa is right down the road from $hithole, iowa. however, it is also a $hithole. if you never have to spend time in spencer, iowa, consider yourself lucky. never go there for any reason. never think about going there for any reason. never look at it on the map and wonder how to get there. never look at it as you fly over it. (well, its always cloudy so you wouldnt be able to see it anyway.) never ever ever go to spencer iowa. do i make myself clear?

 

[schafjet]

Dude, Iowa has like one lake. Lakes HQ used to be in Spencer Iowa. where the he*l is that? anyone, anyone, anyone.....

Check your map dude, you're a pilot right? Check just north of Spencer, IA, which is in the Northwest part of IA. There is your lakes, Lake Okoboji, Spirit Lake. Great Lakes Airlines got it's name shuffling people back and forth to this hot lake vacation spot from Des Moines and other IA cities such as Storm Lake, IA (another lake in IA) in Beech 99's and Barons. Great Lakes has nothing to do with the Great Lakes like Michigan or Superior, although in the 90's we did a lot of flying around the Great Lakes.

I do agree with Skypine69, don't go if you don't have to, hated that place. Probably for different reasons though .

 

[skyta]

They don't call it Great Mistakes for nothing according to Chuck Norris.

 

[Hawker dude]

Check your map dude, you're a pilot right? Check just north of Spencer, IA, which is in the Northwest part of IA. There is your lakes, Lake Okoboji, Spirit Lake. Great Lakes Airlines got it's name shuffling people back and forth to this hot lake vacation spot from Des Moines and other IA cities such as Storm Lake, IA (another lake in IA) in Beech 99's and Barons. Great Lakes has nothing to do with the Great Lakes like Michigan or Superior, although in the 90's we did a lot of flying around the Great Lakes.

I do agree with Skypine69, don't go if you don't have to, hated that place. Probably for different reasons though .

Dude, let me help you out here. i was joking. duh. i think anyone that knows anything about lakes (ones that hold water) has heard of lake okoboji. and i have been through spencer, again a joke. just like you and great lakes, a joke.

 

[schafjet]

Dude, let me help you out here. i was joking. duh. i think anyone that knows anything about lakes (ones that hold water) has heard of lake okoboji. and i have been through spencer, again a joke. just like you and great lakes, a joke.

Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry, I didn't pick up on your jocularity, it's so easy to pick up sarcasm on this forum. Skypine69 must not have picked up on it either if you read his post. You're too funny, now I get it. I get the one that I'm a joke like lakes too, oh that's a good one. I won't take that as sarcasm. I gotta go sit down now and rest, my stomach hurts so much from laughing. Ohhh you're funny!

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

Wow, now that I ruffled so many feathers, just to set it straight:
Great Lakes began as Spirit Lake Airways (based in Spirit Lake, IA) in 1977, and changed their name in 1979 after expanding into the Iowa Great Lakes region of N.W. Iowa. (Straight from the horse's a$$, err...mouth...company web page, that is).
/end thread hijack :0

 

[rfa]

If I am not mistaken, they don't pay for training or a roof over your head. On top of that, they pay you peanuts after training.

Do yourself (and your fellow pilots) a favor and don't go there. You will be amazed how fast interview offers come - two or three months of time building won't hurt you. With 190 multi all you really need is 500-600 TT to get an interview at a way better outfit.

...only thing that will change the situation in those ********************ty outfits is a pilot shortage.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Food 4 thought...

I heard Alaska now requires 1000 turbojet PIC. If that is true, than I guess they had better send back all the Lakers they've hired over the years. Oh yeah, Southwest wants 1300 PIC turbine instead of the famous 1000. Guess you'll be stuck at Lakes for an extra 3 months.

Anyway, GLA is still better than any flight instructing job.

 

[jrmiller92]

Thanks for all the input...even the off subject ones. But I think I am going to save up a little $$ and then put my app in right after the holidays and see what happens. I am not looking to get tied up at a regional for 4 or 5 years. I just want to get some time and get out. I think GLA would be the place to do that and improve my skills at the same time.

 

[gt1900]

Don't listen to anyone who bashes GLA who hasn't spent their time there. I will guarantee you, you will never find a flying job thats more fun than Lakes... Ok. If you don't drink, like to party, and go to the best friggen Halloween party west of the Mississippi (thanks BW) then don't go. Go fly the shiny RJ that all these dumb @sses at "real regional" airlines have a hardon for (that comment is for the guys who fly RJ's and tell people they fly a jet for UAL, CAL, DAL, ect. that leave out the "express", "connection", "airlink" portion of the job. Also the guys who wear their uniforms to get grocery's on thier way home from work and the first comment out of their mouths at a bar is "I'm an airline pilot".).. Now, if your goal is to get to a major or LCC, then go to lakes and have fun. Just don't expect it to be a great company to work for. The pay and the schedules suck, but the people, well, you will never find a better group of people in the airlines.. DO NOT listen to the people that say "go to a real regional airline". I guarantee you that if you go to Lakes, those guys at good regionals will be your FO's at your next airline. However, if your goal isn't to make it to the Majors's/LCC's as quickly as possible, Don't go. It is not an airline to make a carreer (unlike some of the better regionals where you could theoretically retire). Lakes is what it is, and if you understand that going in, you will be very happy and have a blast. I miss those days flying TEX and 1800 RVR approaches into DEN.

 

[Muppets]

God Damn....couldnt have said it better myself. Im speechless! gt1900 rocks!

 

[pgcfii2002]

So what is Lakes competitive mins like?

 

[Muppets]

If you know someone at Lakes, it seems like around 500/50. All new hires have internal rec

 

[McNugget]

Check your map dude, you're a pilot right? Check just north of Spencer, IA, which is in the Northwest part of IA. There is your lakes, Lake Okoboji, Spirit Lake. Great Lakes Airlines got it's name shuffling people back and forth to this hot lake vacation spot from Des Moines and other IA cities such as Storm Lake, IA (another lake in IA) in Beech 99's and Barons. Great Lakes has nothing to do with the Great Lakes like Michigan or Superior, although in the 90's we did a lot of flying around the Great Lakes.

I do agree with Skypine69, don't go if you don't have to, hated that place. Probably for different reasons though .

Lake Okoboji is friggin awesome.

 

[Trogdor]

By the way, Lakes will put you up in a hotel during initial. It is true that you don't get paid till after your checkride. Plus, due to standard pay practices, there is about a two week lag. So the moral to this story is, save up enough to survive for 6-7 weeks without any income if you go to Lakes.