Class Dates at Southern Air and Focus

[dakotaHC8]

Well, its just my opinion, but what kind of flying you accomplished matters a lot too.

If you have international and/or over water experience, they like that. Having flown cargo (and thus being used to the enviorment is a plus. Remember that some of our senior guys came over from the C-130 (from when the company was Southern Air Transport), so "just" prop time is not a total hit.

Like I said, it's just my own personal observation, good luck.

 

[Trogdor]

So do Captain Qual'd FO's make CA or FO pay?

 

[pilotbrain]

fo pay when they fly as fo, capt pay when they fly as a capt. just like every where else that has cqfo

 

[2Green]

What are the chances for someone to get hired at Southern with no "large" or "Heavy" jet time. Basically all tp time.

I'll say good. I was offered a job with only B1900 and Dash 8 f/o time. I turned it down because of the bond.

 

[ERJFO]

Well, its just my opinion, but what kind of flying you accomplished matters a lot too.

If you have international and/or over water experience, they like that. Having flown cargo (and thus being used to the enviorment is a plus. Remember that some of our senior guys came over from the C-130 (from when the company was Southern Air Transport), so "just" prop time is not a total hit.

Like I said, it's just my own personal observation, good luck.

I'm not trying to be rude - but how hard is the interview? How many people don't get hired? The reason I ask is because it sounds like they hire everyone. I hear alot of "have a pulse? you're hired" when it comes to SA. I guess this is just grapevine, so whats the real deal?

 

[pilotbrain]

I worked for SAI before I left to cargo 360, now I’m back at SA. Anyways when I interview you had to be recommended by someone in the company, that why most interviewees get hired. Now from what I hear, they are doing sim rides so not everyone is getting hired anymore.

 

[unwashed]

Dude,
If you aren't Ken, Pete, John, Jin, Mitch, Eric, Arlene, Greg, Mark, Dave, or Scott then you never worked for C360 as a pilot. None of the people mentioned worked for SAI prior to C360, who are you and why do keep this charade going. The only three people at C360 who flew the 400 did all of it in the SIM Jerry, Pat, and Warren. None of the aforementioned people are in the pool at UPS. Soooooooooo who are you?

 

[dakotaHC8]

I'm not trying to be rude - but how hard is the interview? How many people don't get hired? The reason I ask is because it sounds like they hire everyone. I hear alot of "have a pulse? you're hired" when it comes to SA. I guess this is just grapevine, so whats the real deal?

Well, I know they did not hire a fair number of the people in my interview class two years ago. And I know that they are trying to screen people better with a basic sim ride included in the process. But I would not describe the process as difficult, as IMO they tend to look for someone that will fit into the operation more than anything else. You are either a good fit, or you are not.

I would also agree that a rec from a current Southern Pilot or Engineer goes a long way towards getting hired here. Things in this part of the industry are probably more like the corporate community (than airlines), as it seems that the cargo community tends to have a lot of "people that know people" kind of hiring going on... Many of the people at Southern have been at other cargo operators (and visa versa), and came over to us simply on the advice of a former coworker.

I'll be honest. If there is a bunch of cargo guys looking for a job due to a recent failure, furlough, or financial meltdown of another cargo outfit(s) you will have a slim chance getting on at Southern, as that is the "preferred" kind of Pilot + PFE. But if that pool of canidates is dry, then the obvious next choice is the thousands of RJ pilots out there.

Like I said before, it comes back to what kind of person is a good fit for the operation. Former cargo guys are more used to the different kind of operations that Southern does, and the hours at which we do em. But that does not preclude a RJ driver from getting on, and doing well at Southern. Just that like most things in this job, timing is very important. Right now is a great time, because all airlines are having a tougher time finding experienced pilots.

I'll be blunt, the pilot shortage is real, and is felt more at this level, esp when the company is expanding so fast. So as a result, it is easier to get on with a growing operation like Southern right now than the more static operations.

BTW, thanks for taking the time to ask instead of just going with what some person might have heard some guy say.

FYI, straight up, most of the ACMI cargo flying is pretty much the same, with minor differences that even things out. Anyone that tells you differently either doesn't know better, or ignores reality so that they can feel better about themselves (and what they are doing).

When you honestly talk to someone that flies for Evergreen, Tradewinds, Focus, World, Atlas, Polar, (and so on) you find that each outfit has it's plusses and minuses...

And when you add them all together all of these places are pretty much alike. Much like how M+M's mostly taste the same when you get down to it, despite whatever color coating they happen to have on the outside... ACMI operations are purposefully kept pretty close to even

Southern's "outer" flavor is a tough schedule + soft work rules, tied to a home basing + quick advancement.... But at it's core it "tastes" the same as any other ACMI outfit (much like working + getting hired at most regionals is generally the same as any other regional) . It's just the nature of the job...

So good luck. If you want something different than the regionals, ACMI flying will sure provide that.

Good luck.

 

[avbug]

Pilotbrain was thoroughly discredited here...

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=105613

He or she is what's commonly referred to as a "troll."

 

[pilotbrain]

Or mabey just mabey there is more then one person using pilotbrain as a handle.