ACA, should I go?

[N813CA]

I am trying to decide if I should stay at Piedmont and hope US Air survives or go to ACA. Does anyone have any info on ACA? Thanks

 

[ATRCA]

Not sure I would want to have Blue airplane right now. Tough decision though. What about something a bit furthur up the food chain like AirTran or something like that?

Good luck.

 

[chperplt]

I think the question is wheather or not Piedmont is going to stay or go. I don't think US Airways is going anywhere.

They may not be profitable for a while, but we've seen a large number of airlines survive quite well for years without being profitable.

If US Airways wants to get rid of props completely and not budge on the current WO/RJ issue, it might be a good idea to jump ship.

Good luck

 

[N813CA]

chperplt-

Thanks, Ya its a tough decision. Been here for 2 years have a house ect..... I guess I will probably just ride it out

 

[JTrain]

USAirways is a sinking ship.

It would suck to give you your PDT seniority to come to ACA, but thats making the most of a bad situation. Here at ACA, I've met several refugees from other regionals who are in training with us right now; CommutAir, Colgan, Great Lakes, Trans States, even Eagle.

At least at ACA, we're growing, aircraft are on order, upgrades are on the forseable future..... If Airways bites the dust, there is going to be one huge surplus of pilots. It would probably be in your best interest to come to ACA. Plus I'm sure we could use somebody with your 121 background.

JTrain

 

[chperplt]

USAirways is a sinking ship.

I find it quite humorous when people say that.

You're basing your statement on what? Are you saying that a company in financial trouble can't survive? What are your educated reasons for saying this?

Just because a company is losing money, has labor problems, has a multitude of other issues to deal with, in no way means the coroner is about to sign the death certificate. If you want to keep this is aviation, look at the history books and see how aviation evolved. Look at how many times Continental has filed bankruptcy and revived itself into a strong airline.

Let's look outside aviation in today's world. Worldcom is a much worse situation than US Airways. They have more employees and are in much more debt. They filed for bankruptcy protection but are still operating and aren't in any immediate danger of going out of business.

With reorganization US Airways will be a strong airline once again. As someone who non revs on US Airways, I can tell you that flights are pretty full most of the time. US Airways has a good foundation to build itself back up on.

ACA has built itself completely on the foundation of UAL and DAL. What do you think will happen to you when either of those two shift the majority of flying back to the mainline in a year or two? If anything ever happened to either of those two carriers, ACA would have some serious troubles.

 

[ATRCA]

ChperPlt:

You said:

"With reorganization US Airways will be a strong airline once again. "

When was US Airway EVER a strong airline?

I think there is a difference between Airways and Worldcom.

Worldcom has a product people want. A product that is not a commodity. Airways has a poor product that is not competative unless their costs are lower than the competition and therefore their product is cheaper. A cheaper product will not keep Airways in business much longer. Time will tell and this is by no means a slam on Airways employees.

One of my best freinds in on furlough from Airways and even he is thinkin about movine on. We'll see.

 

[Beavis]

Split ASAP.....you will NEVER upgrade at Piedmont, as the fleet will keep shrinking until you are gone....and then you'll wish you had left years before!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

It's a no-brainer, get the hell out of the USAir system as soon as possible!

ACA is a good airline. They were my first interview, and I would be flying with them now if they hired me.

Other options:
ATA
USA Jet Airlines
Kalitta
(the last 2 are cargo out of YIP-Detroit)

Cliff
GRB

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I forgot. TSA is interviewing starting in Nov. I was with them through my sim check (mine was 9.12) and I liked them.

Cliff
GRB

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I just read on another thread that Air WI is rumored to start hiring in Oct/Nov. AWAC is ALMOST as good as a major. Get out of the USAir system ASAP!

CLiff
GRB

 

[N813CA]

rumor has it that when US Air goes belly up that Piedmont has investors that are going to buy them and then make them a new airline on the east coast. What do you guys think of this idea?

 

[Beavis]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight!

 

[c152]

It is a very hard call to give up senority. I am in a similar situation and if the call came from ACA I would jump ship for a couple of reasons.

1. I want to be on a property that has jets. PDT, PSA and ALG do not have them. We all know that jets are the future.

2. Do you trust our buddy, Dave (Seigel) to look out for us? I do not!!! Oh, but he did give us free term passes. I am just waiting to see what that will cost us?

3. Does the Mainline care if the Jets go to Mesa or PDT, PSA, ALG? I have heard Chautauqua is getting more 20 ERJ's by DEC. (Rumor I don't know) All they care is that they go to the cheapest operator? I think we all know who that will be!

4. What happens when the leases come up on the existing Dash 8’s?

5. What is the upgrade time at PDT, ALG, or PSA?

6. What is the upgrade time at ACA?

7. With almost every other regional flying Jet, are you going to be as competitive down the road? Jetblue is looking for Jet time now not turboprop? (It is a buyers market)

My 2 cents if I had the chance I WOULD. It sounds like you have made something happen. i.e. and interview with ACA. Why not capitalize on it? Nothing is for sure in this world but from where I am sitting ACA offers a better future than PDT, ALG or PSA.

 

[Anaconda]

AWAC is almost as good as a major?

In what respect?

Comair isn't? ASA isn't? ACA isn't?

 

[C-5 MEM]

I have been in class for 3 days now. Seeing whats projected here, I am glad I have a number now. The revised perjections are 250 the rest of the year. And next year 500-1000 thousand. There expected to have all jets by 2004.


Terry V.
ACA

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Anaconda:

I believe that ACA, ASA, Comair, and I would add SkyWest are very good regionals, with Air WI being head and shoulders above them due to their better pay, work rules, and their "B" plan retirement. I believe the relationship between management and their pilots is also better. Note: The only 2 airlines I've heard of in the last 2 years that didn't have a lot of bitching by pilots about their airline are Air WI and SWA. I have spent a lot of time the last 2 years researching all of them, and I believe that Air WI is the clear leader.

I realize that everyone has their own opinion. One "problem" with Air WI is that their only bases are ORD and DEN (Appleton, WI, is going away).

I had an interview with ACA and didn't make it (I was called back recently, but have a better job (for me) right now). I tried to get interviews with ASA and Comair, but didn't have recent flying experience, and couldn't get an interview.

I was hired by TSA, which I liked, but they are definitely a cut below ACA/ASA/Comair.

Good luck to you!

Cliff
GRB

 

[RichO]

I work with some Air Wis guys in the Reserves, and they seem to like the company. But, I would have to agree with Anaconda on that Comair seems to be along side them, not behind....(just from what I have heard, and seen)

Here's the comparison according to Air Inc (of course they could be full of crap)

First year pay (per month): 1,555/1,826 (depending on AC) AW; 1,680 Comair
Second year pay: 1781/2580 AW; 2,110/2,682/2,962 (EMB120/CRJ200/CRJ700) Comair
(long story, short, it looks like Comair has a little better pay overall even when you jump into Captain.....)

Guarantee pay: 75/65 AW (Line/Reserve); 75/75 Comair (line/reserve)

Per Diem: 1.35 AW; 1.60 Comair

Pay Bank: NO AW; Yes Comair

Deadhead Pay Credit: 1 for 2 AW; 1 for 1 Comair

Min days off: 12/11 AW (line/reserve); 11/11 Comair (line/Reserve)

Duty Rig: 1 for 2 AW; 1 for 2 Comair
Trip Rig: 1 for 3.5 AW; 1 for 3.75 Comair
Min Pay Credit: 2:30 AW; 4:20 Comair
Vacation days: 1st yr 7 days AW; 42 hrs comair
2-5 yr 14 days AW; 42 hrs Comair

Pay for trips while on vacation: Yes AW; No Comair

Overall, I would say you take the pros and cons of each company and you have two fairly equal companies as far as benefits.....


Keep in mind, this info is from a 3rd party source, and may not be completly correct ...if you have any changes please by all means correct me.....

 

[Anaconda]

good comparison richO...i just find it hard to stomach that AW is "head and shoulders" above comair. that's a pretty bold statement in my book, i just think it comes down more to individual preference.

do your stats for AW take into account their new contract, or are those pre-contract #'s?

 

[AWACoff]

Off the top of my head, some of those numbers are from the old contract. I would imagine Air Inc. is incorrect as usual. The current per diem is $1.50/hr. Guarantee is 75hrs no matter what (reserve, line holder, etc...not including training department). What year of Comair's contract are we talking about here? Current year or somewhere down the road? The key to our "rigs" is that we are always paid the "greater of". I find it hard to believe that Comair has a minimum pay credit of 4:20 when they only have a 75hr guarantee and 11 days off guaranteed. The math does not compute. RichO, what can I say, Air Inc is full of discrepancies. I wonder what Comair actually gets as I'm sure Air Inc. have wrong figures for them too.