Air Wis Classes Have Officially Resumed!

[avrodriver]

Just got the call today for a Feb 17th class, there's supposed to be 12 in the class. It's decision time should I go, or wait for a class date with Comair?? Talk to me........ AD

 

[B190Captain]

go

 

[Mayday911]

Take the class date, you can always leave AWAC and go to Comair later in the year. But remember, the grass is always greener!!

Mayday.

 

[ERJpusher]

Best to take any offer that comes along in this industry. AWAC will be a good company to work for. I personally wouldn't wait for a Comair call that may or may not happen when I have a sure thing at Airwis.

Just curious... I see that you are making a lateral move-- one Avro for potentially another Avro. Any reason for it? If you work at Mesaba, I understand

 

[fly4ever]

Avrodriver,

What's your seniority # at XJ - Just want to know whether I should send you a thank you note!

Good Luck!

 

[DairyAir]

To Be Or Not To Be

Thats great news that the classes will resume. If you are dead set on bailing out of your current position I would take the one that is the sure thing. I don't think you could go wrong at Air Willy. Famous last words! Alot hinges on what United's fate is but I think we are going to see some real growth. I have heard, now realize that these are not facts in anyway at all, that we are going to see considerable growth of the Airtran side. This coming from Airtran pilots. The United side will also see growth but until we know what is going to happen with United I couldn't guess as to how much. The latest is that we will be able to get larger birds i.e. CRJ700/900, again pure guess work. With our relatively small pilot group, growth means moving rapidly up the list. I would not be surprised if a West Coast base opens up in the not to distant future. Again all of these comments a guesses made from what I and other pilots have been hearing from a variety of sources. That said I don't think you would be wrong going to either Comair or AWAC. The only difference being Awac is a sure thing wheras Comair is not.

Good luck with your decision and hope to see you in Crew Room

Dairy Air

P.S. before I get flamed for starting rumors all I have said is not the most reliable info but it is what we have been hearing down in ATL. I would not take it as gospel but I don't think it is poopie either

 

[generaltso]

What is AirTrans scope clause like? Do they even have one?

 

[XJslave]

Hey avrodriver,

I'm another XJ pilot in the pool at AirWis. Thats great they started classes I'll be a class or 2 behind you.

Any other former XJ people that went to AirWis how do you like it compared to mesaba?

 

[avrodriver]

Yeah......I took the date, was just hoping I could hear something definite from the Big U before I had to make any commitments. I am very excited to join the team finally and get out of this rut. I am not excited to be at the regional level right
now and to be moving to another brings absolutely no security. I think we
will have a new contract by year end. But I do not believe things will be
changing over night, if we get the jets.....anyone thinking things will move
quickly is dreaming. I am 266 numbers away from being the last guy on
reserve as a Saab Cpt.........that number is not getting smaller, it's
getting bigger. The first NW orders that have not been assigned to a
carrier can be delievered in late 2004/early 2005, even a very modest
delievery rate of two airplanes a month (what 5 cpt's an airplane) means
about 10 guys upgrading a month so about 2 years or so, and that's from
first delivery........and that's to be the last reserve captain on a
Saab, that's what 3-4 more years of waiting on top of the time I already have in will get me.........(yes I know Eagle guys, your in the same boat).That fact plus Big Sky is what is making me leave, they bought Big Sky
for a reason, I hope that reason doesn't end up screwing Mesaba pilots, but
it is a very real fact that no one has been able to offer me comfort about.
I think Mesaba will get jets, but who is to say it is going to be in the
near future. Big Sky could easly get the next batch.......i could go all
day. I just wish things didn't have to be this hard..........Good luck to all! AD............

p.s. I'm surprised at all the people telling me to go to Air Willy I would have thought more people would be weary of the Big U's influence on the future.

 

[4fanman]

Hey Mesaba...Seeeeeyaaaa!!!!

As a fellow XJer-in-the-AWAC-pool this is great news. Hope to see you guys on the other side!!!
4fm

 

[sonic340]

As a former Mesaba guy, let me say welcome to air willy! I left xj in Sept. and just like all of you I played every "what if" angle I could dream up.
So here's my viewpoint. Even up to the day I started class at air willy, I still had my doubts as to if I was doing the right thing. Once class started and got to meet all the big wigs in Appleton and hear all the positives, I haven't looked back. The people here are great! They run you through training quickly, 7 weeks from start to checkride including 1 week off, and the pay cut was minimal. Much of the systems on the RJ is computer-based which you do on your own at whatever time of day you choose. I had class from 8am to noon and then a lunch break, took a nap at the hotel and went over to the training center in the evening to work on the computer lessons. Very laid back. 3 days after my ride I started IOE, sat reserve in Chicago in Dec and Jan and for Feb. lucked out and got a line with 15 days off in Denver. In 2 years at Mesaba I never had 15 days off. The upcoming new-hire class might sit reserve a little longer than normal due to the transitioning of people off the 328, but after that things should pick back up. The whole United deal is making a lot of people nervous, but air willy has a excellent product that in the worst case scenario any other airline would snatch up our service in no time.
And finally the best part of all of you coming over from Mesaba.......you're junior to me!! Just kidding. Good luck everyone and welcome!
One more thing- your Mesaba uniform is the exact same one as air willy so all you need is the hat brass and wings. Saves you about $700!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I just read an article somewhere (I don't know where) about the UAL feed (SkyWest, AWAC and ACA). The analyst believed that no matter what happened with UAL, the feeders will be needed to feed whoever picks up any dropped UAL routes.

There are a lot of UAL feed aircraft flying a lot of passengers. It is not practically possible to just stop their flying and pick it up with a new airline-they don't have enough extra planes/pilots, etc.

I was at TSA, which was TWA Express (along with Chautauqua and Corporate). All 3 of them were retained to continue their feed when AA bought out TWA.

Additionally, since AWAC now has feed for AirTran, that will cushion them should there be scheduling disruptions in the event of a shift from UAL feed to whatever airline(s) takes over is UAL goes Chapter 7.

Cliff
GRB

PS-I can't believe the UAL situation. It seems they will not make it out of Chapter 11. 3 Years ago I thought they were the best airline in the world.

 

[Rottweiller]

I have the feeling that UAL will come out of this whole affair pretty strong but they may have to take of the gloves off and weald an iron fist to get some things done.

They have already suggested that they want to increase the amount of regional aircraft in the system significantly and even allow / want the regionals to be operating 70 seaters soon.

Given they (UAL) want to start a new low cost airline and increase the frequency of flights but also reduce their pilot staff to 6000+ I think you can start to see where the "growth" here is going. Personally I see UAL in 12-18 months flying hub to hub and internationally with 3 or maybe more regionals flying 400+ RJ's point to point several times a day, from west to east.

On a side note, the new hire class of 12 on 2/17 may have some slots for the 146 in ATW. Seems they are short of FO's there after the last realignment bid. Good luck to the lucky 12 and welcome onboard.